Symptoms of Morning Allergies

Morning allergy symptoms are just like any-time-of-day allergy symptoms, from itchy eyes to a stuffy nose. Allergy symptoms materialize when your immune system overreacts to something in the air, like pollen, pet dander, dust, or mold. This immune reaction can cause all sorts of symptoms including:

• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Itchy ears, nose, or throat
• Sinus pressure or pain
• Fatigue
• And even more severe allergy symptoms, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.

What Causes Morning Allergies?

Dust mites in your bedding, pollen blowing in through your bedroom window, a softly snoring pet at the end of your bed—any of these could be the reason that your allergies are worse in the morning. Let’s take a closer look at each of these potential triggers:

Dust Mites

Dust mites, closely related to ticks and spiders, can be found in nearly any home. But don’t be fooled by their tiny size—these little pests are one of the biggest culprits behind year-round allergy symptoms. Dust mite allergies can be more intense in the morning because these microscopic critters like to hide out in soft places like your mattress, pillows, and bedding (they also like curtains, carpets, furniture, and rugs).

Pollen

If your allergies tend to show up during particular seasons—like spring, summer, or fall—pollen is the likely offender. Sleeping with your windows open at night will cause your pollen allergy symptoms to flare up in the morning because you’ve been exposed to the allergen all night long. Not to mention that pollen counts are at their highest in the wee hours of the morning! 

But it doesn’t take open windows to trigger your pollen allergy in the morning. If you’ve been outside during the day, pollen can stick to your clothes, hair, and skin. When you head indoors, you can transfer pollen to your furniture and bedding, which might also lead to worsening symptoms in the morning.

Pets

If you have pet allergies, your body reacts to proteins in the pet dander, saliva, or even the urine of cats or dogs. If your furry friend is sharing the bed, your pet allergy symptoms will be highly active in the morning, as you’ve been in close contact with allergens while you sleep. And, just like you can track pollen into your home on your clothes, your pup might also be covered in the stuff after romping outside—another reason to find a different place for your pet to sleep at night if you’re experiencing increased allergy symptoms in the morning hours.

Mold

Mold is a fungus that grows in moist environments, both indoors and outdoors, on any surface, and produces tiny spores that float in the air. If you’re allergic to mold, you’ll experience typical allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy throat when you breathe these invisible spores in.

A mold allergy is especially problematic in the morning if your bedroom is close to a bathroom or another location of a mold infestation. If you spend the night sleeping next to this common allergen, you’ll likely wake up feeling less than your best.

Other Irritants

Other irritants like body mists, cleaning supplies, and smoke can increase your allergy symptoms as well. If you share a bedroom with a perfume-spritzing partner or enjoy an evening by the fireplace, exposure to these common irritants close to bedtime might be another explanation for your morning allergy flare ups. While irritants don’t cause allergies, they can certainly exacerbate existing allergies.

Managing Morning Allergies

If you’re waking up with mild allergies in the morning, an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine medication like Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec might be just the thing to alleviate your symptoms. Taking a dose before bedtime can help you wake up with fewer symptoms, especially if you’re in the thick of a seasonal allergy assault. (Keep in mind that seasonal allergies are also known as hay fever!)

If your allergies seem to overpower OTC meds, consider reaching out to a medical professional who can prescribe a prescription allergy medication. These come in higher-strength doses and can offer greater relief from more persistent, aggressive allergies.

In addition to medications, some small shifts in your daily routine can also make a big difference in reducing your morning allergy attacks. Try these simple suggestions to reduce your exposure to allergens during the night:

Pre-Bedtime Routines

We talked about how allergens, like pollen, can stick to your clothes and hair. If you know pollen triggers your allergy symptoms, try taking a shower and putting on clean, fresh clothes before crawling into bed. Toss your clothes from the day straight into the wash so you can avoid transferring allergens onto your furniture or bedding. Then, be sure to close your windows at night and take your allergy meds before you hit the hay. 

Allergen-Proofing Your Bedroom

While it’s impossible to entirely eliminate dust mites, mold, and other allergens in your home, you can significantly reduce exposure to these irritants with a few minor measures:

• Purchase dust mite covers for your mattress and pillows.
• Clean and vacuum regularly.
• Turn on a dehumidifier (dust mites thrive in humid environments).
• Keep your windows closed, particularly at night.
• Wash your bedding and clothing regularly.
• Remove shoes and outerwear as soon as you come inside.
• If you think mold may be a problem, schedule professional mold testing for your home.
• Consider replacing carpets with hard flooring.
  

And one more note: If you suspect that your cat or dog might be contributing to your allergies in the morning, try keeping your pet out of your bedroom at night. At the very least, give your companion his or her own bed, and bathe them at least once a week.

Discover Relief from Morning Allergies with Quello

Sneezing, itching eyes, a runny nose—allergy symptoms can take a toll on your quality of life, especially when they’re disrupting your sleep and causing an ongoing sense of fatigue throughout your day. That’s why it’s vital to find allergy relief that’s accessible, effective, and sustainable, which is where Quello’s allergy drops come in. 

At Quello, we know how disruptive allergies can be to living the life you envision. Our team of medical allergy specialists have helped thousands of allergy patients, just like you, experience an allergy-free life. Our allergy drops don’t just treat symptoms, they prevent symptoms for good using personalized at-home treatment plans and ongoing support from our allergy experts and doctors.

Here’s how it works:

1. We mail you a blood test to complete at home to determine your specific triggers.
2. We design allergy drops just for you and send them straight to your door.
3. You take your drops daily, and enjoy the path toward long-term allergy prevention.

Plus, our allergy experts are available all the time to answer your questions and celebrate victories with you! Don’t let morning allergies get your day off to a bad start. Let Quello help you find long-term allergy relief—not just in the morning, but all day long.

Start overcoming your allergies.

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