What Makes Allergies Worse at Night?

Allergies can cause symptoms such as watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing all day long. However, many people also experience symptoms at night that can interrupt sleep and leave them worn out the next day.
Factors such as sleeping position and indoor irritants such as pet dander, dust, and mold are common reasons allergies can feel worse at
night.

Treating allergies and taking steps such as changing your sleep position and taking steps to remove allergens from your bedroom can help relieve nighttime symptoms.

Why do my allergies get worse at night?

It’s common to experience allergies that get worse at night. There are a few reasons this can happen. These include:
• Sleeping position: Lying down causes the fluid in your nose and nasal passage to drip down your throat. When you have allergies, this can lead to irritation in your throat, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms that can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.
• Dust and mold: It’s common to think of allergy triggers being found outdoors, but many allergens can be found inside bedrooms. Water damage can lead to mold growing inside walls, and many older homes have buildups of mold, dust, and other allergens in the walls or floorboards.
• Humidifiers: Many people with allergies might find humidifiers helpful for dry sinuses. However, humidifiers can increase the production of dust in the air. Additionally, mold can grow in humidifier filters if they’re not changed regularly.
• Indoor pollen: Pollen can follow you indoors. This can be in a pet’s fur, through open windows, or on clothing.
• Your pet: Pet dander, the skin cells your pet sheds, is a common allergen. It can build up on your bedroom carpet and your blankets.

How can I calm my allergies down at night?

Finding the right allergy medication can be a good step for managing any allergy symptoms. You can also take steps to help relieve allergy symptoms that are worse at night. For instance, you can:
• sleep with your windows closed (but make sure your bedroom is well-ventilated)
• shower before bed
• wear clean pajamas
• try not using a humidifier at night (if you use a humidifier, clean and change the filter regularly)
• remove carpeting from your bedroom (if you can’t remove carpeting, vacuum regularly)
• change your sheets at least once a week (it may also be helpful to use a clean pillowcase each night)
• consider using an air purifier
• avoid letting your pet sleep in your bed, or at least on your pillows