Why Allergic Reactions Happen
Your immune system has an important job: to defend your body from invaders such as bacteria and viruses that mean you harm.
But when it makes war on substances it shouldnât, thatâs an allergy.
Peanuts, eggs, or pollen, for example, can trigger reactions. They are called allergens.
During a reaction, your immune system releases antibodies. These are proteins that deliver a message to cells: Stop that substance! The cells then send out histamine, which causes blood vessels to expand, and other chemicals, and these trigger the allergy symptoms.
These antibodies are singled-minded. Each one targets only one type of allergen. That explains why someone might be allergic to peanuts but not to eggs.
You can come into contact with allergens in many ways: through the skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or stomach. This can cause your sinuses to clog up, inflame your skin, make it harder to breathe, or cause stomach problems.
You Suffer From Muscle And/or Joint Pain After Eating Meals
This could be brief, intermittent pain, or a more sustained inflammatory response.
Solution:Do a food allergy/sensitivity test and stool analysis to look for increased intestinal permeability , do an elimination diet and get tested for nutritional deficiencies, including zinc. A trial off of nightshades may also be effective in a small proportion of individuals.Food is medicine, but eating the wrong types of foods along with nutritional deficiencies can make you sick.
If youâre still unsure, it never hurts to see your health care provider and get tested for food allergies. The test may be what you need to finally receive answers for unexplained symptoms and chronic health problems.
Want to turn your passion for wellbeing into a fulfilling career? Become a Certified Health Coach! Learn more here.
Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Body Aches Back Aches And Joint Pain
If youre wondering whether seasonal allergies can cause back aches and joint pain, youre not alone. There are plenty of ways seasonal allergies are related to back pain and joint pain as well.
For starters, it is possible to experience joint pain with a cold. Because both allergies and a cold cause similar symptoms, such as a runny nose and sneezing, itchy eyes and throat, and stuffy nose, some people confuse a cold with allergies.
Colds are typically accompanied by a sore throat and coughing, and maybe even a fever and body aches in your neck. However, some people who suffer from inflammation because of their allergies experience joint pain as the body attempts to flush out the allergen.
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Difference Between Covid And Seasonal Allergies
If you experience cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, or a runny nose, you might wonder whether the source is allergies or COVID-19. According to Summa Health, a significant difference between the two conditions is that COVID-19 causes a system-wide inflammatory response while allergies are localized.
In general, COVID symptoms include body aches, chills, fever, headache, and respiratory symptoms. Allergy symptoms affect the nose, throat, and eyes without fever.
Reach out to your doctor to determine the source of your symptoms. Wearing a mask to protect yourself from being exposed to COVID-19 can also reduce exposure to pollen, mold, and other allergens.
Also Check: National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases
Can Nasal Congestion Cause Back Pain
The first pattern is the most common. Patients with this pattern often complain of pain in the neck, upper back, and upper arms. The pain is usually worse on one side than the other, but it can also be on both sides. It is often accompanied by a feeling of heaviness or tightness in one or both arms or legs.
Sometimes the pain can be so severe that it interferes with daily activities, such as driving or working in a job that requires a lot of upper body strength. In some cases, the patient may be unable to stand or walk for a long period of time. These patients are often referred to an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation and treatment of their neck pain.
They may also have a history of head trauma, head injury, or other medical conditions that may have contributed to their pain and weakness.
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Anaphylaxis: What Is It And How To Get Help
Most people with allergies get only mild to moderate symptoms, but bad cases can lead to anaphylaxis.
Itâs a serious situation and can put your body into shock. Food, medications, insect bites, or latex are the most likely causes.
A second anaphylactic episode can happen up to 12 hours after the first one.
The symptoms of anaphylaxis can come on suddenly.
They can quickly go from a mild rash or runny nose to serious problems such as a hard time breathing, tightness in the throat, hives or swelling, nausea or vomiting, and fainting or dizziness. Some people can get a rapid pulse or their heart will stop beating.
If youâve had previous attacks or know you are at risk for anaphylaxis, your doctor might prescribe medicine that you can give yourself, or that someone else can give you. Adrenaclick,Auvi-Q, EpiPen, Symjepi or a generic version of an epinephrine auto-injectorâââââââ are devices loaded with this medicine.
Carry this with you always and be aware of your allergy triggers.
Talk To Your Allergist Right Away If You Are Suffering From Body Aches And / Or Cfs
You do not have to live with chronic pain and you do not have to live with fatigue. At Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group we have helped many patients with allergies, joint pain, and much more. We highly suggest you call us right away at 805-658-9500 for an appointment. We can do through testing to get the most accurate diagnosis which will lead us to the right treatment plan.
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Take Medication At Night
There are several over-the-counter medications that can help manage your allergy symptoms, including fatigue.
