Coping with Night Time Hay Fever
19th August 2022Allergic Rhinitis, also known as Hay Fever is one of the most common allergies that affect most people at some point in their lives. Here are a few tips to ensure that we don’t lose any sleep when we struggle with night-time Hay Fever.
Shower
Showering before bed can help prevent your Hay Fever symptoms in various ways. Pollen gathers on our skin and hair when outside, which can worsen Hay Fever. It is very important to thoroughly clean your body and hair before getting into bed every night.
Steam from the shower can assist in combating night-time stuffiness. The moisture in the air will help to thin out mucus, acting as a decongestant to ease the affect Hay Fever has on your breathing.
Clothing
You’ll be surprised how easy it is for pollen to cling to your clothes and become unwelcome guests in your home. So, when it is time for bed or even an afternoon nap, make sure to remove the clothing worn outside before getting on your bed.
Mattress Protector
Mattress and pillow protectors are designed to prevent dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mould spores, and other allergens from infesting your bed. Protectors act as a physical barrier between you and the allergen.
Clean Linen
It is of extreme importance to keep your bed sheets clean at all times. Wash your bed sheets at least once a week to minimise Hay Fever symptoms at night.
Food
There are certain foods that have the potential to make Hay Fever symptoms worse, particularly at night. It is recommended to avoid the following food groups.
- Dairy Products – Hay Fever overproduce mucus as the lining of the nose and throat swell up. Eating dairy products can thicken secretions in the throat making it feel coated, triggering responses such as coughing and wheezing. It will be wise to skip that mug of warm milk before bedtime.
- Refined sugars such as those found in chocolate and fizzy drinks causes histamine release and therefore aggravate your Hay Fever.
- Fermented foods are foods that have been aged or preserved such as pickles and should be avoided at bedtime, as they too contain high levels of histamine.
Pet-Free Zone
This is a hard one to stick to, especially for those of us who love to snuggle in bed with our precious pets. Animal hair attracts pollen and it spreads wherever our pets go. If you want to reduce those Hay Fever attacks at night, encourage your pets to sleep in their own beds.
Dry Linen Indoors
People with pollen allergies should dry your laundry inside. Pollen can stick to your washing, meaning that you might end up making your bed with pollen-covered sheets.
Vacuuming
Cleaning and vacuuming your home will definitely reduce your Hay Fever symptoms as it helps remove pollen and dust.
Hope the above tips will help relieve some of your hay fever symptoms so that you can get a good night’s sleep.