Sleeping with Sinus Issues & Allergies in Denver

Can Allergies Cause Insomnia?

Suffering from allergies, also termed allergic rhinitis, can cause breathing issues and other frustrating symptoms that lead to trouble sleeping when severe. Allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander and mold can easily linger in the air and on surfaces in the home or bedroom. If you are sensitive to an allergen or irritant, exposure can trigger the body’s production of histamine chemicals as a response. These histamines are what cause symptoms like uncomfortable itching and sneezing, which can make relaxing and falling asleep difficult.

The symptoms of allergies that most commonly lead to sleeping problems are the inflammation and excessive mucus that also stem from the body’s histamine response. This often leads to a stuffy or runny nose, a dry or swollen throat, and other symptoms that make it very difficult to breathe easily while asleep. The inflammation and mucus caused by year-round or seasonal allergies can contribute to snoring while asleep. It can even worsen sleep apnea, a condition where the sleeper momentarily stops breathing throughout the night.

If your insomnia and sleeping problems are connected to allergies, you may also experience:

• Itchy eyes, nose, and throat
• Dry mouth or scratchy throat
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery eyes
• Headache

Daytime Effects of Sinus & Allergy Induced Insomnia

Sinus and allergy issues can both lead to difficulty sleeping, which has serious side effects on a person’s life during the day. Without restful sleep during the night the body is unable to recharge and recuperate. While in the short term this isn’t always a problem, having insomnia or sleeping issues for an extended time can negatively affect everything in your daily life from your energy and motivation, to your mental and physical health.

Your body relies on the hours of being shut down to convert calories into energy and refresh the brain. When allergies or sinusitis get in the way of good sleep, you can wind up feeling stressed, flustered, foggy and exhausted. It can be harder to get things done and to enjoy the usual activities because your mind isn’t processing at full capacity. You may not even realize that lack of quality sleep is the underlying reason for stress or tension in your life and body. Being continually stressed or tense as a result of poor sleep can lead to serious health risks like high blood pressure.

How to Sleep with Allergies

Home Care

There are several different things you can do at home to minimize allergies affecting your sleep at night. A clean home, room, and bed is important to maintain in order to reduce pollen, dust and pet dander from lingering in the air and on surfaces. Keep the home closed up if possible, bringing only filtered air into the house and keeping windows shut during the daytime especially. One of the best steps you can take is to make your room and bed a pet-free zone, particularly if your pet goes outside. Even if you don’t have a pet allergy, pollen and dust cling to fur and it’s best to keep those irritants out of your room.

Self-Care

Showering before you get into bed is another great way to make sure allergens don’t come into bed with you. This can also be relaxing which can help release stress and tension before trying to fall asleep. The National Sleep Foundation also recommends avoiding stressful activities before bed to help with insomnia, as well as setting a routine sleep schedule to get better sleep. Adding a humidifier to the home and bedroom can also help keep moisture in the air to reduce the dryness that causes irritation.

Oral Allergy Medications

Allergy medicines such as oral antihistamines can block the body’s histamine reaction and help reduce allergy symptoms for a period of time. For those with sleeping issues due to allergies, experts recommend taking these allergy medications at night, before bed. Allergy symptoms tend to peak in the morning, with sneezing, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes often flaring up just after waking. Taking the allergy pill at night will ensure that it is circulating in your bloodstream at the most crucial time when you wake up.

Allergy Drops

One of the best ways to stop allergies at the source and improve symptoms all around is to take daily allergy drops under the tongue. This is also called sublingual immunotherapy, which involves taking a few drops each day of a customized formula designed to combat your specific allergies. An allergy test can easily and accurately determine which allergies you are sensitive to. Allergy drops are just as effective as allergy shots but do not require monthly office visits and instead can be done from the comfort of your own home.