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Can Allergies Get Worse At Night

How Dust Allergies And Mold Allergies Affect Your Sleep

Reasons why your allergies are worse at night

Dust mite allergies are very common, as dust mites can live in your mattress and bedding. Carpets and heavy curtains can also be areas where dust mites thrive. Unlike seasonal allergies, dust mite allergies can be perennial . Mold allergies are also perennial, and if your home is too humid, it could cause mold to grow.

Sacred Hour Before Bed

Youve probably heard this one before, because its true. Staring at screens, watching intense television or playing video games right up until bedtime can leave you too wired to fall asleep. Instead, try to come up with a relaxing routine you enjoy for the last hour before bed. If you absolutely cant give up your screen , then try some computer-reading glasses that block out blue light. We found and they work pretty well.

How Can I Treat Sleep Allergies

There isnt a one-size-fits-all solution to sleep allergies. However, there are several strategies that you can implement to minimize allergens and get better sleep.

  • Use an air purifier. Having an air purifier in your bedroom will help get rid of allergens such as dust mites, mold, and ped dander.
  • Dust your bedroom. Strive to keep your sleeping quarters as dust-free as possible. Dust mites are common allergens and may trigger reactions that keep you up at night.
  • Keep pets away. It can be difficult to stay away from your beloved cat or dog, but unfortunately, pet dander is another common allergen. Consider setting your pets bed outside of your bedroom to minimize allergic reactions.
  • Shower before going to bed. If youve been outside all day, its likely that youve picked up some pollen on your clothes and body. Showering at night helps wash all of that pollen away so that you dont carry it to bed.

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There Are Also More Long

â ExACT Immunoplasty â , which involves three injections given over an eight-week period, may provide the same amount of relief as 3-5 years of other types of allergy immunotherapy.

â Allergy drops require just a once-yearly trip to an allergist clinic.

â Allergy shots require more frequent trips to the clinic, but they are an affordable, time-tested option for long-term allergy relief.

Are you tired of waking up with morning allergies? Want to stop suffering from bedtime allergy symptoms? The allergy experts at AspireAllergy & Sinus will work with you and your family to determine the best solution for your allergies. Come see us and request an appointment today!

Certain Fruits And Veggies

Are Allergies Worse at Night Indoors?

Proteins in certain foods can cause cross-reactivity in people with allergies. The result: When you take a bite, you end up with an itchy mouth. Ragweed sufferers are likely to cross-react with bananas and melons, including honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelons and tomatoes.

Zucchini, sunflower seeds, dandelions and chamomile tea may also pose problems, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America .

Also Check: Do Air Filters Help With Allergies

Common Nighttime Allergy Symptoms

How do you know if youre having a bedtime allergic reaction? You might just think you tend to get stuffy when youre tired.

Allergies can manifest in a variety of different ways, but there are a few common symptoms that crop up for most allergy sufferers. If you recognize any of the following symptoms at bedtime, allergens might be to blame.

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Wash Your Sheets Weekly Or Twice Per Week

Those allergens you carry with you on your clothing, your skin, and your hair can easily infiltrate your sleeping area. Even if you shower before bed, if you keep a window open during the day, or if you have a pet who enjoys trapezing through your mountain of pillows, you have a great deal of allergens running amok on your sheets.

It is best to stick with a weekly wash cycle for your sheets, or even a twice per week wash cycle if your allergy symptoms are severe. This will help to reduce the amount of allergens in your bed and improve your sleep over time.

The Warm Moist Summer Air Is A Happy Breeding Ground For Bacteria Dust Mites And Mould All Of Which Are Allergens That Could Keep You Awake At Night Try To Keep The Air In The Bedroom As Clean As Possible Using One Or A Combination Of These Things

What causes nasal congestion to get worse at night? – Dr. Honey Ashok

Try a dehumidifier or air purifier to keep your humidity down on sweaty days, sucking moisture out of the air. Alternatively, you keep a few air-purifying plants such as a peace lily or rubber plant.

On top of these, make regular checks of your windows for cracks in the sealant, which would allow pollen and dust to creep inside.

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What Is The Treatment

Treatment for shortness of breath at night will vary depending on the condition causing it:

  • Asthma. Adhere to a treatment plan, avoid triggers, and sleep propped up by pillows to keep the airways more open.
  • COPD. Quit smoking and avoid exposure to other harmful chemicals. Treatment plans may include an inhaler, other medications, and oxygen therapy.
  • Pneumonia. Treat with antibiotics, cough medicines, pain relievers, fever reducers, and rest.
  • Heart failure. Follow your doctors treatment plan, which can vary based on your condition. Your doctor may recommend certain medications, lifestyle adjustments, and devices and other equipment to keep your heart working properly.
  • Sleep apnea. Modifying your lifestyle by losing weight and quitting smoking may help. You may need an assistive device when sleeping to ensure your airways stay open.
  • Allergies. Keep your bedroom free of allergens and clean regularly. Carpeting, window treatments, bedding, and ceiling fans can collect dust and trigger allergy symptoms. You may want to try hypoallergenic bedding or an air purifier in your bedroom.
  • Anxiety and panic attacks. Breathing exercises, avoidance of triggers, and talking to a mental health professional may help you relieve feelings of anxiety and avoid panic attacks.