Antihistamines, the most common OTC allergy medication, work by blocking the effects of histamines, which stops the inflammation in your body and your allergy symptoms.
Common antihistamines include:
- Chlorpheniramine
While diphenhydramine is the medication most commonly linked with sleepiness, its possible for other allergy medications to cause fatigue, too.
If you think your antihistamine is making you tired, try taking your medication at night.
The drug should still control your symptoms during the day, but talk to your doctor if you still feel tired during waking hours. You may need a different medication.
When To See A Doctor
If you have allergy symptoms but over-the-counter medications arent helping you feel better, then its important to see a doctor.
Your primary care provider or an allergist can help you identify whats causing your allergies, how to avoid triggers, and medication or other treatments that might help.
While mild or moderate allergies arent considered a medical emergency, an allergy may cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis.
- Skin reactions, such as hives, flushing, or itching
- Swollen tongue or throat
- Weak, rapid pulse
Read Also: Can Allergies Cause Acute Bronchitis
Natural Remedies For Allergies
Many natural remedies and supplements are marketed as a treatment and even a way to prevent allergies. Discuss these with your doctor before trying them. Some natural treatments may actually contain other allergens and make your symptoms worse.
For example, some dried teas use flowers and plants that are closely related to plants that might be causing you serious sneezing. The same is true for essential oils. Some people use these oils to relieve common symptoms of allergies, but essential oils still contain ingredients that can cause allergies.
Allergies Do Not Cause Fevers
People often wonder if allergies can cause a fever. The answer is no. Allergies cannot cause a fever, though you could have an allergy flare-up at the same time youre experiencing a fever from an infection. For example, since allergies tend to cause stuffy noses, theyre also considered risk factors for sinus infections. Sinus infections happen when mucus gets trapped in the sinuses, allowing bacteria or viruses to grow.
With a cold, your temperature can run warmer, but typically it will be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Gluten Is Connected To Many Forms Of Autoimmune Arthritis
Can gluten cause muscle and joint pain? For genetically susceptible individuals, the intestinal damage caused by gluten in combination with an overactive immune system and chronic state of inflammation leads to celiac disease.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack your intestines, which creates even more damage and inflammation. But as I mentioned, the inflammatory effects arent limited to your gut. Which is why celiac disease is associated with many other autoimmune conditions. And several of them cause your immune system to attack your muscles and joints, which causes pain.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Could anything else, such as a cold or the flu, be causing my symptoms?
- How do I figure out what Im allergic to?
- Is my allergy seasonal?
- I am allergic to _____. Am I at risk for any other allergies?
- What changes can I make at home to relieve my symptoms?
- Will any over-the counter medicines relieve my symptoms?
- What should I do if my symptoms get worse or dont respond to the treatment youve prescribed?
- Do I need to see an allergy specialist ?
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Allergies And Chronic Fatigue
It is not uncommon for a person who suffers from allergies to also suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome . Symptoms of CFS include extreme exhaustion that does not have any known cause. The first step is to talk to your doctor so they can assess for potential illnesses. If they cannot find the cause, then your next step should be to take to an allergist.
Why? Because it is often the case that a person with CFS has an over-sensitive immune system. When you consider that allergies can be caused by over-sensitive immune systems, it is easy to see that why the conditions often exist together. It is often the case that by treating allergies, fatigue can be reduced. Other things can affect both fatigue and allergies, such as mold spores and other environmental irritants.
Can Pollen Affect Your Stomach
When pollen is breathed in, it can cause irritation in the GI tract. The symptoms of an allergy are similar to those of an Irristical Problem, so its easy to uncover. IBS is a chronic condition that affects the entire digestive system. It can be caused by a number of factors, such as allergies, food sensitivities, and medications.
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Do Allergies Cause Fatigue
Allergy symptoms occur when your bodys immune system reacts to a substance youre allergic to.
As part of the antibody response, your body releases substances called immunoglobulin E and histamine.
These substances create inflammation in your body to fend off the allergens, which may cause you to experience allergy symptoms such as:
- Throat irritation
In addition to these classic allergy symptoms, studies suggest this whole-body inflammation caused by an allergic reaction can also make you feel tired.
You may also notice you feel mentally foggy when you have allergies.
Thats because when you experience nasal congestion, you may breathe in less oxygen through your nose.
This can interfere with your ability to concentrate on tasks or remember things, which some people call brain fog.
Allergy symptoms can also cause difficulty sleeping. If youre tossing and turning at night due to a stuffy nose or sneezing, you might feel fatigued the next day.
Lastly, its possible your allergy medication could be making you tired.
For example, diphenhydramine is known to make people sleepy, so its often used as a sleep aid.
Talk to your doctor about the best allergy medication for you if you suspect yours is making you feel tired.
