You come home from a long day at work, lay on the sofa with your feet propped up, and then, out of the blue, “achoo.” It might be that your allergies are worse inside your home. It can even make snoring worse (see our info on that lovely topic). It’s not clear what may be leading to your symptoms, but we can try and play detective and go through the “Usual Suspects.”

Suspect #1: Dust mites. 

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that like bedding. For more info on how to decrease dust mite allergies in your bedroom see our guide. 

Suspect # 2: Pet Dander.

Good news. Most people will end up tolerating their own pets. It’s usually other people’s pets that will get you and cause symptoms. When you get a new pet, it can sometimes take 8 months or more to develop tolerance to your new family member. If you suspect your animal is causing allergy symptoms, here are some tips: 1. Try and keep him/her out of your bedroom 2. Wipe off their paws when they come into the house 3. Consider an air purifier in your bedroom. 4. Brush them with a de-dandering brush regularly.

Suspect # 3: Mold. 

Mold is not as common a trigger as people think it is. It is more often a cause of asthma symptoms. However, in rare instances when it is in very high concentrations, mold can cause nasal congestion. In these cases, it is important to clean suspected areas with bleach or a strong detergent. It is also important to check the filters on your air vents to see if they need to be changed. 

Suspect # 4: Outside pollen coming inside. 

Close your bedroom windows.  If you open the bedroom windows and let all of that pollen onto your bed, you will need more medicine to help with your allergy symptoms. If you need to open the windows (don’t have A/C, etc.) an air-purifier is helpful.