Did you know that the time of day can have a big impact on how bad your allergies are? Most people tend to be more sensitive to allergens and irritants at night. It’s not just because there are fewer people around — it’s also due to specific biological changes your body goes through while you sleep.
If you experience seasonal allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy eyes, or sneezing at night more often than during the daytime, it could be due to an internal circadian rhythm.
Your circadian rhythm is a natural cycle that operates on a 24-hour period in response to light and darkness in your environment. In other words, your body has an internal clock that responds to light and darkness outside of you.
The Unusual Reason Why Your Allergies Might Be Worse at Night
why are my allergies worse at night?
What Happens When You Sleep?
Most of us know that we’re more sensitive to allergens and irritants at night because there are fewer people around. There are a few other factors that also contribute to this phenomenon, though, beyond just fewer people being around. - Air quality - Air temperature - Humidity - Sleep position - Stress levels When you sleep, your circadian rhythm shifts in a way that makes you more sensitive to allergens and irritants.
This is due to several factors: - Air quality - The air inside your home is often more polluted than the air outside. This is due to all the stuff that we keep inside our house. - Air temperature - The temperature in your home is often cooler than the temperature outside. This is because the sun provides free and renewable heating during the daytime. - Humidity - The humidity level in your home is often higher than the humidity level outside.
This is due to
all the water vapor in your breath inside the house. - Sleep position - The
position you sleep in can affect your breathing. - Stress levels - When we’re
stressed, our bodies release certain hormones that can make us more sensitive
to allergens and irritants.
24-Hour Rhythms and Allergies
Allergies are partly governed by circadian rhythms, so it makes sense that the circadian rhythms of allergy sufferers would also play a role. Studies show that people with seasonal allergies are more likely to experience worse symptoms in the late afternoon and early evening than they are in the morning.
The reason for this is that allergies are governed by circadian rhythms, and the circadian rhythms of allergy sufferers are not synchronized with seasonal allergies. People who suffer from allergies are more likely to have their circadian rhythm disrupted. Seasonal allergies, in particular, run on a 24-hour cycle, so the circadian rhythms of allergy sufferers are not synchronized with seasonal allergies.
That means that allergy sufferers are more likely to experience
worse symptoms in the late afternoon and early evening than they are in the
morning, when most people with allergies experience their worst symptoms.
Sneezing and Sinus Irritation at Night
All of the factors above — air quality, air temperature, humidity, sleep position, stress levels, and circadian rhythm — can lead to nasal congestion and irritation during your sleep. When your nasal passages are blocked up, particularly if you’re sleeping on your back, allergens and irritants have less space to travel and have more access to your sinuses.
If you have allergies, the allergens are more
likely to travel down into your sinuses, causing a bad reaction. You may notice
increased pressure or pain in your sinuses, frequent sneezing, or a watery or
itchy nose. More serious symptoms, such as a throbbing headache, may also occur
if your allergies are affecting your sinuses.
Dark Room Discomfort
Darkness is one of the factors that contributes to worse allergies at night, particularly if there are a lot of lights in your bedroom during the day. Bright lights affect the circadian rhythm of people who are sensitive to light, and some people may find that they need to wear sunglasses inside their house during the day to help manage their sensitivity.
If you have a dark bedroom and allergies,
your allergies may be worse at night because of the darkness. Bright lights affect
the circadian rhythm and are likely to help you sleep better at night. If you
have a dark bedroom, it might be helpful to use a sleep mask, which blocks out
light and helps you sleep better.
Bottom
Line
The
circadian rhythm of allergy sufferers and the 24-hour cycle of seasonal
allergies are not synchronized. During allergy season, allergy sufferers are
more likely to experience worse symptoms in the late afternoon and early
evening than they are in the morning. All of the factors above — air quality,
air temperature, humidity, sleep position, stress levels, and circadian rhythm
— can lead to nasal congestion and irritation during your sleep, particularly
if you have a darker bedroom. If you have allergies, it’s important to be aware
of these factors and how they may be making your allergies worse at night.
