Top Allergies that can impact your sleep

Allergies or allergic rhinitis is one of the common diseases that affect people globally. As per statistics, over 400 million people suffer from allergic rhinitis across the world. Allergic rhinitis causes stuffy or runny nose, itchy nose and throat, sneezing, increased nasal congestion, postnasal dripping, red and watery eyes and cough.

Along with these respiratory symptoms, allergies affect your sleep quality. Research shows allergies impair sleep quality. It confirms that people with severe allergic rhinitis have more sleep disturbances than those who have mild allergic rhinitis; but can a mattress help you manage your allergies any better?

The short answer is Yes! The right mattress can help a person with allergies manage the allergies better and in turn sleep better. In this post we are looking to answer a few questions around allergies and its sleep impact.

• How do allergies impact your sleep?
• What types of allergens cause sleep disturbances?
• And how can you sleep better despite having allergies?

Let us find some answers.

1. How do allergies impact your sleep?

When allergens (such as dust mites or pollen) enter your nasal passage, they irritate the nasal mucosa, cause inflammation and produce various allergic symptoms like sneezing, stuffy or runny nose etc. These allergic symptoms often get worse at night and interfere with your sleep. 

A person with allergic rhinitis may have the following sleep-related symptoms. 

• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Frequent wake-up in the night due to difficulty breathing and other allergic symptoms
• Insomnia or sleeplessness (in some cases)
• Increased risk of developing sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea)
• Chronic sleep deprivation (in chronic and severe cases of allergies) leads to poor quality of life, including adverse impact on work or school performance, decreased productivity, etc.

What types of allergens cause sleep disturbances?

Here are some allergens that cause sleep disturbances.

• Dust-mite
• Pollen
• Mold
• Cockroaches

2. Pollen: Pollens like tree pollen and ragweed are the next common allergens that cause various allergic symptoms which lead to poor sleep quality. Spring, early fall and summer are peak allergy seasons and can cause severe allergic symptoms in those who suffer from pollen allergies.
3. Pet dander: If you are an animal lover or pet owner, then this might be disappointing news for you. Pet dander is one of the common allergens which causes allergies and interferes with your sleep.
4. Mold: Mold easily grows on cold and damp surfaces (bathroom, sink etc.) and leads to allergic symptoms and sleep disturbances in allergic patients.
5. Cockroaches: Cockroaches are the next common allergens that cause allergies and disrupt your sleep.

How can you sleep better despite having allergies?

Keep your bedroom clutter free and maintain a high level of cleanliness and hygiene

This is the first and most important step to managing your allergy symptoms and improving your sleep quality. Change and wash your bed essentials regularly, preferably in hot water. Clean your mattress and bed surfaces with a vacuum cleaner or get your home deep cleaned before the allergy season. Avoid using heavy curtains or other heavy bed accessories.

Use a good quality air purifier and dehumidifier for improving indoor air quality

Invest in a good-quality air purifier and dehumidifier. Air purifiers work great in eliminating common allergens and improving indoor air quality. While dehumidifier helps in reducing excessive moisture from the air and maintains an optimum moisture level in the indoor environment. 

Keep your pet outside the bedroom

If you are allergic to pet dander, then keep your furry friend outside the bedroom. Moreover, try to follow all major precautionary steps such as washing your hands after playing with your pet, bathing your pet etc. These things help a lot in reducing pet allergy symptoms and thus aid in improving your sleep quality as well. 

Shut your windows and door during the daytime (when the pollen count is high)

If you are allergic to pollen, then shut your doors and windows during the daytime, to avoid the entrance of pollen inside the home. Furthermore, avoid going outside when pollen counts are high. If you cannot avoid it, then use safety measures like wearing a mask and glasses while being outside. Take a shower as soon as you come from outside. 

Invest in a high-quality, hypoallergenic mattress- Latex is the best option

 If you are suffering from frequent allergies, then you should purchase an allergy-free mattress. A latex mattress can be the best option for reducing allergy symptoms and getting a good night’s sleep. Latex is hypoallergenic in nature. It offers a natural resistance to dust-mite, mildew and mold. It has fantastic antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. 

Considering all these incredible benefits, a natural latex mattress can be the best option to reduce the impact of allergies on your sleep and sleep tight despite having allergies. 

So, these are some easy ways to sleep better despite having allergies. If you do not have a latex mattress, it is better to invest in one, especially if you suffer from allergies caused by dust-mite or mold. The natural organic latex mattresses can be affordable today as there are multiple options available in the market.

A few 100% natural organic latex mattresses from the house of MM Foam are

Bloom Mattress

This is a 100% natural, organic natural latex mattress that is highly durable and affordable. It features no motion transfer and is a medium firm mattress with a firmness of 6 on a scale of 1-10 and is 4 inch thick. The mattress can be bought online at an EMI of Rs. 457 per month! It comes with a 10 year warranty.

Spineline Mattress

Spineline is a firm mattress that provides relief from pain caused by pressure points and enhances blood circulation, providing you with healthy and rejuvenating sleep. It is a firm mattress with the firmness level being at 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. It is available in 6 and 8 inches and has a 10 year warranty.