If you're like most people, you love the feeling of down comforters and pillows. The softness of down creates a "floating on a cloud" sensation as you drift off to sleep. Unfortunately, if you're allergic to down, you'll wake up in the morning with allergy symptoms. Your first response might be to never use down products again. But you might be surprised to learn that you don't have to go to this extreme. This guide explains why you experience your allergy symptoms and how you can use real down products without experiencing unwanted side effects.
Down Contains Dust and Dust Mites
Down feathers naturally contain dust and dust mites. If you normally have reactions to these allergens, then you can expect symptoms with many products containing down. Some of these symptoms include:
- runny nose
- sore throat
- headache
If you have an allergy to the feathers instead of dust and dust mites, you'll experience one or more of these symptoms:
- hives
- blocked airways
- facial swelling
- congestion
If your doctor has informed you that you are allergic to feathers, avoid down at all costs. Luckily, there are down alternatives you can choose that offer nearly the same comfort and feel as down does. Your bedding expert can help you choose the proper ensemble.
Some Down Is Cleaned With Allergens in Mind
If you want to enjoy the luxurious feel of down, look for bedding that has been hyper-cleaned during the manufacturing process. This might sound like a technological word, but it really just means that the feathers have been washed several times to remove dust and dust mites before getting stuffed in the pillow or comforter.
Some Down Is Made With Allergen Blocking Material
In addition to looking for hyper-cleaned down, check to see if the covers of the pillows and comforters are hypoallergenic. These covers prevent new dust particles and dust mites from entering the feathers and eventually giving you allergic symptoms.
When cleaning your down bedding, always make sure that there are no rips or tears in the material containing the feathers and follow the directions on the tags. Do this both before and after you clean them, whether by hand or in the washing machine. If rips are present, ask your bedding expert whether repair or replacement is necessary if you suffer from dust or dust mite allergies.
Because congestion is a common symptom of both dust/dust mite and feather allergies, consult with your doctor so they can help determine exactly what is causing your symptoms. When choosing the right bedding for a comfortable night's sleep, ask bedding experts from a company like PM Sleep Center for the best your money can buy.
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