Fabrictech Presents Health Research

July 28, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 29, 2011

Fabrictech International is offering the bedding industry research on health and societal cost impacts of pollen, dust, mold, dust mites, bacteria and bedbugs.

While the numbers are readily available to people looking to research and pull together the critical statistics on the significant growth of serious allergies and asthma, this organized industry presentation presents what Fabrictech called "the stark realities and extent of these issues." It also places a real overall healthcare cost, dollar value and human cost to these illnesses in an easy-to-read, summary form.

"Our intent with this research compilation is to present the facts and figures to retailers and consumers so they can take positive steps to reduce the incidence of allergies and often, resultant asthma caused by conditions related to mattress and top-of-bed products," said Fabrictech President and COO Jeff Bergman. "Knowledge is power. Who in our industry would have really known that allergies are the fifth most chronic disease in America costing $7.9 billion? Or that 20 million Americans have dust mite allergies? Or that allergic related asthma is the most common type of asthma? Or that 11 people die from asthma every day, which is 4,000 deaths each year, half of which are allergy related?"

As much as they are a nuisance, Bergman said bedbugs pale in comparison to the health impacts of allergies and asthma.

"We do not discount the bedbug problem; however the research has uncovered that not one death has been directly attributed to bedbugs, and even human pathogens identified with bedbugs have not shown any statistic transference to humans," he said. "Bedbugs are simply a small problem compared to the real costs for medical care, lost work days, lost school days, and even deaths due to the incidence of allergies and asthma."

The research will be offered in a power point presentation to senior executives at both the International Sleep Products Association and the Specialty Sleep Association just prior to the Las Vegas Furniture Market. The presentation will be offered to retailers attending Market at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, in World Market Center building B, 16th Floor, World Forum.