Dr Jill Warner and Prof. John Warner discuss the effect of allergies on sleep quality, including allergens like dust mites, animal dander, pollen, molds, fungus, and food allergies. They emphasize the importance of accurate allergy testing and managing allergies with medications like antihistamines and nasal sprays. Additionally, they highlight the significance of cleanliness, reducing exposure to allergens, and the relationship between allergies and sleep behavior.
Allergies can significantly disrupt sleep patterns and impact overall health, leading to fragmented and poor-quality sleep.
Minimizing exposure to allergens in the bed area, such as dust mites and pet allergens, can improve sleep quality and reduce the exacerbation of allergic conditions.
Deep dives
Allergies and Sleep: Understanding the Impact
Allergies can significantly affect sleep quality and overall well-being. One of the main culprits is the presence of dust mites in mattresses, pillows, and duvets, which can trigger allergic reactions. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and feed on human skin scales. Their allergens, found in their fecal particles, can cause allergic reactions when inhaled. Another common allergen is cat allergen, which is present in the sebaceous glands and saliva of cats. Airborne allergens, such as pollen and mold, can also disrupt sleep. Allergists can conduct tests such as skin prick testing and blood tests to determine specific allergens individuals are sensitive to. While antihistamines can provide temporary relief, it is more effective to minimize exposure to allergens through regular cleaning, using allergen-proof bedding covers, and maintaining optimal humidity levels. However, it's important to acknowledge the financial and practical limitations of these solutions and to seek professional advice from allergists to develop a personalized approach.
Reducing Allergens in the Bedroom
The bed is a key area to focus on when minimizing exposure to allergens. House dust mites, which thrive in mattresses, pillows, and duvets, can be controlled by using allergen-proof covers and regularly cleaning bedding. It's also essential to address pet allergens by restricting their access to the bedroom and washing bedding regularly. Hard floors are preferable over carpets, as they can harbor allergens. Soft toys should be cleaned frequently by washing at high temperatures and freezing to eliminate allergens. Maintaining a dry indoor environment, with humidity levels below 40%, can help reduce dust mite populations. Ventilation systems with heat exchange can assist in creating an allergen-free zone within the bedroom. However, it's important to assess individuals' willingness, availability, and financial capability to adhere to these strategies.
The Sleep-Allergy Connection
Allergies can significantly disrupt sleep patterns and impact overall health. Allergic reactions, such as a blocked nose or asthma attacks, can interfere with the normal cycling of sleep stages, resulting in fragmented and poor-quality sleep. Polysomnography, which measures sleep quality, has shown that allergies can disturb the deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles. This disruption not only leaves individuals feeling tired upon waking but can also affect metabolic and endocrine responses, potentially worsening the allergic condition. By effectively managing allergies during sleep, individuals can increase sleep quality, improve daytime functioning, and reduce the exacerbation of underlying allergic diseases.
Join host Mike Finch, Dr Jill Warner and Emeritus Professor John Warner to break down the effect allergies have on sleep quality. The panel discuss the various allergens affecting sleep - from dust mites in your bed to cat dander - and how best to deal with them.
Dr Jill Warner has a BSc in Immunology and Physiology and a PhD in Allergy from the University of London. She is currently an Honorary Professor in Paediatrics at The University of Cape Town and her research interests are in the foetal origins of allergic disease and environmental allergen avoidance. Dr Jill Warner has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and journal articles in the field of allergy.
Prof. John Warner is a Professor of Paediatrics at Imperial College London and the University of Cape Town. His research has focused on the early life origins of asthma and related allergic and respiratory disorders. He has published over 400 papers in scientific journals on these topics. He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology from 1997-2010 and chairman of the paediatric section of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology for 5 years until 2010. He is also a member of the Speciality and Training Committee of the World Allergy Organisation and a past Trustee of the charity known as The Anaphylaxis Campaign. He was a member of the Advisory Committee for Novel Foods and Processes of the Food Standards Agency for 12 years until 2012 and was recognised for his work in food allergy research by the award of an OBE in 2013.