If you have been thinking that your breathing issues may be because of pollen or allergies, you may be wrong this time. Cockroaches might be the real reason for your triggered breathing problems. The creepy crawlers skittering under the kitchen drawers are doing more than just raiding the food boxes. In a latest viral tweet by cardiologist Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy, cockroach infections may be triggering respiratory issues like shortness of breath, chest tightness, and it is now high time for us to pay attention to this.

Most of us associate cockroaches with hygiene and know that they might attack food but their body parts, saliva and even their feces are full of proteins that may trigger allergic reactions and asthma. And one may not even be able to see these particles. You may think that they will be around the kitchen area or where food is, but these cockroach remains float around in your home’s air, they stick to your furniture and make themselves feel completely at home in your lungs.

According to the images shared along with the tweet, Dr. Krishnamurthy says that the cockroach-transmitted illnesses go beyond just triggering any allergies you may have. They may also cause serious stuff like:

Salmonella: Causes gastrointestinal distress and can also lead to typhoid fever.

E. Coli: Responsible for severe food poisoning and can also bring up up some potentially life-threatening symptoms

Asthma: Aggravated by cockroach allergens, it can lead to wheezing, difficulty breathing and even chest tightness.

You may not be able to see cockroaches crawling in the kitchen but you need to know that is where they start and make themselves feel at home. Sometimes, your body also does start dropping hints before you even catch a cockroach crawling. If you are feeling feverish, random bouts of nausea or even vomiting, these might be some early signs that you need to disinfect your house.