Do you wake up during the night coughing or sneezing? Or maybe you’re scratching your arms. If a good night’s sleep eludes you because of bothersome allergies, it’s time to see a specialist.
Good sleep allows you to maintain good health. Being chronically sleep-deprived places you at increased risk of major diseases: heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and other health problems. If you’re sleepy during the day, your work may suffer, and you’re at increased risk of a motor vehicle accident while driving.
Our board-certified allergists at Advanced Allergy & Asthma can help mitigate or eliminate allergy symptoms that impact your quality of life. Here are several strategies to help you get a good night’s sleep when you have allergies.
Making some simple changes to your routines can help reduce the allergen levels in your home.
Is your bedroom covered in wall-to-wall carpet? Do you have heavy drapes on the windows? Dust mites thrive in carpets, drapes, and bedding.
Bedroom carpeting isn’t a good idea when you have allergies. Instead, remove carpets throughout your house and install flooring choices like luxury vinyl plank, wood, or tile. In addition, it’s best to opt for easy-to-clean shutters or blinds instead of heavy drapes.
Frequent cleaning helps keep allergens at bay in your home.
Washing your bedding in hot water is one of the best ways to kill allergens. Use pillowcase covers with allergy-proof material.
Do you have a mattress cover? If not, it’s a good investment to help protect your mattress from dust mites. Wash it at the same time you wash your sheets and pillowcases.
Vacuum your mattress periodically. You can even use a portable steam cleaner on your mattress.
Clean your home weekly. Dust and vacuum floors using a high-efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter. Dust drapes using a vacuum attachment. Don’t forget to change your furnace filters.
If you have a pet, give them a bath weekly to help reduce dander in your home.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help you breathe easier at night in your bedroom. Be sure to close your bedroom windows and doors when using it.
Do you shower in the morning? Even though you take off your clothes and put on pajamas, allergens may be clinging to your body from being outside your home during the day.
Try making a change and showering before you go to bed. Put your dirty clothes in a sealed hamper, and use hot water when washing the clothes that you wore outdoors.
Before going to bed, rinse your nostrils with a saline solution, which you can get at the drugstore. Do this nightly to help you sleep well.
If your allergies cause major disruption even when you’re on allergy medication, it’s time for a different approach. Allergy shots can train your body to tolerate the allergen so that it doesn’t produce the severe reactions you have now.
When you make an appointment at Advanced Allergy & Asthma, one of our specialists can administer blood and skin tests to determine exactly what substances cause your symptoms and develop a treatment plan.
If your allergies are disrupting your quality of life, call or request an appointment by clicking here today.
