Allergy symptoms are hard to control during the day and can also impact your sleep. Allergens can infiltrate your home, linger due to poor ventilation, and eventually lodge themselves into mattresses. Read below to discover the impact of allergies on slumber and what measures you can take to prevent nighttime reactions.

A Guide to Allergies & Sleep

How Do Allergies Affect Sleep?

One study found that 98% of patients with moderate to severe allergies had trouble with sleep. Approximately 50% of the group had difficulty falling asleep and nocturnal awakening. Researchers also found that those who suffered from nighttime allergy symptoms reported disordered breathing events, such as habitual snoring and frequent episodes of apnea.

What Are the Consequences?

Your quality of life is at risk if you don’t get enough rest and experience persistent allergy symptoms. Daytime drowsiness and irritability have been shown to lower productivity at work and increase auto accident probability. Prolonged deprivation can weaken your immune system and aggravate reactions to allergens. 

What Can You Do to Sleep Better?

• Relieve Nasal Irritation: Nasal irrigation and sprays clear blocked airways in your nose through saline solutions that wash out mucus and allergens, allowing you to breathe easily and avoid dryness of the mouth and throat. Aromatherapy can offer relief with the anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus. One study found that aromatherapy improved sleep quality and symptoms for allergy sufferers.

• Clean & Filter the Area: High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters trap allergen particles in your room. If you have air-conditioning vents in your room, clean and change the filters to prevent them from accumulating and spreading allergens throughout your room. Ensure that your windows are sealed tightly to block allergens from seeping in.

• Practice Hygiene: Don’t wear clothes you wore outdoors to bed. Dust and pollen that cling to fabric can transfer to your bedding. Instead, get in clean pajamas. Wash your pillowcases, blankets, and sheets with hot water settings to eliminate allergens and make your bed a haven. Vacuum your mattress occasionally and remove stains promptly by dabbing a paste of water and baking soda

If you find yourself tossing and turning from your symptoms, get new bedding while you allergen-proof your room. Find the quality mattresses and better sleep you deserve with Uncle Dave’s Mattresses and Stuff in Collinsville, IL. Over 95 years of experience has allowed them to provide the best in American-made furniture to customers across the nation. The variety and vastness of their selections can guarantee a fit for any home. To explore the right mattress styles for you, visit them online or call (618) 344-5123 for more information.