Sleeping with Allergies

Now that we are into Spring, many Australians will have started their battle with allergies and hay fever. In fact, according to a 2020 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Wellness 1 in 5 Australians suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) each year. Usually triggered by common allergens such as pollen, dust mites or cats and dogs resulting in a blocked nose, sneezing and watery eyes. All of these symptoms affect our ability to breathe normally and easily, which is why we often experience poorer sleep quality.

Difficulty breathing and irritated eyes and skin can prevent you from both falling and staying asleep. It is always best to consult with your doctor about any allergies, however there are a few things you can do at home to reduce your exposure and minimise your hay fever / allergies.

1. Keep your bedroom clean

Airborne particles from plants, dust, pollen, pet dander and mould are the most common triggers for hay fever. Ensuring to keep your room as clear of these things as possible will help create an environment conducive to a better nights’ sleep. Although the sun is out & the days are warmer, you may also want to consider keeping windows & doors to the bedroom closed, particularly on windy days to further protect your home from allergens.

2. Shower just before bed

Pollen counts peak between October and January and can latch onto our bodies and clothes throughout the day. As the most common allergy people deal with, taking a quick shower before bed will help to wash away even the smallest amounts of pollen.

3. Replace your Pillows Regularly

It is recommended that your pillows should be replaced every 12 months for optimum fibre performance. Although, all of our Easy Rest pillows will last a lot longer than this especially if you are using pillow protectors and following the care instructions specific to each pillow. Fibre performance however, is not the only consideration when looking at when or how often to replace your pillows. If you suffer from allergies or constant sneezing in the morning, you may want to consider purchasing new pillowcases at the very least but ideally you should try replacing your pillows altogether.

If you find that your allergies are triggered by dust, make sure to look for pillows, quilts, mattress protectors and mattresses which are hypoallergenic and allergy friendly. Generally speaking, these have synthetic fillings such as polyester, memory foam or microfibre.

Our Easy Rest Staff Picks for allergy friendly bedding are the Cloud Support Microplush Pillow, Microblend Side Sleeper, Memory Fibre European Pillow & our range of Hi-Loft Quilts.

4. Find & Invest in Hypoallergenic Treated Bedding.

Millions of people suffer from allergies, asthma, skin complaints and other respiratory diseases.  Medical research has shown that dust mites are a major cause of these complaints. HealthGuard® is a new generation of anti-dust mite and anti-bacterial treatment. The treatment works in two ways; a constant repellent forcing mites to move away from the treated areas and also by inhibiting the growth of natural food sources such as yeast, mould and bacteria.

Here at Easy Rest we are a licenced applicator of HealthGuard® - a new generation anti-microbial, anti-dust mite treatment developed in Australia by Dr Christopher Harvey.

The key benefits of this treatment are;

• HealthGuard® helps to protect against mosquitos, bacteria, dust mites, bedbugs and moulds.
• HealthGuard® is odourless
• HealthGuard® is safe to use and is not an irritant or sensitizing
• HealthGuard® is biodegradable
• HealthGuard® has high wash fastness and UV stability

All HealthGuard® treated Easy Rest Products have the HealthGuard® logo and statement on the products and also show online.

Find out more about HealthGuard®.

We’d love to hear from you! Leave your comments and reviews here, on our Instagram or Facebook. Make sure you get in contact with any questions OR suggestions for future blogs. Here at Easy Rest we know how important it is to get a good nights’ sleep and can’t wait to give you more tips and tricks on how to achieve it!