Why Do I Sneeze so much when I Wake Up in the Morning

Why Do I Sneeze so much when I Wake Up in the Morning

Many people start sneezing immediately after waking up in the morning or break into sneezing fits a few minutes later. Other symptoms may sometimes accompany sneezing, such as itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose, and nasal congestion. The majority of cases of morning sneezing are due to environmental and immune-related factors. The sneeze reflex remains suppressed while you are asleep and becomes active when you wake up. Here at OneHowTo.com, we are trying to find out why do I sneeze so much when I wake up in the morning.

Causes of sneezing after waking up

There can be several causes of morning sneezing. Some of these include:

Environmental conditions

Exposure to air conditioning or any other kind of dry air during sleep can dry out the nasal passages and trigger an attack of sneezing when you wake up. Keeping the room comfortably humid and avoiding a direct flow of air toward your face may help reduce dryness.

Allergic rhinitis

It is an immune-related hypersensitivity usually triggered by fungal spores, animal dander, and house dust mites. While you are asleep, your nasal passages are exposed to these triggers for long periods of time. Since your sneeze reflex is less responsive during sleep, symptoms may become noticeable as soon as you wake up. If it is seasonal rhinitis, your symptoms may get more pronounced during seasons like spring.

Drug-induced rhinitis

Some medicines can cause or worsen nasal symptoms, so a dose taken before bed may be relevant. Corticosteroids and antihistamines, however, are commonly used to treat rhinitis, although symptoms can still occur. If symptoms persist, discuss the medicines you take with a medical professional rather than changing your dose on your own.

Non-allergic rhinitis

This is another condition, but it is not caused by an allergy. Changes in temperature or humidity, smoke, strong odors, and spicy foods can trigger symptoms. Your nasal symptoms may become noticeable in the morning, even without an allergic reaction.

Sinusitis

Sometimes, morning sneezing may also be the result of sinusitis, as mucus may drain due to changes in your position during and after sleep. This may irritate your nasal lining and trigger morning sneezing.

How to manage morning sneeze

In many cases, morning sneezing is the result of allergies, even if you are not suffering from any other allergy symptoms. It can be avoided and also treated by improving your personal hygiene. Beyond drug and food allergies, some people are allergic to environmental factors as well, such as grass seeds and pollen. When such allergens come in contact with the inner lining of your nose, your body tries to clear them, causing you to sneeze. Washing your bedding regularly and keeping the bedroom free of dust may help reduce exposure to common triggers.

Sometimes, you may also be allergic to something in your pillow, and changing the pillow, not just the cover, may help. If you sleep with the heater or AC on during the night, its filter may contain something you are allergic to. Some medicines may be used to relieve your condition, such as Allegra, Claritin, Singulair, Zyrtec, etc. A saline nasal spray may help moisturize dry nasal passages. If nothing helps, it’s better to get help from a medical professional and get a prescription.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Why Do I Sneeze so much when I Wake Up in the Morning, we recommend you visit our Family health category.

References
  1. Hay Fever (Rhinitis) | Symptoms & Treatment (American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)
  2. Nonallergic rhinitis - Symptoms & causes (Mayo Clinic)