With the pollen count picking up, hay fever sufferers across Northern Ireland are being offered advice on how to get a comfortable night’s sleep without suffering from itchy eyes and a runny nose.
As pollen settles in the evening, symptoms can worsen which can make falling asleep much harder.
Simple things like having a shower before bed to remove any lingering pollen and washing the bedding regularly can help reduce the severity of hay fever symptoms at night.
Ben Slater from Online-Bedrooms said: “Those who suffer from hay fever know how disruptive it can be and unfortunately, those with severe allergies may find their symptoms feel worse at night.
“This could be as a result of something called pollen showers. Pollen isn’t very heavy, so during the day it gets swept away with the hot air. At night, when the temperatures drop the pollen settles which can make hay fever feel more intense.
“You also may be bringing pollen into your home as it can easily get stuck on our clothes, in our hair and on our pets.
“We’ve put together some tips to help those suffering with hay fever get a better night’s sleep”
The interior experts at Online-Bedrooms have put together seven tips to help hay fever sufferers at night time.
- Take a shower before bed
Pollen can linger in our hair and on our skin. Try incorporating a shower into your night routine to wash away any existing pollen left on you from the day.
- Keep the windows closed
Keep your bedroom windows closed to prevent pollen from settling on your bed and in other areas of your room.
- Use an air purifier
Air purifiers take in unwanted particles like pollen and release purified air back into the room. This also helps those suffering with allergies related to dust mites and pet hairs.
- Be mindful of pets
Keep in mind that pollen can linger on our pets too so it’s worth keeping them out of the bedroom to prevent it from spreading.
- Take antihistamines
If you’re not doing so already, it’s worth taking some over the counter antihistamines once a day to keep your allergies at bay, this can lead to a more peaceful night’s sleep.
- Wash your bedding regularly
You may not be able to keep pollen out of your room altogether so it’s worth washing your bedding more often during hay fever season.
- Drink water throughout the day
Dehydration can lead to an increase in the body’s histamine levels which can make your hay fever symptoms feel worse.