As the sun sets and the world quiets down, many easily drift off to dreamland, while others confront a relentless night due to allergies. If you've ever wondered why your nights are fraught with sneezes, congestion, and itchy eyes. You’re not alone. Allergies can significantly impact your sleep quality, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can lead to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating during the day. And your mattress, its quality and its properties can also play a role in it
Allergies can be of different types due to different reasons from pollen to pet dander, these can turn bedtime bliss into a struggle. But fret not, for knowledge is the key that unlocks the door to rejuvenating slumber – and that's precisely what we're here to offer you! We’ll also look at how to buying quality mattress can help you and will share a plethora of sleep-enhancing tips. First, let’s see how your mattress can play a role in allergies.
What is the connection between allergies and your mattress?
The connection between allergies and your mattress lies in the potential for your mattress to accumulate allergens over time. Allergens are substances that can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The most common allergens found in bed include dust mites, pet dander, mould, and pollen. Here's how these allergens can be related to your mattress:
Dust Mites: Dust mites are tiny, microscopic microorganisms that thrive in warm, humid environments. They feed on dead skin cells, and your mattress can be an ideal habitat for them. Dust mite allergens are found in their droppings and body fragments. When you lie on the mattress, you inhale or come into contact with dust mite allergens, your immune system may react, leading to symptoms such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, coughing, and even skin rashes.
Pet Dander: If you have pets, you'll agree that keeping them away from the bed is a difficult task that you frequently fail at. Pets are prone to roaming around, accumulating germs and grime in their fur, paws, and mouth, which they then spread to everything they come into contact with, including your bed. Their dander (small skin flakes), saliva, and urine can all make their way into your mattress, bringing numerous hazardous germs and pet dander with them. Pet dander is a common allergen, and its presence in the mattress can cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to it.
Mould: Mould in your mattress can have adverse effects on your health and well-being. Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp and humid environments, and if your mattress becomes infested with mould, it can release spores and mycotoxins into the air, leading to various health issues.
Prolonged exposure to mould spores and mycotoxins can irritate the respiratory system and lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Direct contact with mould or its spores can cause skin irritation or rashes, especially in individuals with sensitive skin.
Pollen: Pollen is a fine powder produced by plants as part of their reproductive process. If you spend time outdoors and then bring pollen into your home, it can settle on your mattress. This is especially relevant during allergy seasons when pollen counts are high. If you have pollen allergies, lying on a mattress with pollen particles can worsen your symptoms. It can also affect you if you suffer from asthma or beating issues.
The Different Ways That Allergies Can Affect Your Sleep
If you have allergies or sensitivities, you may have difficulty falling dozing off and might find yourself waking up during the night. Allergies can have a substantial impact on your sleep and can affect you during the day as well. Here’s how allergies can affect your sleep:
It can cause nasal congestion
Some allergies are in one way or another connected to the airway and may lead to nasal congestion. Nasal Congestion can lead to excess fluid gathering in the nasal passageway. It can make it challenging to breathe through your nose and result in snoring and sleep apnea.
You might suffer from itchy, irritated and watery eyes
If you are a pet parent, you might know that your pets shed dander and fur all around leading you to suffer from allergies because of pollen and pet dander. Apart from that, dust mites, mould and mildew present in your mattress can also be harmful. It has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, resulting in inflammation, infection, red or itchy eyes, and moist eyes. This causes discomfort, prevents you from falling asleep, and keeps you up at night.
Constant sneezing and coughing
When you have an allergy, it most often than not causes sneezing or coughing fits, which prevent you from falling asleep. Having the constant urge and need to sneeze and cough doesn’t allow your body from entering a restful state and getting into the sleeping zone. This causes physical discomfort, and irritation and keeps your mind and body in a constantly active state, preventing you from relaxing and dozing off. Allergy-induced sneezing and coughing can lead to sleep fragmentation, where you wake up multiple times during the night. This disrupts the natural sleep cycle, preventing you from experiencing deep, restorative snooze.
It can cause skin Irritations
Several allergens can cause skin irritation and a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as eczema or hives, and when these symptoms occur at night, they can interfere with your ability to rest and sleep properly. Itching is a common sign of allergic skin reactions.
