Mattress Buying Guide: The Best Mattress for Allergy Sufferers

What causes allergies and how can they affect your sleep?

Allergies can cause serious discomfort, which can keep you up at night and in turn cause serious fatigue the following day. You may also find that you’re more prone to Obstructive Sleep Apnoea – congestion narrowing the airways, meaning you’re more likely to jolt awake, struggling to breathe.

The bad news is, there are several allergens that can trigger symptoms, and some are present in your bedroom all year round. These include dust mites, mould and mildew – which can build up in foam mattresses in particular – or other fillings that make up your mattress. Add in seasonal allergies like hayfever, and you may feel like you’re fighting a losing battle.

All is not lost though – there are things that you can do to limit your allergies being triggered, and one of those things is choosing the right mattress.

What is the best hypoallergenic mattress?

So, which mattress will be the most helpful for allergy sufferers? The reality is, it really depends on what triggers your allergies. There is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic mattress, guaranteed to prevent allergic reactions, but they can help to reduce them.

When shopping for a mattress, look out for any that are labelled hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial or anti-dust mite as these are the most likely to help reduce allergy symptoms. Don’t just go off the label alone though. It’s perfectly okay to spend some time lying on the mattress in the store and seeing how you get on. Don’t feel self-conscious – you’re making a big investment here, so it’s worth taking the time to make sure it’s right.

You should also always carefully consider the materials that are used in each mattress. Mattresses contain a huge variety of natural and man-made fillings and fabrics, so make sure you’re aware of what you’re going to be lying on top of each night.

For example, wool is antibacterial and can trap floating dust, so a wool mattress is great for people who are allergic to synthetic fibres or dust mites. It is also inherently fire-retardant, which eliminates the need to add extra chemicals which may trigger allergies. However, if it’s animals that trigger your allergies, this is probably one to stay away from.

Another common material used in mattresses is latex. Latex is antimicrobial and dense, so dust mites are less likely to be an issue. However, this is clearly not suitable for those who are allergic or sensitive to latex.

Foam is also dense, so less likely to attract mites, but is especially susceptible to mould and mildew build up which can trigger allergies. It might also be best to avoid pillow top mattresses, as the top can’t be removed for cleaning.

How to make your mattress allergy-friendly

Once you’ve found the correct mattress to suit your needs, there are steps you can take to further reduce the risk of allergy symptoms. These include:

• Cleaning your mattress regularly
  
• Using hypoallergenic bedding and pillows
• Using a mattress protector – you can buy anti-dust mite and anti-allergy covers
• Washing your bedding on a hot wash weekly
• Keep pets out of the bedroom – You might not be allergic to them, but they can track in all sorts of allergens in their fur.

Conclusion

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this, there are options out there for allergy sufferers. The key is to ensure you are identifying which allergens are a trigger for you, checking the materials used in the mattress, and avoiding those that set off your allergies. You can then add hypoallergenic covers and bedding, and keep up with maintenance such as regular cleaning and washing, to keep those symptoms at bay and ensure you are getting the sleep you deserve.