Do You Have a Sleep Disorder That’s Made Worse by Allergies? Learn the Signs That Could Indicate You Do

Generally, a person who suffers from allergies is looking for ways to reduce the impact of their allergies during the day. However, there are often issues during sleep too. In fact, a person suffering from allergies might not even know that the issues they have with sleep are related to their allergies. Keep reading to find out if you might have a sleep disorder that is made worse by your allergies, or just contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 for comprehensive allergy testing and treatment.

If You Have Any of These Signs then You Might Have a Sleep Disorder

Some of the most common signs people show that indicate a sleep disorder are obvious, while others are less so. Examples include:

• Waking up frequently for no reason and having a hard time falling back to sleep
• Brain fog throughout the day
• Snoring
• You feel tired throughout your day even when you feel that you slept well the night before
• You fall asleep if you are sitting down, winding down, or taking any low-activity time

These are not the only signs of a sleep disorder but they are common ones.

Your Allergies Could Be Disrupting Your Sleep in a Number of Ways

Most of the time, if a person has disrupted sleep due to allergies it is because the allergies have inflamed their airways and make it hard to breathe. This type of inflammation can block the air supply entirely, which causes a dangerous condition known as sleep apnea. Enlarged adenoids can also be caused by allergies, which make it difficult or impossible to breathe through the nose.

Add to all of that the fact that your cortisol levels are lower at night, and the fact that cortisol is meant to regulate inflammation, and it is easy to see how allergies are made worse at night. Finally, allergies can cause itchiness, which can make it hard to sleep at night.

How to Improve Your Sleep

You cannot cure allergies but they can be treated. The best way to improve your sleep is to work with an allergist who can treat your allergies. Other tips you can follow include cleaning your bedroom, keeping pets out of your bedroom, getting tested for allergies, taking allergy medications, and getting rid of scented items.

Even if your allergies are very bad, there is a good chance that your sleep can be improved. If you would like customized suggestions based on your specific situation, contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment.