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In a new study, researchers have revealed that about a fifth of Britons do not change their bed sheets even once a month.

The startling results mean that they could be accumulating a whole lot of health problems, ranging from asthma and rhinitis to eczema, warns a leading allergy expert, according to MailOnline.

The new survey, which involved more than 2,000 people, has revealed that more than 50 percent people sleep on dirty sheets, and women are apparently more likely to be guilty of the same offense.

The research conducted says that only two out of five Britons change their bed sheets on a weekly basis.

Another 36 percent change their sheets once in two weeks and 17 percent of people admit to changing sheets only once a month or even more rarely.

Three percent people reportedly said they had no idea how often they changed their sheets.

While 12 percent people said they changed their sheets once a month, one percent admitted to never changing them at all.

Dr. Adam Fox, a pediatric allergist at a leading hospital in London, warns that dirty sheets could contribute to health problems.

"Having good bedroom hygiene when it comes to changing your sheets is about more far than just freshening up your linen. We spend about a third of our lives asleep and this is reflected in the debris that we leave between the sheets.  Our bodies shed millions of skin cells each day, many of which rub off in our sleep and are deposited in our beds.  In addition to skin cells, our bodies also secrete fluids, sweat and oils during a long nights sleep. While unsavoury in themselves, these deposits mostly pose a problem as they are all deliciously appealing for dust mites," he told MailOnline.

He also said that even though dust mites are not harmful, the droppings of the microscopic creatures are laden with allergens, which when inhaled could provoke asthma and rhinitis and may also worsen eczema, the report in MailOnline said.

"In order to reduce the possible problems caused by dust mites, the professional recommendation is that people with dust mite allergies should be taking a number of measures to reduce allergen exposure."

"Those who suffer particularly badly should consider investing in dust mite proof bedding and we should all be making it a priority to wash our sheets on a one to two weekly basis at 60 degrees. It may seem like a bit of a chore but taking these precautions helps to protect against the health complications which may be caused or worsened by the unwanted dust mites which share our sheets."