Allergy-Proof Your Bed - For Better Sleep.

If you wake up with sinus trouble, headaches or postnasal drip, you may be allergic to your pillow.

Allergies are the body's response to substances found indoors including dust and dust mites, animal dander, mold spores, mildew and feathers. Pollen finds its way indoors, and increasingly, health experts are pointing to various chemicals as the cause of allergic reactions too.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Institute of Health in the United States, reports that indoor allergens are responsible for many of the allergy related illnesses suffered by 20 percent of North Americans. These illnesses include asthma, hay fever and other allergic reactions.

Specifically, house dust mites can cause sneezing, a runny or itchy nose, itchy eyes, nighttime coughing and wheezing. The bedroom may be the room that causes the most problems in the home - because of dust mites. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) says that people are exposed to more dust mite allergens while they are in bed compared to all other activities they do during the day. In studies, the bedroom has scored highest in levels of mite allergen - for example, the average level of inhaled mite allergen was eight times higher in bed compared to driving to work.

Dust mites live within house dust and feed on the dead skin cells that humans regularly shed. It is dust mite droppings that contribute to allergy and asthma problems.

Regular deep cleaning is key to keeping dust mites at bay as is choosing natural products such as The Ceiba Pillow for use in the home. The Ceiba Pillow is an all-natural hypoallergenic pillow from Desalon International, Orton, Ont. Its filling is a natural silky fibre harvested from the kapok tree, one of the largest trees found in the rainforest. The Ceiba Pillow uses kapok exclusively from The Philippines. The pillow, in effect, breathes, and it is moisture- and mould-resistant. It is also machine washable and dryable, which helps inhibit the growth of allergens. These features minimize the potential of allergic reactions and are important for anyone who suffers from dust mite or mould spore sensitivity.

The pillow minimizes the potential of allergic reactions, says Corie Laraya-Coutts, director of Desalon International, and it meets hypoallergenic pillow standards in Canada. At the same time, kapok is a natural material and as a result, some people may experience an allergic reaction.