KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a common immune response to an allergen such as grass, pollen, pet fur or dander, or dust mites. It is most common in spring and summer.
- Hay fever is often mistaken for the common cold, and vice versa. Customary hay fever symptoms include sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny nose – but not a fever.
- Hay fever can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and sleep quality, and it can also contribute to or worsen snoring.
- Strategies to manage the symptoms of hay fever include using appropriate nasal sprays, antihistamines, and a mouthguard for sleep to prevent snoring.
Spring has sprung in the southern hemisphere, and with the change in season, we happily welcome warmer days, balmy breezes, blooming flowers, and gradually longer daylight hours. Most of us love this time of the year, and there’s a real sense of “coming back to life” with this seasonal transition.
But for 1 in 5 Australians, spring also means hay fever – and, potentially, sleep disturbances and worsened snoring.
What is Hay Fever?
The air we breathe is full of tiny particles of substances from the local environment. As air is breathed in, these molecules can trigger an immune response if the body is sensitive or allergic to one or a combination of them.
Hay fever (properly termed “allergic rhinitis”) is a very common allergic reaction to pollen or another allergen in the air.
Pollen (or other allergens) in the airways can cause irritation and inflammation as the body recognises it as a foreign “invader”. The immune response in hay fever mimics that of the common cold; as far as your body is concerned, it is essentially the same thing. The body battles these substances that it perceives as a threat.
A major difference between the common cold and hay fever is that the common cold usually resolves within a week or two; hay fever can cause misery for weeks, months, or even year-round. It’s also worth noting that hay fever does not, in fact, cause a fever, while the common cold can do so.
Triggers of hay fever include pollens from grass, flowers, trees, or weeds, as well as dust mites, animal dander (dead skin cells), animal fur, mould, and even latex. Smoke from backburning, bushfires, bonfires, campfires, etc, can also be a trigger.
While this condition can occur at any time of the year, pollens are more prolific during spring and summer, so seasonal hay fever tends to be worse at this time. Additionally, pets shed their winter coats in spring and summer, so fur and pet dander are more of an issue in the warmer months.
Hay fever that occurs throughout the year is more likely to be caused by dust, mould, or another year-round allergen.
Common Symptoms of Hay Fever
- Sneezing
- Itchy, runny, or congested nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Post-nasal drip/feeling a need to clear the throat
- Mildly sore throat
- Mouth breathing
- Itchy skin
- Snoring
- Feeling like you have a cold that won’t resolve
In more severe cases, hay fever can also cause headaches, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
How Does Hay Fever Affect Sleep and Snoring?
An inflamed, itchy, runny, or blocked nose makes it more difficult to breathe smoothly, especially while you’re asleep. This leads to mouth breathing, which in turn encourages snoring:
- The tongue falls back towards the throat
- The jaw drops, further compressing the throat tissues
- The throat becomes drier, as the air breathed in is not humidified by the nasal passages
- The soft tissues vibrate in the throat => SNORING
Moreover, if the airways of he throat become inflamed, they’ll narrow even more and snoring will be worse.
With or without snoring, the symptoms of hay fever can make it challenging to get a comfortable, good night’s sleep.
Tips for Managing Hay Fever
- Carry tissues with you.
- Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors.
- Dust household surfaces with a damp cloth weekly.
- Stay indoors if possible when it’s windy or the pollen count is high, as well as during thunderstorms. Keep your windows at home and in the car closed during these times as well. (You can check the pollen count at your location in Australia here.)
- When you come home from being outdoors, wash your hands, rinse your eyes with fresh water, or better still, have a shower. Always shower or take a bath before bed.
- Use pillow and mattress protectors. Wash your bed linen once weekly, ideally using hot water.
- Dry your bed linen and clothing indoors rather than on an outside clothesline. Using a tumble dryer on a hot setting for 10 minutes will kill dust mites on bed linen.
- If pets are triggering your allergies, keep them out of your bedroom. Severe allergies may require that pets be kept outdoors (at least).
- Clean mould in your home using white vinegar or a specialised cleaning product (e.g. one that contains clove oil and/or tea tree oil). Using bleach will not kill mould, and it can further trigger respiratory symptoms.
- Avoid mowing the lawn yourself if possible; wear a mask if you have to mow. Research which plants are most likely to trigger allergies and avoid or remove these from your garden. Say no to having fragrant cut flowers or plants in your home.
- Consider using a nasal spray or rinse (neti pot) to help clear allergens and mucous from inside the nasal passages. Using an air purifier may also be helpful.
- Speak with your pharmacist about a suitable antihistamine medication. These need to be chosen with consideration of other medications you take and any chronic health conditions you may have.
- Use an effective stop snore device like SnoreMD. This mouthguard for sleep can dramatically improve snoring symptoms, even in the presence of hay fever, and support a healthier night’s sleep.
- See your GP for help if your symptoms are persistent and occur most days per week for more than a few weeks, they are severe enough to make you feel unwell, or they negatively affect your sleep, work, school, or social activities. Doctors can prescribe appropriate medicines, including the right antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, or decongestants for you.
Treating hay fever properly is particularly important if you have asthma or sleep apnoea.
Mitigate The Impact of Hay Fever on Snoring – Use SnoreMD
Whether you’re a habitual snorer, have sleep apnoea, or only snore in response to having hay fever, it’s very important to minimise the effects of snoring to improve your sleep. Doing so has numerous benefits for your overall health, well-being, and longevity.
Effectively addressing snoring may also alleviate some of your hay fever symptoms.
SnoreMD is a revolutionary Australian-made snoring mouthguard that is recommended by doctors, sleep specialists, and pharmacists. It is worn in the mouth while you sleep and helps open the airways by gently moving the lower jaw slightly forward (to a level that is comfortable and effective for you). This helps prevent the soft tissue vibrations that cause snoring.
Why not give it a try?
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