Brentwood Home Zuma Foam Wedge Pillow

If sinus pressure is a regular pain, elevate your sleep with a wedge pillow. Adding a gentle incline without crimping your neck can help ease sinus congestion. This hypoallergenic option is made of CertiPUR-US-certified foam, so its nontoxic and it comes with a removable, washable cover. Choose from three heights.

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Why Are Allergies Worse At Night

We can see it now: you make it through an entire day unscathed, with no allergy symptoms, a well-lubricated nose and throat, and crystal clear eyes. You rejoice in a successful day without allergy symptoms only to experience a fragmented nights sleep with a stuffy nose through the night, and a frustrating dry throat that just wont quit.

Why do allergy symptoms get worse through the night? Can allergies make you tired? Why do you get a stuffy nose at night or a splitting headache in the morning?

In this blog, we will answer all of your burning questions about nighttime allergies.

Why Are My Allergies Worse At Night

Why do my allergies get worse at night?

Its the same thing almost every single night. You brush your teeth, finish your nightly routine, climb into bed, and immediately feel congested and sneezy.

If you suffer from allergies, your symptoms most likely get worse at night. This is something you share with other allergy patients. In fact, research shows that 74% of allergy sufferers wake up during the night because of allergy symptoms and over 90% of sufferers have difficulty sleeping.

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Causes Of Itchy Skin At Night

If you always feel itchy at night, you may have a condition referred to as nocturnal pruritus. This condition has many causes. At times, it’s due to dry, cracked, or irritated skin. It could also point toward a more serious health condition. Itchy skin can be localized on a specific area of your body such as your scalp, arm, or leg, or your whole body might itch.

Sometimes itchy skin at night can be severe or last more than six weeks. This is called chronic pruritus and it can greatly affect the quality of your life. Nocturnal pruritus not only interrupts your sleep but can also cause anxiety or depression. Also, long-term itching and scratching may worsen the condition which can then cause skin injury, infection, or scarring.

If you’re wondering “how do I stop uncontrollable itching?” read on to find out.

Some of the many causes of itchy skin include:

Skin conditions. The most common causes of itchiness are dry skin , eczema , and psoriasis.

Nerve disorders. Some disorders like multiple sclerosis can also cause itchy skin.

Psychiatric conditions. You might feel itchy if you have anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or depression.

Bugs and parasites. If youve been bitten by a mosquito before, you know it can be itchy. But this kind of itch tends to go away on its own in just a few days. Other bugs, like scabies mites, can live on your skin and cause nighttime itchiness. You may also have bites from bed bugs or lice.

  • Jewelry
  • Belt buckles
  • Zippers

Sleeping With A Partner With Allergies

If your sleep partner experiences nighttime allergy symptoms, there are ways to ensure that you can get a good nights sleep as well. If your partners symptoms cause them to snore, an easy and inexpensive option is earplugs these are widely available at grocery stores and pharmacies.

If you prefer some pleasant ambient noise, I recommend using a white noise sound machine. Depending on what model you select, these machines can play either soothing sounds, gentle white noise, or both to help you sleep.

If you want the best of both worlds, I recommend using Bose Sleepbuds II. These arent like regular earbuds though these only play calming audio from Boses Sleep app, which is designed to help you fall and stay asleep while any background noise is dampened by Boses noise-masking technology. They are also carefully crafted to not be disruptive during sleep.

Ive partnered with Bose because of their commitment to creating a positive, restful bedroom environment, as well as paving the way for a better nights sleep.

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Tips For Reducing Night Time Allergies

You can do several things to help diminish your nighttime and early morning allergies, returning your sleep to a restful state.

There are several cleaning tactics that you can start integrating in your monthly, weekly, and daily routines. If you are allergic to pollen, wash your hair at the end of every day to remove pollen collecting during the day and prevent it from ending up on your pillow. You should also keep your windows closed if possible to keep pollen from coming indoors. Try to wash your bed sheets once a week to remove dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. Between cleaning, using a dust mite cover on your bed can help keep dust mites away from you. Do a deep cleaning of your entire bedroom on a monthly basis, cleaning carpets and wiping down hidden surfaces where mold may be lurking.

