How to Stop Wheezing at Night or When Lying Down

If you are hearing a high-pitched sound when you breathe out, that is called wheezing. Shortness of breath at night can be made worse by common irritants in the air like pollen, mold, dust mites, pet dander and secondhand smoke. To stop wheezing at night, eliminate bedroom allergens that trigger respiratory symptoms and use air purifiers for sleep that destroy pollutants at the molecular level. 

Key Takeaways

• Wheezing at night is often caused by allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold, and pollen in your bedroom.

• Air purifiers with PECO technology destroy wheezing triggers at the molecular level rather than just trapping them.

• Asthma symptoms including wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing at night are common respiratory issues.

• Your child spends around eight hours each night in bed, so asthma triggers there can really aggravate symptoms.

• Bedroom allergens can collect in dust and trigger symptoms if you breathe them in at night.

Understanding Nighttime Wheezing and Breathing Issues

If you have asthma, you are probably all too familiar with the symptoms: difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing at night, while laughing, or during exercise. The truth is that recurring episodes of sudden shortness of breath at night or in the early morning hours are an important sign of asthma. Other symptoms include cough and wheezing.

Asthma is a disease that causes the air passages of the lungs to swell, making the airway narrower. This can lead to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. When an asthma attack happens, the lining of the airways swells and the muscles that surround the airways become tight, which reduces the amount of air that can pass through.

For people with asthma, these symptoms can also include wheezing, chest tightness, labored breathing or difficulty sleeping due to coughing or breathing problems. Because the bedroom is one of the main places that you will encounter these tiny creatures, dust mite allergy symptoms tend to be worse at night and in the mornings. This can make it extra challenging to sleep at night if you have asthma.

Common Bedroom Allergens That Cause Wheezing

 

And when you are home at night, certain indoor air pollutants that are also allergens might trigger asthma symptoms in some people. Common asthma triggers (which are also indoor air pollutants) could include dust mites, cockroaches, pets or pet dander, rodents, mold, pollen, and tobacco smoke.

The common allergens above could be floating in the air inside your home, and breathing them in may aggravate your symptoms if you have asthma. Allergens include pollen, dander, mold or dust mite droppings — all pollutants you may find in your home and bedroom.

How PECO Technology Stops Wheezing Triggers

Professional-grade air purification systems with PECO technology provide the most effective solution for eliminating wheezing triggers. Molekule doesn't just capture particles like a regular HEPA filter; it breaks them down completely, so you're not just breathing in air that's had pollutants trapped in a filter.

Molekule air purifiers with HEPA and PECO filters destroy viruses, pet dander, mold, wildfire smoke, and pollutants. A layer of carbon neutralizes VOCs and odors. HEPA filter that captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. Our patented, catalyst-coated PECO media uses light & free radicals to oxidize pollutants, destroying them at the molecular level.

Molekule air purifiers are not just your average filters — they're designed with a unique technology called PECO (Photo Electrochemical Oxidation) that actually destroys allergens, viruses, mold, and even chemicals floating in the air. This includes everything from grass and pollen and dust mites to pet dander and VOCs (volatile organic compounds), all of which can trigger seasonal allergies or other allergies.

Air Purifiers Specifically for Sleep and Bedrooms

The Molekule Air Mini+ air purifier can certainly help with sleep issues by creating a cleaner and healthier environment in your bedroom. Its PECO technology removes harmful pollutants and allergens from the air, which can improve the quality of air you breathe while sleeping.

From a few feet away on its lowest speed Mini+ is drowned out by most other sounds and is about as loud as light rain (39dBa). At its top speed it's about as loud as normal conversation or a small motor like a sewing machine or hand-held vacuum (62 dBa). The device's reduced sound levels in quiet mode and dimmed LED lights can create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere conducive to sleep.

The only purifier that uses patented PECO-HEPA technology to destroy the widest range of air pollutants in small spaces like bedrooms. Scientifically proven to destroy pet dander, allergens, mold, viruses, bacteria, and more. Up to 250 sq ft with average ceiling height coverage.

Pet Dander Elimination for Wheezing Relief

Air purifiers for pet hair specifically target pet dander that commonly triggers wheezing symptoms. If you have sensitive airways, your asthma symptoms could be triggered by breathing in substances called allergens, including pet dander.

Pet dander remains one of the most persistent allergens in bedroom environments. Molekule makes sure that fewer allergens reach your nasal passages in the first place. With its PECO technology breaking down airborne allergens, you're breathing in air that's not just filtered but actively purified.

