Allergies keeping you awake?

Many of us know the misery of allergies all too well - the sneezing, runny nose and postnasal drip; the watery, itchy eyes, ears, nose and throat. Whether the cause is seasonal, year-round or occupational, the effects are similar. Our sleep often suffers, too, either because of the symptoms themselves or the medication we use to treat them. And reduced quality and quantity of sleep wreaks havoc on daily life: mood, energy, concentration, performance, sexual function and ability to think and make decisions are all affected.

Allergic rhinitis: commonly referred to as hayfever, allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages that occurs when the body overreacts to an allergen (such as pollen, dander and house dust mites). As the nasal passages swell they block airflow, causing congestion.

Nasal congestion affects sleep in a variety of ways:

• It can be more difficult to sleep while breathing through your mouth; as your body tries repeatedly to breath nasally, it disturbs your sleep over and over again.
• The air that is normally warmed and moistened when passing through the nose is now re-routed through your mouth, drying out and irritating lips, mouth and throat.
• Pressure or pain can prevent you from falling asleep and staying asleep.
• There is an increased tendency to snore, which disturbs your sleep, not to mention your bed partner’s.
• Congestion can worsen the symptoms of those suffering from sleep apnoea, a serious sleep disorder in which one periodically stops breathing while sleeping.

Postnasal drip: mucus and other secretions drip down the back of the throat, irritating it. This often causes clearing of the throat and coughing as the secretions drip onto the vocal cords or even into the windpipe. These symptoms disturb sleep and may awaken you at night.

Nocturnal wheeze: In certain people, inhaling allergens may induce sleep-disturbing wheezing. This is caused by the constriction of the bronchioles, tubes that carry air to your lungs. Constriction reduces airflow and wheezing occurs as air moves through these narrowed tubes. Similarly, allergens can increase the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Non-specific symptoms:: allergens may also cause non-specific symptoms that seem unrelated to allergies. Recurrent headaches, for example, may be caused by allergies.