Air purifiers are often recommended as a way to remove allergens. Research has shown that multiple interventions, including using an air purifier placed right by the bed in the sleep breathing zone may help reduce their levels. Traditional air filters can trap pollutants on filters, though Molekule air purifiers go beyond simply trapping pollutants to destroying them at the molecular level.

Sleep is an important part of feeling healthy and performing your best. Nighttime allergies can come in the way of restful sleep. By understanding how allergens work and following the tips above, you may find yourself more refreshed in the morning.

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Change Up Your Shower Routine

Allergy season getting worse in Arizona, experts say

As you go about your day, youre slowing accumulating dust and pollen in your hair, clothes and on your skin. Once you get home and in bed, they can become irritable to your eyes and nose.

Cleanse yourself of these allergens by jumping in the shower at night rather in the morning . Itll wash all that pesky dust from your skin and with clean clothes youll be feeling fresh once you get into bed. Plus, that hot steam can help with any blocked noses.

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Laying Down Gravity And Blood Pressure

Many patients are surprised to find out the role gravity and blood pressure play in making sinus issues worse.

While youre sitting up and standing throughout the day, your blood circulates through your body, with blood pressure and the forces of gravity influencing how easy it is for your blood to get to your head and sinuses. On top of that, when youre vertical, gravity also helps your sinuses drain down your esophagus and into your stomach.

When you lie down on the other hand, your body doesnt have to fight as much to deliver blood to your head. Increased blood flow in the blood vessels of your sinuses may result in sinus congestion, pressure, and pain. When that happens, gravity is no longer helping your sinuses drain, but instead increasing your chances of experiencing those same issues.

These nighttime sinus circumstances can affect those who have little to no sinus symptoms during the day. If youre also suffering from sinusitis, GERD, or allergies, these circumstances can get aggravate already inflamed blood vessels and exacerbate other related problems.

The Ideal Sleeping Position When Dealing With a Stuffy Nose

The best sleeping position for sinus drainage problems and other sinus issues is to sleep with your head propped up. Sleeping with your head propped up will help gravity naturally drain your sinuses and reduce the chance of excessive blood flow that can develop sinus congestion.

Tips For Nighttime Allergy Relief

by Sleep Center of Middle Tennessee | Last updated May 17, 2022

We only recommend products in our blog that we recommend in our office. We may receive a small commission on some products but it does not change the price you pay .

Do you struggle with allergy symptoms? Do they feel especially bad at night when youre trying to fall asleep or stay asleep? Whether your allergy response is caused by dust mites, pet dander, or pollen, seasonal allergies are an all too familiar annoyance. They often feel worse in the morning or at night calling for much needed nighttime allergy relief.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is common during allergy season. Inflammation occurs when you become exposed to an allergen like pollen, mold spores, or pet dander, among others.

Your allergic reaction may vary, but allergy symptoms often mimic cold symptoms. You may experience nasal congestion, sinus pain, a runny nose or itchy nose, sore throat, itchy eyes or watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and fatigue.

Each of these symptoms is unpleasant during the day. At night, when youre trying desperately to fall asleep, they can feel even worse. Especially when they keep you awake which further compounds the foggy-heading exhaustion you feel during the day when allergies strike.

Related: Can Allergies Make You Tired?

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Hay Fever Or Allergic Rhinitis

If you find the same symptoms flaring up when the colder autumn and winter months set in, its probably not hay fever at all. Chances are youre allergic to something else and suffer from allergic rhinitis.

According to the NHS, allergic rhinitis is:

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould or flakes of skin from certain animals.

It affects one in five people and comes with all the same symptoms youd expect from hay fever: sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose. This is why its so easily confused with hay fever.

How To Stop Allergies At Night: Managing The Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Are Allergies Worse at Night Indoors?
  • Control pet allergens by keeping animals out of the bedroom: Ever find yourself wondering “why do I sneeze more at night?”. It could be because of your beloved pets. Keeping your furry friends out of the bedroom creates an allergen-free zone for you to spend time in before bed, and reduces exposure to your allergy triggers.
  • Swap synthetic carpets for natural alternatives: 100% wool carpets or wooden floors are better, as they dont provide the humid environment that dust mites need to thrive.
  • Cut down on cushions: Or replace synthetic inners with all-natural wool-filled alternatives. This makes sure that the dust mites and mould spores have one less place to hide.
  • Choose hypoallergenic bedding for allergies:Wool-filled duvets and pillows all create a cool, dry environment where dust mites and mould spores cant survive. This means you can sleep on in comfort, confident that these allergens are being kept at bay. Better still, theres no need to wash at a high heat or freeze your bedding to get rid of pesky dust mites. Your wool bedding manages this process naturally.

Seeking a great nights sleep? Dont let your night-time allergy get you down. Discover more tips to tackle allergies at night, night sweats and more with our Sleep Health and Advice hub. Find our range of bedding for your night-time allergy online today.

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