Mold Prevention for Respiratory Health

Air purifiers for mold prevent mold spores from accumulating in bedroom air where they trigger wheezing and respiratory symptoms. Mold spores are common indoor allergens that can worsen breathing difficulties, especially during nighttime hours when air circulation decreases. This makes regular mold inspections a worthy investment of your time and resources.

Independent testing demonstrates Molekule's effectiveness against mold. Black mold was reduced by 99.993% in one hour. Testing was done in 2021 by Aerosol Research and Engineering (ARE) Labs; an independent, third-party testing laboratory. Aspergillus brasiliensis (black mold) is a genus of mold commonly found in indoor air; it’s a problem everywhere there’s moisture, although certain cities rank among the worst for mold allergies.

VOC Elimination for Chemical-Free Sleep

Air purifiers for VOCs target volatile organic compounds that accumulate in bedroom air, such as paint fumes, and can trigger respiratory irritation leading to wheezing. VOCs include chemicals from household products, furniture, and building materials that off-gas continuously.

Testing results show specific VOC destruction capabilities: 80% formaldehyde removed in eight hours (formaldehyde is a colorless gas found in building materials and some cleaning chemicals), and 98% toluene removed in three hours (toluene is a Volatile Organic Compound found in paints, varnishes, and cleaning products).

Positioning Air Purifiers in Bedrooms

Molekule Air Purifiers are room-specific, meaning that you should have the appropriate purifier in every room where you want to breathe clean air. The most common places our customers place their air purifiers is in the bedroom, kitchen, and living room.

If you live in a studio apartment over 250 sq ft, we'd recommend an Air Pro in your studio and an Air Mini+ in your bathroom. If you have a larger home with a combined kitchen and living area, we'd recommend an Air Pro and Air Mini+ for your bedrooms, home offices, and smaller rooms. For reference, the average American bedroom is 132 sq ft and the average American detached kitchen is ~165 sq ft.

Why Symptoms Worsen When Lying Down

The posture of lying down at night can increase mucus production, which can lead to more congestion at night as well. This swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels and fluid buildup in the tissues, and often becomes worse when you lie down.

Your movements and positions (such as sitting upright compared to lying down) affect your bodily functions, including blood circulation, causing you to experience certain symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sinus pain or shortness of breath at night, even if you felt perfectly healthy during the day.

Filter Maintenance for Consistent Relief

Replacement filters and parts should be replaced regularly to maintain optimal pollutant destruction and prevent wheezing triggers from accumulating. Proper filter maintenance ensures continuous molecular-level destruction of allergens rather than decreased effectiveness over time.

We provide a new or like-new Air Pro and a filter subscription for a monthly fee. The value of the filter subscription is $175 every 6 months. If your product breaks or is defective, just let us know and we'll either help you get it working or swap it out for you free of charge.

Medical Device Clearance for Serious Cases

The Molekule Air Mini+ air purifiers are devices intended for medical purposes that are used to capture 95% of particulate matter and destroy bacteria and viruses by exposure to ultraviolet radiation when operated in manual mode on fan speed 3 or higher.

Please note that while the Air Mini+ can reduce air particle levels in your bedroom, it is not a cure for sleep disorders or other medical conditions that may affect your sleep. The device provides air purification to reduce environmental triggers that contribute to wheezing symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes wheezing at night when lying down? 

If you are hearing a high-pitched sound when you breathe out, that is called wheezing. The posture of lying down at night can increase mucus production and worsen breathing due to inflamed blood vessels and fluid buildup in tissues.

How do air purifiers help stop nighttime wheezing? 

Air purifiers with PECO technology destroy allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and mold at the molecular level rather than just trapping them, eliminating the triggers that cause wheezing symptoms.

Which air purifier is best for bedroom wheezing relief? 

The Air Mini+ covers up to 250 sq ft and operates at 39dBa on lowest speed, making it perfect for bedrooms. It destroys the widest range of air pollutants that trigger wheezing symptoms.

Can pet dander cause wheezing when lying down? 

Yes, pet dander is a common allergen that can trigger wheezing symptoms. PECO technology breaks down pet dander completely rather than just filtering it.

How quiet are air purifiers during sleep? 

The Air Mini+ operates as quietly as light rain (39dBa) on lowest speed and creates a peaceful atmosphere with dimmed LED lights conducive to sleep.