Itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, or an uncomfortably runny nose... Whether you suffer from it or only know someone who does, you may already know what we will discuss:allergies. These symptoms can sometimes be so severe that many people take them for infections at first, especially when combined with less obvious signs: headaches, general fatigue, trouble sleeping, or low energy levels.
Sadly, allergies are not easy to treat. You can find numerous antihistamines and general immune defense formulas (such as those you can find atPrimal Harvest), but people with allergies might react to treatment in different ways. Additionally, most allergy medications are developed to help you fight mainly nasal symptoms. Not everyone realizes that allergies cause symptoms that aren't closely related to what people usually associate with allergic reactions.
This article will focus on other conditions linked somehow to allergies to help you understand why you feel this way and what you can do to make it better.
Can Allergies Lead to Fatigue?
Yes, you can feel tired while dealing with allergy symptoms. First of all, a stuffy nose is simply tiring in itself, especially when you sneeze every couple of minutes and struggle with watery eyes all the time. It really is no different from having a common cold, so it's no wonder if you want to stay in bed when suffering from seasonal allergies.
But that's not all. In many cases, occasionaltirednesscan become prolonged fatigue, which significantly affects one's quality of life. In fact, according to a conductedstudy, over 80% of those suffering from allergies said that they feel tired when experiencing symptoms, while 60% declared struggling with prolonged fatigue. And these symptoms are not to be ignored for the sake of both your mental and physical health.
How Allergies Influence the Quality of Life
It gets incredibly difficult to live your days to the fullest and fulfill responsibilities when, more often than not, your energy level is low due to allergy symptoms. As a result, a considerable number of patients become easily irritable and eventually miserable. Some preliminaryresearch suggests that all this can actually put allergy sufferers at greater risk of clinical depression. It has even been documented that the number ofsuicides tends to peak during the pollen season. While allergies are not direct factors, they certainly can cause emotional instability that can contribute to the tragic outcome. Moreover, since all people can react differently to various allergy medications, some patients may also be triggered by their meds.
Scientists are not yet entirely sure how it happens, but the most likely theory involves the influence ofcytokines, chemicals produced by your body after a confrontation with allergens. Among other things, they cause inflammation in nasal passages, but some claim that they also affect the brain's frontal lobes, causing mood swings.
How Can You Deal with Allergy Fatigue?
● Follow the Treatment
If you decide to get some medical advice, be sure to follow it after. All people are different, but in general, medications are highly effective in fighting allergy symptoms. More than85% of patients with allergies have noticed at least some improvement as a result of immunotherapy (allergy shots). There are also antihistamines that can't cure the allergies the way allergy shots may, but they might help with the symptoms. Remember to consult all your health-related decisions with an allergist.
● Avoid Exposure to Allergens
When allergy shots aren't working, or you're still undergoing treatment, you should at least try to avoid things that aggravate allergy symptoms. The first step to identifying them is doing allergy tests. Once you know the cause of your allergies, you will be able to eliminate or at least reduce your exposure to these triggers.
The most common allergy triggers include pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold. So, if you know it's the pollen season, you may want to check at what times of the day it's getting worse and keep the windows closed. When it's dust mites that trigger you the most, be sure to vacuum more often, change your sheets regularly, and get rid of unnecessary items that are only collecting dust around your house.
● Get Quality Sleep
Because of extremely irritating symptoms, those who suffer from allergies may experience further problems at night - after the whole day of sneezing, they find themselves unable to sleep. It really can make you tired and cause fatigue in the long term.
Luckily, there are some small things that you can implement or change in your lifestyle to be able to get some sleep and reduce the impact allergies have on your dailiness.
First of all, you might want to take a shower every night before you go to bed, even if you usually are a person who prefers a quick one in the mornings. It is crucial, as you may not realize how much pollen and other allergens you actually collect on your skin and hair throughout the day - don't bring them into your bed. This is also why changing and washing your sheets frequently is so important. To reduce nasal congestion, try putting one more pillow under your head to keep it elevated - the gravity will do the rest. Also, if you have a pet, especially a hairy one, keep it out of your bedroom at all times.
● Get an Air Purifier
A quality air purifier will clear the air of harmful allergens. Improved air quality might certainly help you sleep at night and wake up actually well-rested instead of constantly tired. However, if you can afford it, such a device may be helpful in the rest of the house as well, reducing allergic reactions and helping you breathe deeper.
Don't Neglect Allergy Symptoms
Allergies can make your life really difficult with the whole range of problems they might cause. So, even if, in your case, it's only a runny nose and sneezing, it is not something that should be neglected. If you suspect that you may suffer from seasonal or any other allergies, make an appointment with an allergist as soon as possible.
Then, whether you're advised to get allergy shots or take medications, be sure to follow these recommendations, as well as those concerning your lifestyle.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to allergens, help yourself sleep better, follow a suitable diet, stay physically active, and take care of your immune system in general. Otherwise, you risk developing some serious health issues, from allergic asthma and other respiratory problems to prolonged fatigue, leading to mental health issues, including even depression.
Sir Hugh Taylor
Professor Mahendra Patel
