Swansea is struggling with sleep paralysis and pollen bomb impact

Pollen bomb hay fever has the hit the UK and many people could experience an increase in nightmares and sleep paralysis due to the higher levels of pollen in the air – but where in the UK is sleep paralysis most common?

New study by Sleepseeker has used Google search volumes and trends to discover the UK cities that are home to the most sufferers of sleep paralysis and where the condition is on the rise.

For those in Swansea worried about the quality of their sleep, Hayley Thistleton, sleep expert at Sleepseeker has provided 8 tips for a goodnight sleep during allergy season.

Hayley Thistleton, sleep expert at SleepSeeker, commented:  “During the spring and summer months, many people experience an increase in sleep paralysis or nightmares due to the higher levels of pollen in the air, which can trigger allergic reactions and disrupt sleep.

“Antihistamines control reactions to hay fever but beware of their effect on your sleep. Antihistamines can interfere with the brain’s ability to regulate REM sleep, the stage of sleep associated with dreaming. This disruption can lead to an increase in vivid and disturbing dreams, including nightmares.”

Here are 8 tips to ensure a good night’s sleep during allergy season:

1. Purifying the air. Using an air purifier in your bedroom during the day will ensure your room is clean for night time, this will also get rid of any nasty pollen, mites and viruses from your home, which is a great way to keep your home free of a whole range of nasties.
2. Close doors and windows. This can help with keeping allergens out of your home, instead of allowing air from the outside into your bedroom, this effectively will stop outside pollen and pollutants from being invited into your home.
3. Cleaning out your sinuses. Rinsing your sinus is a good way of clearing out any pollen or dust that has got trapped inside your nose. Trapped dirt or pollen can cause irritation and headaches, and so cleaning the area regularly can help remove excess mucus and clear out any allergy-causing particles. 
4. Sleeping in an upright position. Propping some pillows underneath your head will keep you in an upright position, to allow drainage from any congestion that may occur during sleep, in order to keep you happily in the land of nod.
5. Change where you dry your washing. Instead of hanging washing out to dry in the warmer months, it is best to dry them in a dryer if possible. This will stop pollen from attaching to your clothes outside whilst drying and help keep that pollen away from your skin.
6. Keep pets out of your bedroom. As much as we love our pets, it’s best to keep them out of your bedroom, as they can often be carrying pollen and dust mites into your bedroom which will increase irritation at night.
7. Anti-allergy bedding. Anti-allergy bedding is a great way to ensure a good night’s sleep, especially during allergy season. Using anti-dust mite, antibacterial products can aid a great night’s sleep for anyone suffering with symptoms of allergies. Look for products with Allergy UK’s seal of approval, which is only awarded to products that have been tested and approved to very high standards by leading allergy specialists.
8. Shower before bed. A pre-sleep wash will enable you to wash off all of the pollen from your body and hair that has accumulated over the day, allowing you to enter a good night’s sleep without disturbance.