After a long day of dealing with itching, sneezing, stuffiness and general discomfort, all you want to do is crash into bed and get a good night's rest. Unfortunately allergies don't always stop at bedtime.
According to a recent survey, more than one-third of allergy sufferers say that their symptoms impact their sleep. Allergy-related sleep deprivation can make many people long for winter to return. Fortunately, there are a number of steps allergy sufferers can take to turn their bedroom into an allergy-free zone and minimize their body's reaction to allergens:
- Keep the air clean: Many people choose to stay indoors on pollen-heavy days, but it's not much help if the air inside your home is also saturated with allergens. Household dust, pet dander and pollen tracked in from outside all increase your allergies indoors. To keep your indoor air as clean as possible, use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom and keep your windows closed as often as you can.
- Use a dehumidifier: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ideal indoor humidity is between 30 percent and 50 percent. Excess humidity is the perfect breeding ground for allergy-triggering mold, mildew, dust mites and bacteria. To avoid exposure to these particles, use a dehumidifier in your bedroom to help remove some of the moisture in the air, making it tougher for allergens to grow.
- Hypoallergenic bedding: Washing your blankets, sheets and pillowcases on a regular basis can help keep away many surface allergens, but it's still possible for dust and pollen to sink into your mattress. Hypoallergenic bedding uses specific fabric to stop the pollen, dust and dirt from getting into your mattress, resulting in a much better sleep.
The bedroom is where most people spend the majority of time at home, so make sure you are taking steps to keep it as allergen-free as possible.
