IMPROVING SLEEP BY REDUCING ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

Abstract Introduction Allergies can impact sleep quality and, in turn, quality of life. Sleep is affected because allergens irritate nasal passages, which can make breathing more difficult, start an immune response, and directly interfere with sleep. Nasal congestion often is worse at night, and during the night some anti-allergic control processes of the body dip, which can lead to increased symptoms. We tested if an air purifier in the bedroom would improve sleep and reduce allergy symptoms. Methods 29 adults with self-reported allergy complaints participated in an 8-week field study, using a non-counterbalanced pre-post intervention design. Intervention consisted of the use of an Alen BreatheSmart 45i air purifier at home for 24 hours a day during the duration of the test period. Sleep was measured with self-report and objectively with ResMed S+ every night. Allergy symptoms were measured using self-report. Paired t-tests and multilevel regression were used to test for statistical significance. Results 28 individuals reported a reduction in allergy symptoms and 27 reported better sleep during the intervention. Overall, participants reported a 38% improvement in allergy symptoms and a 59% improvement in sleep continuity. Moreover, participants felt they fell asleep faster (20% faster), experienced better sleep quality (14% better), and felt more rested in the morning (14% more rested). Objective data showed an 11% improvement of Wake After Sleep Onset and a 1.1% increase in sleep efficiency during intervention (all ps < 0.05), but only in the subgroup (n = 11) of participants with the poorest sleep at baseline. Conclusion Using an air purifier in the bedroom can reduce allergy symptoms and improve sleep. Objectively measured sleep improvements supported the self-reported improvements, but only in the subset of participants who showed compromised sleep at baseline. Support Alen Corporation