Hay fever is often thought of as a sniffle or watery eyes, but it can actually include a wide array of disruptive symptoms.
The signs of hay fever seem to appear earlier and earlier each year, leaving many sufferers struggling uncomfortably. If you've had hay fever, you may know all to well how much the symptoms can impact your daily life.
Around 20% of UK adults suffer with hay fever, making it one of the most common allergies in the UK. One sign of the condition is disrupted sleep which can lead to daytime fatigue and a lower level of cognitive functioning.
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Other symptoms, according to the NHS, include sneezing and coughing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, red or watery eyes. Sufferers may also experience an itchy throat, mouth, nose and/or ears, loss of smell, pain around your temples and forehead, headaches and earache.
Alison Jones from mattress brand Sealy UK has shared five simple yet effective ways of making allergy season more bearable – especially at night time. One quick fix shares a bed sheet mistake many of us may be making.
Shower before getting into bed
If your allergy symptoms worsen at night, it may be worth considering shaking up your shower routine. After a long day, invisible micro particles can lay on your clothes, hair and skin – especially if you have spent a lot of time outside.
A quick shower to cleanse your skin before you settle down into bed can help to keep your allergy symptoms at bay and protects your bedding from additional contamination. Instead of keeping your sleepwear folded on your bed ready for sleep, keep your pyjamas stored away where excess air particles cannot travel as easily.
Similarly, try steaming your sinuses by placing a towel over your head with your face over a hot bottle of water with 2-3 drops of Olbas oil. This will open up your nasal passages and help you to breathe easier.
Reduce pet dander
Your adorable pets can make the perfect snuggle buddy at night, however their hairs may not be doing you any favours when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. Fur is a magnet for dust and other allergens, meaning you’ll be the one to suffer when they climb into your bed late at night. If you’re really suffering from hay fever, try putting your pet to sleep in another room for a night to see if it improves your symptoms.
Reconsider your sleep environment
It can be hard to banish allergens for good but choosing a mattress that has built in anti-allergy properties is a great way to ensure your bed is working with you and not against you. Mattresses such as Sealy's new Posturepedic mattress range are endorsed by the Allergy Foundation, and "not only alleviate those evening sneezes but also significantly extend the lifespan of the mattress".
Anti-allergy pillows and anti-microbial bedding sets can also keep the dust and pollen particles at bay.
Keep an eye on symptoms
If you are struggling with your symptoms, it is recommended that you seek help from your GP, so you can relieve any symptoms with the relevant anti-allergy medication. If you notice symptoms are worse in the evening, you should take any medication in the early evening, or just before bed, in order to reap the full benefits.
Wash your sheets at 40C (and don’t hang them out to dry)
Washing your sheets every other week is recommended, however, if you are living with hay fever you will benefit from regular weekly washes to free your sheets of pollen and other particles that might make symptoms worse. Washing bedsheets in slightly higher temperatures of 40°C or above is more effective for removing traces of tree pollen.
As the weather begins to improve, many of us enjoy hanging our laundry outside to dry, however for hay fever sufferers this could prove to be a mistake. To avoid pollen attaching itself to your freshly washed bedding, hang your sheets to dry on an indoor clothes horse – it may take a little longer, but the sleep benefits will be worth it.
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