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The steps you should take before bed to reduce the effects of hayfever�
With hayfever season now affecting millions across the globe, we thought it best to cover the basics when it comes to allergy-proofing your bedroom for sleep.
Each year, almost half of us experience sneezing, coughing, headaches, and the many other symptoms associated with hay fever and allergies. Though experts are constantly sharing tips for battling the period, including how to pollen-proof your home, quick fixes are few and far between when it comes to health.
How to reduce hayfever symptoms when sleeping
Speaking to Get Laid Beds, sleep expert Dr Deborah Lee issued a series of steps to take to offset hayfever symptoms while you’re in bed sleeping.
The first tip was showering before bed, which only 25% of us are doing regularly. Though most of us prefer to wash in the morning, Dr Lee said showering before bed removes any lingering pollen that is waiting until you’re at your most vulnerable.
Ensuring that you have a shower before bed will mean that you remove any lingering pollen that youve brought in with you from the outdoors,” she explained. “A shower, including a good hair wash, will help get rid of the pollen that youve brought in with you, that may be stuck to you, causing symptoms such as itchy eyes and runny noses at night.
As you might have already worked out, keeping your windows shut is also vital to keeping that pesky pollen out of your bedroom. Considering pollen counts are much higher this year, shutting your windows could make a huge difference to your sleep quality.
“If youre suffering with the heat this year, be sure to get a fan to use during the night, and keep those windows closed,” the doctor added.
Dr Lee also suggested elevating your head while sleeping, and while this won’t have with other symptoms, it “can help decrease nasal congestion.
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Outside of showering before bed, there are other hygiene steps to take in the hopes of reducing hay fever’s effect on your sleep.
Dr. Lee explained: “A lot of us love sleeping with our beloved pets, but theyre likely to be the ones getting pollen stuck to them and bringing it through the house.
“Having a pet in such close proximity in the bedroom during the night is likely to make your hayfever worse. If you can, keep your pet out of the bedroom this time of year, or give them a good wash and brush before they enter the room.
During pollen season it also makes sense to wash your bedding more frequently because it’s simply too difficult to completely pollen-proof your residence.
“Washing your bed linen more than normal will also help wash away the additional pollen thats brought through during the week,” the expert added.
