How not changing your bed sheets can leave you with 4 nasty illnesses – including 2 silent killers

ALMOST 11 million dirty Brits only wash their bed linen once a month, according to a survey revealing the nation’s heinous bedroom habits.

One in three people also admitted to waiting at least two weeks before washing their sheets, YouGov’s analysis found.

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New research has identified four health conditions that could be related to not putting laundry in the wash often enough — two of which are silent killers.

1. Eczema

Eczema is a common condition that causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked and it can be very uncomfortable for sufferers.

The most common form, atopic eczema, affects one in five children and one in ten adults in the UK, according to the National Eczema Society.

according to dr Sabrina Felson of New York University, dirty sheets can often worsen symptoms of the condition.

“You shed 500 million skin cells a day and many peel off as you toss and turn in bed,” she wrote on WebMD.

“These tiny dust mites love to feed on the shed cells, and their feces can trigger allergies that cause your itchy eczema to flare up,” she said.

Bed Kingdom experts added: “If your sheets aren’t clean, the fabric can irritate your skin if it rubs against it.”

2. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a type of chest infection that can make breathing difficult.

Without treatment, the condition can lead to oxygen deprivation and death.

Common symptoms are coughing, tiredness and weakness, sweating or frequent tremors.

US research looking at hospital bedding found that Staphylococcus bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, were widespread.

“Laundering your linens regularly is the surest way to rid your bed of bacteria that live between your sheets,” added Bed Kingdom.

Experts from Save The Children state that pneumonia is also known as the silent killer.

This is because people may not always know they have symptoms as they feel like a common cold but last longer.

3. Acne

Acne is a common – and often painful – skin condition that affects many people at some point in their lives.

And about 95 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 30 have some degree of the condition.

Although acne is more common on the face, it can also affect the back and chest, says the NHS.

“While acne isn’t caused by poor hygiene, dirty sheets or pillowcases can be partly to blame,” Bed Kingdom experts explained.

Staphylococcus bacteria, which are known to live on dirty linens, can make acne worse, according to a 2012 study.

“Changing your pillowcases every two to three days and the rest of your linens once a week could help improve acne breakouts,” Bed Kingdom said.

4. asthma

Asthma is a common lung disease affecting 8 million people in the UK.

It is a respiratory disease caused by inflammation of the breathing tubes that carry air to and from our lungs.

It can affect people of any age, but often begins in early childhood, but in some cases it can first develop in adults.

In some cases, if left untreated, an asthma attack can lead to sudden death.

Experts have found that dust mites that accumulate in beds that have not been changed regularly can trigger asthma.

“Clean your linens on a hot cycle and vacuum your bedroom regularly to reduce your asthma symptoms,” Bed Kingdom added.

Asthma is also known as the silent killer because, if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to problems like heart attacks and strokes.

Research published last year showed that the condition doubles your risk of both of the above diseases.

US researchers have found that the majority of those affected have more plaque buildup in the carotid arteries than people without asthma.

The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain.

Plaque build-up is usually associated with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and even obesity and smoking.