Do you wake up congested every morning? Do you sneeze first thing in the morning? Do you cough or have a runny nose when you get out of bed? If this sounds like you, then you’re not the only one.
Many people wake up with morning allergies, often without knowing why. The answer may lie in their bed, potentially due to dust mites.
Allergy Asthma & Immunology Institute can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
What Are Dust Mites and Where Do They Hide?
Dust mites are tiny bugs. They are so small that you cannot see them with your eyes. They live in warm, soft places. They love:
- Your bed
- Your pillows
- Your mattress
Dust mites eat dead skin cells. All human beings lose dead skin cells daily. These cells are food for dust mites, which multiply.
Dust mites are not blood suckers or disease carriers. They turn into waste, however. This waste causes morning allergies. Your body responds to the intake of this waste. Your immune system recognizes these bugs as an invader. It fights back, causing trouble for your nose and throat. That’s why waking up with allergies is so common.
Do Allergies Cause a Runny Nose?
Yes. They can. Allergic rhinitis may cause a clear, watery runny nose along with sneezing, an itchy nose, watery eyes and congestion. If these symptoms happen often, an allergy evaluation may help identify the trigger.
Why Are Allergies Worse in the Morning?
Have you ever wondered why allergies are worse in the morning? Here are a few reasons:
- Long Time in Bed
You sleep for many hours. Your face is close to your pillow. Your pillow has dust mites and their poop. You breathe in dust all night. By morning, your nose has had enough. You wake up feeling stuffed and tired.
- Low Cortisol Levels
Your body’s natural medicine, called cortisol, decreases at night. Cortisol is excellent for preventing swelling and itching. Your allergy symptoms will worsen when cortisol levels are low.
- Mucus Build-Up
The mucus doesn’t drain from your nose when you are lying down as it does when you are standing up. Mucus builds up in your nose and throat all night, causing a cough in the morning and a sore throat. You may also have a runny nose and sneeze when you wake up.
Is It a Morning Cold or Dust Mite Allergies?
When you wake up sneezing and coughing, you might think you are getting sick. Many people mix up a morning cold with allergies. But here is the big difference:
A cold comes from a virus. It can give you body aches, a fever and make you very tired.
Dust mite allergies do not give you a fever. Instead, they give you:
- A cough in the morning
- An itchy throat
- A stuffy nose that gets better when you leave your bedroom
If your nose is stuffy every day in your room, it’s probably dust mite allergies.
The best way to know is to see a doctor. An allergist is a doctor who knows about allergies. They can test you.
One test is a skin prick test. The doctor puts tiny bits of things that make you sneeze on your skin. They prick it lightly. If a small red bump shows up, you are allergic.
Another test is a blood test. The doctor can take a small sample of your blood. They send it to a laboratory to check your body’s immune system cells and find out exactly what is making you sneeze.
Dust mite allergy can also make asthma worse. If you have asthma, dust mites can trigger wheezing and chest tightness. Treating the allergy can help your asthma too.
Why Do I Feel Nauseous Before I Sneeze?
Some people feel a strange sensation before they sneeze. It sounds unusual, but it happens to more people than you think.
During an extreme allergy attack, your nerves become very “excited”. Nerves that run from your nose and throat may sometimes get mixed up with your tummy nerves. This mix-up leads to a strange feeling of nausea before sneezing.
This is a harmless reaction, but if you are suffering from a blocked nose, it can be uncomfortable.
How to Stop Morning Allergies
You can do these easy things to stop morning allergies:
- Wash your sheets in hot water every week
- Use special covers on your pillows and mattress to keep dust mites away
- Keep your room clean and dry
- Vacuum your floor often to remove dust
How a Specialist Can Help
Sometimes, home cleaning is not enough. When you have congestion in the morning, you don’t need to deal with it by yourself.
An allergist can help you find the cause. At Allergy Asthma & Immunology Institute, Dr. Laura Ispas and her team provide expert care. We offer comprehensive allergy testing. We can identify your personal triggers. Then we create a treatment plan just for you.
We treat allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema and more. We offer allergy shots and other therapies that build your body’s strength against dust mites over time. We work with both children and adults. If you’re in Leesburg, Ashburn, or Loudoun County, assistance is on the doorstep.
Start Feeling Better Today
You do not have to wake up stuffy every morning. You can take control. Begin by washing your bed linens in hot water. Use dust-proof covers on your mattress and pillows. Keep your bedroom clean and dry. If symptoms continue, see a doctor.
Allergy Asthma & Immunology Institute is here to help. We offer customized treatment. We apply the most modern treatments. We’ll work with you and get you relief.
Call us to book an appointment. You can also visit our website to learn more.
FAQs
Why does my nose run so much in the morning?
Your body might be reacting to something you breathed in while you were sleeping.
Why is my nose so irritated and I keep sneezing?
Itchy nose and sneezing are signs that something is bothering your nose. If it happens most in your bedroom, it could be an indoor allergy.
