Fifty-nine percent of nasal allergy sufferers report sleeping problems, while 35% treat symptoms, survey finds

LANDOVER, Md. — More than half of people with nasal allergies report problems sleeping, while slightly more than a third proactively treat their symptoms, according to a new survey.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Teva Respiratory released results of the survey, showing sleeping problems among 59% of sufferers, while 48% said symptoms like congestion and sneezing interrupted a partner's sleep.

The survey was part of an educational program featuring Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist and nasal allergy sufferer Misty May-Treanor titled "Ditch the Drip: Get Serious about Nasal Allergies." May-Treanor has been hired as a celebrity spokeswoman for the second year to educate the estimated 60 million Americans who have it.

"I made the difficult decision to retire from international beach volleyball after the 2012 Olympic Games, but I still lead an incredibly active lifestyle," May-Treanor said. "As I move into this next chapter of my life, I'm focused on spending quality time with my husband and pursuing both professional and educational goals, so suffering from bothersome nasal allergy symptoms just doesn't fit into my plans."