Have you struggled with worsening asthma at night? Coughing, wheezing, and other asthma symptoms can keep you from sleeping and cause a host of health problems. Nocturnal asthma--when asthma symptoms worsen at night--is a common ailment for asthmatics across the country. So what solutions are available to help prevent these nighttime attacks? Read on to find out.
Sources of Nighttime Asthma Triggers
Dust mites, particulate matter, and airborne dust are often at the heart of the asthma attacks that occur while you sleep. Ridding your bedroom of these pollutants can help you avoid nighttime flare-ups. The most common sources of asthma triggers in bedrooms are your mattress, carpet & rugs, and particulate matter in the air. Here are 3 products we recommend purchasing to help prevent nighttime attacks and to create an asthma friendly bedroom:
Tips for Creating a Healthy Bedroom
Mattress covers, pillow protectors, and especially dust mite covers, are commonly suggested items for protecting you against asthma triggers that originate inside your mattress and pillows. These all-natural covers are made of a comfortable high-quality material (like silk) and are woven together tightly to completely block out dust and mites residing in your mattress. Other tips include:
- Restricting pets in the bedroom: While not desirable, if you have pet allergies, restricting pets in the bedroom will help curb any asthma flair-ups.
- Wash curtains & other fabrics: Regular washing of curtains and other fabrics helps eliminate and cut-down on dust and dust mites.
- Sweep/Vacuum: Sweeping and vacuuming underneath the bed and behind the headboard cuts down on accumulated dust.
- Launder Sheet: Of course, be sure to regularly wash your sheets, and replace with clean, crisp bedding.
- Green Cleaners: Using detergents or soaps that are dye- and fragrance-free will also help with your asthma.
Use a HEPA Vacuum to Clean Your Mattress & Carpets
If you don't want to change your bedding, you can also consider a HEPA vacuum. Vacuums with HEPA filters can be used to remove pet hair, dander, dust, and dust mites from your mattress and bedroom carpet. While hypoallergenic bedding protects you from asthma triggers, we recommend vacuuming your mattress and carpets with a HEPA vacuum to remove them entirely from your bedroom.
Use a Bedside Air Purifier to Clean Your Air While Sleeping
Your bed and carpets aren't the only places triggers could be hiding: Keeping your bedroom air clean is just as important. Placing an air purifier near your bedside is another great way to breathe easier while you sleep. Air purifiers complete total air changes in your room--meaning all the air will go through it. Generally filters are used to trap these unwanted particles out of your air.
One air purifier for night-time use is the Coway AP-0512NH. True HEPA filtration clears out allergens, odors (including smoke, which is another asthma trigger), and other unwanted particles. You can also add soothing sounds or lullabies as you sleep. Breathing clean air while you sleep is extremely important to preventing nighttime attacks.
Summary
Increased asthma symptoms or attacks during the night not only wreck your sleep, but can cause other health problems. The most common culprits of these attacks are dust mites hiding in your mattress, carpet, or rugs, and airborne particulates. Creating a healthier bedroom can include restricting pet access to the room, washing all soft materials often, and effective vacuuming using a machine with a HEPA filter. Green cleaners can cut down unnecessary chemicals as well, and adding a portable air purifier is a great way to keep air clean.
Other Considerations
If your nighttime asthma symptoms aren't getting better, you may also want to talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication to ensure it works through the night These products can help you curb your asthma symptoms as you sleep, which will increase your overall health. They're also great tips if you're someone who wakes up sneezing or suffering from asthma symptoms in the morning.
Have you used any of these products? Do you have other suggestions? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.
