Why Are My Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Much Worse In The Morning, And What Can I Do To Make It Better?

— -- Question: Why are my seasonal allergy symptoms much worse in the morning, and what can I do to make it better?

Answer: There's several reasons why symptoms may be worse in the morning. Pollen counts are generally higher in the morning compared to later in the day. Also some allergens may be more common in the home. These include dust mites, pet dander or pollen from flowering plants. Therefore a person may have higher exposure to allergens once they get home. Exposures increase over time so that by the morning, their allergy symptoms may be worse in fact. Also allergic responses have an early phase, which occurs within minutes of exposure to the allergen, and a late phase that builds up over time. Therefore it's common for most symptoms to reach their peak in the early morning.

The ways to reduce the problem are several. If dust mites are causing the allergy, then frequent washing of bed linens is crucial. Additionally there's special bedding that is commercially available that reduces the viability of dust mites. Air filters may be helpful as well by improving air quality in the home. You should carefully inspect the home to make certain that there aren't any areas conducive to growth of mold. Finally when these efforts aren't enough, allergy medications can play an important role in improving allergy symptoms in the morning.

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