The constant need to scratch affected areas can be extremely bothersome and lead to skin inflammation, swelling or might even develop blisters. Moreover, scratching allergic skin can break the skin barrier, increasing the risk of secondary bacterial or fungal infections. These infections can cause additional discomfort and itching, further disrupting sleep. It can disrupt your daily routine and prevent you from falling asleep or waking you up during the night.
It may lead to restlessness and sleep disorders, like insomnia
In reaction to allergens, our bodies trigger an immune response that releases chemicals like histamine, which can cause various allergic symptoms. These symptoms can be particularly bothersome at night, making it challenging to fall asleep and stay asleep, which sometimes can result in insomnia or other sleep disorders.
It might trigger breathing disordered
In some cases, severe allergies can exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing conditions, such as asthma and sleep apnea. Asthma attacks at night can cause coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing, negatively compromising sleep quality. While sleep apnea is more hazardous since it interrupts breathing. Furthermore, if your mattress is old, it may be harboring even more dust and allergens, exacerbating respiratory issues.
Tips for preventing allergies from disrupting your sleep
Over time, the cumulative effect of poor sleep due to allergies can lead to sleep deprivation and disorders. Sleep deprivation can affect cognitive function, mood, and overall health. Therefore, it is important to prevent these allergies. Here are some terrific tips to do that.
1. Clean your bedroom, including dusting surfaces, vacuuming the floors, and washing your bedding in hot water to remove allergens.
2. Wash your bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers, in hot water at least once a week to kill dust mites and remove any allergens build-up.
3. Remove your mattress from your bed and put it under the sun and expose it to natural sunlight, which can help reduce moisture and discourage mould growth. It is also helpful to air out any funky and moist smell from the mattress.
4. Mattresses accumulate various kinds of allergens and microorganisms during their use. And as it can’t be deep cleaned, it is best to replace your mattress when the time is right. Old and spoiled bedding is a great source to feed and grow these germs. Look for the signs to know when you need to dump your old mattress and buy a new mattress.
5. Invest in hypoallergenic mattresses and bedding that are naturally resistant to bacteria, mould, and mildew. Some mattresses are purpose-built with natural substances or technological advancement to be hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and other allergens.
6. Use a hypoallergenic waterproof mattress protector or mattress cover to create a barrier against dust, moisture, spillage and allergens. Make sure the mattress protector you choose is breathable so it doesn't trap heat. Additionally, look for a protector that is easy to clean and maintain.
7. If you are sensitive to pet dander, it's best to keep pets out of your sleeping area to reduce allergy exposure. Regular vacuuming and dusting can help eliminate pet dander in the home. It is also advisable to keep windows closed. Furthermore, cleaning your hands after playing with pets might help decrease allergen distribution.
8. Keep windows closed during high pollen seasons to prevent pollen from entering your bedroom.
9. Taking a shower before bedtime can help wash away allergens from your body and hair, preventing them from transferring to your bedding. This can help reduce the severity of symptoms related to allergies, such as sneezing and congestion.
10. Nasal saline rinses can help clear nasal passages and reduce congestion, allowing for better breathing during sleep.
11. Identify your specific allergens and try to avoid exposure to them, especially close to bedtime.
12. If your allergies are severe and impacting your slumber, consider seeing an allergist to get proper diagnosis and treatment.
Conclusion
Allergies can interfere with your slumber, causing agitation, sleep disturbances, and even sleeplessness. Allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, itching, and skin irritation can make it difficult to relax and sleep. Additionally, the discomfort caused by allergies may result in interrupted slumber, leaving you fatigued and exhausted during the day. As a result, it is vital to combat and prevent these allergies in order to get a restful and tranquil night's sleep. Allergies could be caused by dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens accumulating in your mattress, or they could be caused by something else.
To prevent allergens, keep your environment clean and sanitary by cleaning your mattress regularly, washing your linens, and buy hypoallergenic mattress when needed. Take the necessary steps to establish a sanitary and clean sleeping environment and routine to decrease allergen exposure, potentially helping to lessen allergy symptoms and enhance sleep quality.