Sleep on carpet - need to avoid breathing dust, dirt, etc.

Hi,
I sleep on my floor in my apartment. As you can imagine this carpet is not good for my health. I often wake up with sinus problems. I would prefer not to sleep on a bed, but am open to it if I can not resolve it some other way.
My first thought is to cover the area I lie on with some sort of covering that separates me from the carpet. I am told the air near the ground will still be the problem, however.
My other idea was to use a HEPA air purifier and even wear a surgical face mask during sleep to avoid these components from the carpet.
Any thoughts on these methods or others that may be helpful or is there really no choice but to use a bed -- giving me a few feet of distance?

Thanks for reading.

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,
What you seem to be having is called dust mite allergy. These are microscopic organisms, which are related to spiders, live in many homes. Too small to see with the naked eye, dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments — eating dead skin cells and nesting in dust-collecting bedding, fabric, carpet and furnishings.

Treatment includes avoidance of allergen. To reduce dust mites in your home, remove drapes, feather pillows, upholstered furniture, non-washable comforters and soft toys. Replace carpets with linoleum or wood. Vacuum soft furniture and curtains as well as floor Wash carpets and upholstery with special cleaners, such as benzyl benzoate or tannic acid spray. Wash all bedding in hot water (hotter than 130°F) every 7 to 10 days. Don't use mattress pads. Cover mattress and pillows with plastic covers. Lower the humidity in your home.

You can use antihistaminics like benadryl,zyrtec, decongestants and corticosteroids. In severe cases, Immunotherapy is advised.
Hope it helps.Take care and regards.

[gromitsmom]

Have you tried a set of Bamboo travel sheets?  My husband is very allergic to dust mites and we take the sheets with us when we travel.  They are sewn together on the end and would be very easy to throw down on the floor.  They're really soft and nice and the bamboo has some sort of natural properties that keep dust mites and other allergens and bacteria away.  I got mine at BedVoyage.com but I think they sell them in the Niemen-Marcus catalogue also.
Good Luck :)