Sneezing in the morning may be a daily occurrence for many allergy sufferers and involves bouts of non-stop sneezing for a few minutes after waking. Less commonly, the sneezing persists throughout the morning or even the day. This proves both uncomfortable and embarrassing as prolonged sneezing is usually accompanied by a red nose and watery eyes.
The term ‘allergy sufferers’ is medically incorrect but is often used in daily conversation to identify our hypersensitivity to certain allergens. For those of us who are ‘allergic’, very few drugs and therapies offer lasting relief. Living with an allergy is frustrating and if treatment is not successful, it is important to understand and manage the condition to limit the symptoms of your allergy.
Simply, an allergy refers to an immune-mediated hypersensitivity which means that the body’s immune response is triggered quite unnecessarily by certain substances that is incorrectly ‘identified’ as invading pathogens. The immune system’s main function is to protect the body against any invaders by triggering a ‘call up’ of immune cells and chemicals.
The immune system of an allergy sufferer is hypersensitive to a range of possible triggers including :
Inhaled Allergens :
- House dust mite (very common)
- Cockroach
- Dust
- Grass and pollen
- Animal hair (dog, cat, etc.)
- Air-borne spores
Ingested Allergens :
- Dairy (very common)
- Wheat
- Nuts
- Soya
- Egg yolk
- Preservatives, food additives and colorants
Usually adults are more prone to inhaled allergens while children are sensitive to both inhaled and ingested allergens. This is not a hard and fast rule but a common observation by many practitioners in the field. Inhaled allergens trigger an allergic reaction by coming into contact with the lining of the respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs) while ingested allergens usually trigger a reaction after being absorbed in the gut.
In terms of sneezing, the allergen makes contact with the nasal lining and triggers a chemical immune reaction with the body. Chemical factors at the area causes ‘itching’ of the nose and stimulates the sneeze response to expel the allergens. Sneezing in the morning may also be accompanied by coughing and hacking. It is not uncommon for mucus that is produced in an allergic reaction to drain to the back of the throat (post nasal drip). This mucus irritates the back of the throat and stimulates the cough response.
Sneezing in the morning does not only occur in allergy sufferers. Another common physiological reaction is that during sleep our body temperature naturally lowers. The cilia (tiny hairs lining the nasal passages) slow down their beating motion which is responsible for moving trapped dust out of the nose. The reduced activity of cilia results in a greater dust accumulation within our nasal passages. Upon waking, the body tries to expel any accumulated dust by triggering the sneeze response.
Symptoms :
- Sneezing in the morning
- Coughing or hacking
- Itchy nose or eyes
- Redness of the nose or eyes
Treatment :
- Anti-histamines are useful for symptomatic treatment. The effects are short lived and may have to be administered repeatedly throughout the day to reduce symptoms. Can be administered orally (tablet, capsule or syrup) or via the nasal passages (nasal spray).
- Corticosteroids reduce the inflammatory response and are often prescribed over a long period of time as a chronic prescription. Can be administered orally (tablet, capsule or syrup) or via the nasal passages (nasal spray).
- Nasal decongestants can assist with nasal congestion (blocked nose) but the effectiveness reduces with prolonged use.
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Management :
- Identifying the trigger factors and reducing your exposure can be very helpful.
- A saline nasal spray can be useful in moisturizing the nasal lining and maintaining a healthy state.
- Certain oral contraceptives and hormone therapies may aggravate your condition and you should consult with your medical practitioner if you symptoms have exacerbated after using any medication.
- Reducing the house dust mite exposure during the night is helpful. As most of us spend approximately 8 hours in bed, the mattress is usually infested with house dust mite (HDM). Removing HDM is impossible so limiting your exposure to it is advisable. This can involve simple lifestyle measures like flipping your mattress every few days, placing clean laundry on your bed daily and removing any ‘fluffy’ bedding, stuffed toys and related items from the bed.
Naturopathic & Homeopathic Treatment :
- A homeopathic complex of Allium cepa 6CH, Histaminum 6CH and Kali muriaticum D6 may be useful for treating the symptoms of hay fever. Use in drops or tablets before sleeping, upon waking and as required. Also refer to the homeopathic anti-itch formula.
- The homeopathic remedy Natrum muriaticum 6CH to 30CH can be used every morning before breakfast (single dose) followed by a single dose of the remedy Urtica urens 6CH to 30CH every evening before supper.
- A herbal complex of Sambucus nigra (elder flower), Urtica urens (nettle) and Hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) may prove useful as an immune modulator and for reducing mucus production.
- Remove all dairy from the diet as milk products contain caesin that increases mucus production.
- Try changing your toothpaste when you brush at night. While this is not a proven fact, some hay fever sufferers report and improvement of their morning symptoms if they discontinue brushing with toothpaste at night.