You love your pet, and your pet loves you, but sleeping with your beloved creature could also trigger your allergies. You could also be allergic to the dander on your pet — so if your dog or cat naps on your pillow during the day, it could cause watery eyes and wheezing at night. Your pets also bring all kinds of pollen into your home through their paws and fur.
If you live in the city, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology says that up to 98% of homes could have cockroaches. The saliva, feces, and body parts they tend to leave around your house could trigger your allergies.
Your breathing patterns at night can also exacerbate symptoms. If your allergies make it difficult to breathe through your nose, at night you may end up breathing more through your mouth. Because your nose works to filter the air you breathe, breathing more through your mouth means more allergens entering your throat and lungs. And just as your sleep follows a circadian rhythm, so do your allergies. The hormones that regulate your allergies tend to be lowest when you're in your deep sleep stage.