Does Antihistamine Help Back Pain
Antihistamines prevent it from attaching to histamine receptors. These pain medications are used for the treatment of acid reflux and stomach ulcers and are usually taken in conjunction with steroidal medications as part of a treatment plan. Histamine is a naturally occurring substance that is found in the stomach, intestines, and pancreas.
It is produced by the body in response to a variety of stimuli, including food and acid. This process is known as histamine release, and it is thought to be the primary mechanism by which some types of drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are able to relieve pain.
For example, some drugs that are used to treat chronic pain are known to increase the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate the activity of nerve cells. In addition, certain drugs can also increase levels of norepinephrine, an adrenal hormone that stimulates the production of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving chemicals.
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You Suffer From Chronic Constipation Despite Eating A High Fiber Diet And Drinking At Least Two Liters Of Fluid Per Day
This may be due to Lyme disease affecting the GI tract, food sensitivities and/or a lack of adequate magnesium in the diet.
Solution:Do a food allergy/sensitivity profile, try off grains such as wheat, and do a blood test for mineral deficiencies, including magnesium, with a serum and red blood cell magnesium level. Often, getting off sensitive foods and increasing magnesium in the diet will help with chronic constipation.
How Do Allergy Shots Cause Joint And Muscle Pain
Allergy or vaccine shots contain small quantities of allergens. They are injected into the immune system of the body to slowly introduce allergens to the body and develop a natural immunity towards them. It neutralizes the bodys sensitivity towards allergy causing sources and it stops reacting to them over a period of time when introduced to the allergens. However, in some people, the immune system may fail at thriving in an amicable environment with the allergens and the bodys natural defense mechanism sets off to push the toxins out of the body in the form of liquid through watery eyes, runny nose and swelling.
So, you start showing side effects, causing joint pain and muscle pain. This may happen in two cases, the immune system is not strong enough to produce enough antibodies to develop an immunity or the dose of allergen administered is too high for the immune system to deal with and it over reacts. This can further inflame the already existing allergy and the body starts reacting by producing more water to flush it out. The obvious reaction would be that swollen body parts and swellings have a greater likeliness to appear on joints, while muscles suffer through cramps and fatigue.
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What Causes Joint Pain
In most cases, joint pain is due to inflammation at the site of the joint. To find the cause of your pain, medical professionals generally need to look for the cause of the inflammation.
Common reasons for inflamed joints include:
- Chronic illness
Falling on your knees or spraining an ankle can cause acute trauma to your joints. While an injury may happen in a few seconds it can have longer-term consequences. The injury can trigger a reaction in your body as the immune system starts to repair the damage. As you heal, the pain subsides.
If your joint pain has become chronic, the cause may be osteoarthritis. This condition develops over time as cartilage, the protective layer between your bones, wears away. This happens as we age. With other forms of arthritis, your immune system starts to attack the cartilage and other parts of your joint.
While it’s perfectly normal for joints to show some signs of aging, it’s important to identify what causes your joint pain. Once the source of the pain is clear, it’s easier to treat your joints and provide relief.
How Does A Person Become Allergic
Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, or enter through the skin. Common allergic reactions, such as hay fever, certain types of asthma, and hives are linked to an antibody produced by the body called immunoglobulin E . Each IgE antibody can be very specific, reacting against certain pollens and other allergens. In other words, a person can be allergic to one type of pollen, but not another. When a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body starts producing a large quantity of similar IgE antibodies. The next exposure to the same allergen may result in an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction will vary depending on the type and amount of allergen encountered and the manner in which the body’s immune system reacts to that allergen.
Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Generally, allergies are more common in children. However, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. Hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or environmental irritants may also play a role in the development or severity of allergies.
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Talk With A Doctor Or Clinician To Create A Personalized Treatment Plan
If you arent sure if its a cold or allergies, or if your symptoms are severe or long-lasting, its best to connect with a care provider to get an official diagnosis and treatment plan.
If your allergy symptoms are left untreated, you could become more prone to getting sinus infections or other upper respiratory infections, or they may lead to poor asthma control.
Also, a common cold can turn severe. So if your cold has had you laid up longer than a day or two, get in touch with your doctor.
You have a couple options:
Make an appointment for face-to-face care from a primary care doctor or clinician. Whether you choose a video visit or in-person appointment, your doctor will listen to your symptoms, answer questions and work with you to create a tailored treatment plan including connecting you with an allergist or an otolaryngologist if needed.
Start a virtual visit anytime, anyplace through Virtuwell. With Virtuwell, no appointment is necessary and treatment is available 24/7. Getting started is easy. Well ask you a few questions, and youll get your diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified nurse practitioner. Each visit is just $59 or less, depending on your insurance.
