Summertime and sleeping

Summer is in full swing here in Texas. But is it harder to sleep during summer? 

In summer, sunlight comes through your windows earlier than it does during the winter. This causes melatonin secretion to stop, so feeling fatigued in the summer is more common than you might expect. 

Add summer allergies or a sleeping disorder, and you’re in for a few restless months.

Address These Two Issues to Sleep Soundly During Summertime

Allergies and sleep disorders — they can cause us to lose a lot of sleep. Sometimes, you might not even realize you’re struggling to get solid rest. 

Let’s clear any room for doubt and get to the bottom of why you might not be sleeping well during summer. 

[Related: Spring and Dealing With Allergy Symptoms]

Allergy Disorders

Allergies might affect more folks during the spring and fall than during summer, but that doesn’t mean you’re avoiding them altogether.

Ragweed, pollen, grasses and mold are still a concern in the summertime. 

If you’re feeling congested for long stretches of time during the summer, it’s probably due to allergies. 

If you’re especially ill, you may have a case of chronic sinusitis. 

With sinusitis, you can experience sinus pressure, headache, sore throat and — you guessed it — difficulty sleeping. 

Other symptoms may include: 

• Loss of smell 
• Itchy or runny nose
• Fever
• Fatigue 

Allergies can trigger acute sinusitis, but it may resolve on its own. However, chronic sinusitis can stem from allergies; asthma; or bacterial, viral or fungal infections. 

If you feel constant sinus pressure, struggle to breathe through your nose or suffer persistent headaches, sleeping well isn’t easy. 

Thankfully, there are solutions.

Allergy Disorder Solutions

First, if you suspect your allergies are flaring up but are unsure what you’re allergic to, schedule an allergy test with a doctor. Awareness is crucial because it reveals a solution that fits your specific needs. 

One option is immunotherapy. This form of treatment modifies your immune system’s reaction to allergens, which means your symptoms may greatly decrease or even disappear.

Another option is to change your diet to include immune-boosting foods like almonds or fatty fish. 

Sleep Disorders 

Sometimes, it’s not obvious that you have a sleeping disorder. Occasional snoring is one thing, but constant snoring throughout the night is a sign that something isn’t right. 

What is certain is that sleeping disorders significantly affect how much you sleep and the quality of the sleep you get. 

If a sleeping partner tells you that you snore often, the culprit could be obstructive sleep apnea. 

Obstructive sleep apnea causes the airflow to become blocked while you sleep, which means you lose your breath — sometimes several times a night. 

Furthermore, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even death. 

When you struggle with a sleeping disorder, you can wake up feeling unusually groggy, irritable or mentally foggy without knowing why. 

Sleep Disorder Solutions 

Together, doctors and patients can resolve sleep apnea. 

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines can treat obstructive sleep apnea about 80% of the time. Oral appliances can be helpful for patients who are intolerant of CPAP machines — people who grind their teeth particularly benefit from these.

If you don’t respond well to other options, surgery like the Pillar Procedure can treat obstructive sleep apnea. 

The first step in treating sleep apnea is to schedule an appointment with a knowledgeable physician so they can conduct a thorough sleep study and get to the heart of the issue. 

[Related: How to Treat Seasonal Allergies]

Rest Easy by Visiting Us at Dr. Matorin’s 

Summertime should be a season of spending time with loved ones, going outside and taking trips! 

Unfortunately, enjoying these activities is much harder when you just can’t manage to sleep soundly. 

When you visit Dr. Matorin, you put yourself on a path to a good night’s sleep. No matter the season or your condition, we’ll find long-lasting solutions to your sleeping problems. 

Contact us or schedule an appointment today. 

Featured image via Pixabay