Sleep can be affected by a lot of different things — changes in temperature, outside noise, tossing and turning from the person or pet beside you. And so can seasonal or year-round allergies.

Some people aren’t aware that their allergies are affecting their sleep quality. They may not realize that their breathing is constricted, leading them to have symptoms of sleep apnea or laboured, interrupted breathing at night. Or that the discomfort of itchy eyes or itchy skin can make relaxing to the point of falling asleep very difficult.

Sneezing, itching, wheezing, and coughing before sleep or in the middle of the night can really prevent a person from quality sleep. We all need to sleep well to be our best selves and to enjoy our lives to the fullest.

So here are some steps you can take to make sure your allergies don’t get the best of you.

Steps To Make Sure Your Allergies Get Away From You

Check Your Mattress

Your mattress may actually be the source of your allergy problems. Without proper cleaning and occasionally replacing, mattresses are a trap for dust mites, dander (if you have pets at home), and even mould.

Especially if you have allergies, it is a good idea to vacuum your mattress thoroughly and often. If you can, tilt it upright on a dry, sunny day and give it time to dry out — even if it hasn’t had any liquid damage, mattresses still absorb a lot of bodily moisture from sweat and so on.

And remember that mattresses do need replacing now and again so if you find that as soon as you lay down to sleep, your allergy symptoms kick in, it may be time for some serious mattress maintenance or even replacement.

Take Extra Precautions

If it is allergy season, you might need to take extra precautions to guard against allergens. Some ideas are to:

• Keep the windows closed at night to keep airborne allergens out of your bedroom.
• Get an air humidifier to make the air easier to breathe, which will help if you are sneezing, itching, or coughing from allergies.
• Keep your pets off your bed — no exceptions! If you have allergies to pet dander, you might want to keep your pet out of your room all together.
• Shower at night so that you are going to bed clean, especially if you have been outside throughout the day, or were in contact with any kind of allergen.
• Change into fresh pyjamas and definitely don’t go to bed wearing the t-shirt you wore all day.
• Wash and change your sheets regularly. This is a great habit to get into whether you have allergies or not but it’s especially important throughout allergy season.
• Avoid stimulants or things that might make your symptoms worse like late-night snacking or alcohol.

Many people need to take allergy medication for at least part of the year, and if it helps you get a good night’s rest then it is probably worth it. But don’t forget that there are lifestyle changes you can make for yourself that might ease your symptoms.

If you are looking to upgrade or replace your mattress, you might find that it will help you get the rest you’ve been dreaming of.