Hay fever is a common allergic reaction which occurs at particular times of the year, mainly end of March right the way through until end of September. It is medically known as seasonal rhinitis, occurring as a reaction to pollen from grass, trees and weeds during the spring and summer months when everything is in bloom. It affects around 25% of people both adults and children and can vary in severity from year to year.
The most common symptoms of hay fever are itchy eyes, sneezing, a blocked or runny rose, headaches, blocked sinuses, headaches and tiredness.
These symptoms can affect how you feel during the day, but also how you sleep at night. The allergens entering your nasal passage are likely to make you feel uncomfortable as you lie in bed, affecting your ability to breathe easily. The itchy eyes and constant sneezing will also make it hard for you to drift off or stay asleep through the night.
Sleeping with allergies can be tough, so here we have listed five top tips to help you cope and sleep better during the summer months.
Keep The Windows Closed
It’s very tempting to leave your bedroom windows open when the evenings get warm for a cool breeze, but by doing so, you are inviting allergens into your room and bed. Closing the windows through the day and night can do a lot to keep pollen and other allergens outside.
If you do need a way to cool off at night during the summer months, then try using a fan or opting for lighter bed linen and sleepwear.
Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can offer much improved sleep for people with hay fever allergies. When placed in your bedroom, they help to clear the space of common allergens brought in from outside.
Air purifiers work by sanitising the air, which may include pollutants, allergens, and toxins. They’re very different to diffusers and humidifiers, which add particles to indoor air. They also act differently to filters, which only remove particles.
There are many different types of air purifiers available on the market, so it’s always best to do some research before you buy. Some types are made with filters to trap particles as air runs through them, while others neutralise particles in the air without filtering them first.
Choose a Hypoallergenic Mattress
A good quality hypoallergenic mattress is a great choice if you're looking for a clean and healthy sleeping environment to reduce allergens in your bed.
All our eze™ mattresses are covered with a hypoallergenic fabric, meaning that they will help stop dust mites and other allergens penetrating the surface and settling within. Therefore, helping to prevent allergic symptoms as you sleep.
Hypoallergenic mattresses are a great choice for adults as well as children. They can help to keep your child's allergies or asthma at bay as they sleep.
Amend Your Laundry Routine
After spending time outside, especially during high pollen count days, allergens and pollen spores can attach to your clothes, meaning you are bringing pollen in to your house.
If you’ve spent the day outdoors, remove your clothes when you arrive home and put them directly in the laundry room. Change into something that you wear only indoors to ensure you are pollen free when you are walking around your home.
Also, if you usually hang your clothes outside to dry, then be aware that pollen in the air might attach itself onto them. So never hang your pyjamas or your bed linen outside to dry as you are likely to be then taking the pollen directly into bed with you!
Shower Before Bed
A nice refreshing shower before bed can help to cool you off after a warm day as well as helping to wash any pollen away that might be attached to your skin or hair.
Making a cool shower part of your bedtime routine will ensure you are always clean before you hit the sheets and therefore less likely to bring any nasties into your bed that may aggravate your symptoms.
