Causes and Treatment for Swollen Eyes in the Morning

One of the worst ways to start a new day (in addition to oversleeping and breaking your alarm clock), is to wake up to find that your eyes are all puffy and swollen. It makes for a not-so-pleasing sight, and also sets a rather unpleasant tone for the rest of the day. So if you end up with puffy, swollen eyes, how do you go about treating them? Wait a minute. Before we answer that question, let us first understand the various causes or reasons for waking up with such a condition.

• Stress
• Dehydration
• Smoking
• Dust and Pollution
• Anemia
• Hypoglycemia
• Fatigue
• Sleeping Position
• Sleep Deprivation

• Excessive Crying
• Hormonal Changes During Menstruation
• Food Allergies
• Other Allergies
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption
• High Blood Pressure
• Excessive Salt in Diet
• Fluid or Water Retention
• Side Effects of Drugs
• Dermatitis (in the eyelids)

➤ Firstly, make sure that you're drinking enough water and staying hydrated. However, do not misinterpret 'water' as carbonated drinks or artificially sweetened drinks. Water in its purest form is what you should have in plenty, during the entire day.

➤ Placing two slices of cool cucumber (as shown in dime-a-dozen beauty product advertisements) on your eyelids for around 15-20 minutes does help in reducing swelling and puffiness around the eyes. Another substitute could be two clean, cold slices of potato.

➤ Another very important and easy method is getting enough sleep at night. What is important in this case is both, the quality as well as the quantity of sleep. 7-8 hours of good sleep will help in preventing the swelling, and is an important aspect of eye care.

➤ Eating less salty food at night also helps in preventing swollen eyes. Watch your sodium and salt intake, and avoid excess of both.

➤ Sleeping on your back and with your head in a slightly raised or elevated position (with respect to the rest of your body) can also help in avoiding such a condition. Using a comfortable pillow is the best way to do this.

However, if you have a prior history of backache, back problems etc., due to the usage of a pillow, then it is better that you avoid this solution, or implement it only after consulting a doctor.

➤ Tea bags have always been known to help in reducing the swelling in case of swollen eyes. Always keep a couple of used tea bags (preferably chamomile tea bags, but even regular ones will do) in the refrigerator, so that they remain moist and chilled.

If you wake up in the morning and discover that your eyes are swollen or puffy, then all you need to do is take those tea bags out of the refrigerator, and place them over your eyelids for around 15-20 minutes. It is a very effective home remedy for treating puffy eyes and dark circles.

➤ Specialty cosmetic products such eye gels and eye creams containing aloe vera, herbal extracts, Vitamin E, etc. are also effective in the treatment. However, you should inspect the ingredients of these creams, gels, etc., and make sure that they do not contain any substance that your skin is allergic to, else it may only worsen the problem.

➤ Rose water is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, and it application on the puffy eyes, will help in reducing the swelling. You can apply it onto your closed eyelids with the help of a cotton ball soaked in rose water.

➤ Avoid sweet products and artificial sweeteners. Substances like aspartame and saccharin have been proved to increase the water retention of the body, which leads to puffiness. Carbonated beverages are substances that contain large quantities of artificial sweeteners.

➤ Wear sunglasses regularly, to protect your eyes from the damage caused by the incident harmful; UV rays. Sunglasses also shield the eyes from dust, pollution, bright lights, etc.

These were a few ways of treating and avoiding swelling in the eyes. Making good use of them will ensure that this eye problem of yours is soon solved.

Disclaimer: This Story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.