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Sleep Disorders Current Topics in Sleep Disorders

Hay Fever Linked to Sleep Disorders

(HealthCentersOnline) - People with hay fever have more difficulty sleeping and more sleep disorders than those without allergies, according to a recent study.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an inflammation of the inner lining of the nose that occurs when an allergic individual encounters an airborne allergen such as pollen, mold, dust mites or animal dander. Usually inhaled, these triggers generate allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, sore throat and itchy or watery eyes. Allergic rhinitis is very common, affecting about 20 to 50 percent of the population.

Past research has suggested that allergies contribute to snoring and breathing problems during sleep, including sleep apnea, a disorder that causes breathing to become shallow or stop while sleeping. A study conducted by French researchers from Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris suggests that hay fever may be associated with impaired sleep quality.

The study focused on 591 men and women who had hay fever for at least one year and were being treated for the condition by a physician. A control group of 502 people who lived in the same area but did not have hay fever was also evaluated.

The participants reported sleep disorders and complaints, including insomnia, waking up during the night, snoring and feeling fatigued when awakening and rated their sleepiness. The researchers also collected details regarding demographics, socioeconomic status and smoking habits.

For patients with hay fever, the researchers noted the duration of the condition, symptoms experienced and treatments used, as well as the presence and treatment of any additional allergic disorders.

After reviewing their data, the researchers found that all sleep disorders and complaints were more common in those with hay fever. Among the 591 patients with allergic rhinitis, 41.6 percent reported difficulty falling asleep (versus 18.3 percent of those without hay fever), 63.2 percent said they felt they lacked adequate sleep (versus 25.4 percent), and 35.8 percent reported insomnia (versus 16 percent). The researchers also found that the effects of hay fever on sleep became more evident as the severity of the condition increased.

"The results show a significant impact of allergic rhinitis on all dimensions of sleep quality and, consequently, a lower quality of life as reflected by more somnolence [sleepiness]; daytime fatigue and sleepiness and impaired memory, mood and sexuality, with a significantly increased consumption of alcohol and sedatives in cases compared with the control group," the authors write.

The authors concluded that physicians should question patients with hay fever about their sleep habits and difficulties.

"This could lead to early detection and treatment of sleep disorders in these patients," they write. "Treating allergic rhinitis or other nasal symptoms may improve dramatically the quality of sleep. In the long term, such a strategy would have positive repercussions on a societal level; for example, the numbers of road and work accidents would be reduced. Considering the high incidence of allergic rhinitis and the high rate of associated sleep disorders, the issue is one of public health."

The study appears in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

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