Fatigue: The Hidden Allergy Symptom
Seasonal allergies are a common cause of frustration wherever you may live. However, while coughing, sneezing, and utterly miserable levels of congestion are common symptoms of a relatively innocuous allergic reaction, there is one allergy symptom that tends to slip under our radar. Lets take a look at how allergies and fatigue disrupt millions of Americans lives. For more information on allergy treatment in New York, reach out to Dr. Shukla today!
So What Is Allergy Fatigue
- Allergy fatigue is a common symptom of allergies, consisting of persistent tiredness or a general lazy feeling. This allergy symptom can be caused by a biochemically based fatigue that can also alter your sleep quality.
- It can be difficult to figure out whether allergy fatigue is directly from allergies or just life in general. To distinguish this allergy symptom, allergic reactions can release chemicals in your body that cause fatigue. So if you’re already feeling the common allergy symptoms with the addition of tiredness, it is most likely allergy fatigue. It is important to recognize the difference between normal tiredness and allergy fatigue because coffee or energy drinks will not treat allergy fatigue.
- Your quality of sleep is extremely important, especially during allergy season. Because your immune system is working overtime and your body is not repairing and resting at night due to allergies, the body cannot function at full capacity, resulting in intense fatigue.
Hay Fever Allergies And Fatigue
One of the most common cause of chronic fatigue is suffering from allergies or hay fever. The typical symptoms of this include:
- Fatigue
- Nasal drainage
- Red and watery eyes
Allergic rhinitis can usually be treated easily and also self-managed. For making a diagnosis, though, you should consult your doctor, who will diagnose after assessing your symptoms. Your doctor will also try and determine the exact trigger for your allergies. This will either be determined through a detailed history or by testing what your allergy triggers are, including pollens, dust mites or cockroaches, molds and mildew, animal dander, weather changes, or anything else.
If you want to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including fatigue, then you can take steps to avoid getting exposed to the offending allergen. Additionally, taking proper medication will also help relieve the symptoms. Some medications that can help include:
- Topical nasal antihistamines
Anemia is a very common blood condition and for women who are in their childbearing years, anemia has been found to the number one cause of fatigue. This is also true for women who have very heavy menstrual cycles, uterine polyps, or uterine fibroid tumors.
Some other causes of anemia include:
- Joint pain
- Body feels sore
Constant fatigue in the day in people with fibromyalgia is attributed to lack of exercising or physical activity. Not exercising causes a further decline in your physical fitness, causing mood-related problems as well.
Read Also: Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes In Neck
Rheumatoid Arthritis And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, morning stiffness, joint pain, inflamed joints
Rheumatoid arthritis , a type of inflammatory arthritis, is another cause of excessive fatigue. Because joint damage can result in disability, early and aggressive treatment is the best approach for rheumatoid arthritis.
Medications that may be used early in mild RA include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Other drugs used in more serious forms of RA include the anti-cytokine therapies , as well as shots and other forms of treatment.
Other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Sjogren’s disease, may also cause fatigue.
Activate Your Lifestyle Again
The human body is designed to move, and if it sits too long, everything stagnates. Staying in motion increases blood flow, which washes out toxins, stimulates healing, and increases oxygen delivery to tissues. It also stimulates endorphins, the natural feel-good chemicals that reduce pain and stimulate immune functions, as well as stem cells, which are necessary to repair damaged tissues.
That said, experts warn that if you have chronic fatigue and overdo it, theres a risk of setback and post-exertional malaise , which is a worsening of symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, cognitive issues, pain, dizziness, and more. So keep in mind that becoming active again must be a delicate balance between moving enough to gain benefit, but not so much that it aggravates inflamed tissues and causes further damage. Try these suggestions for starting slow and easy:
Also Check: How Quick Does A Peanut Allergy Happen
Allergies Can Cause Or Worsen Sleep Apnea
When dealing with allergy symptoms such as congestion, coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose, you may naturally breathe through your mouth instead of your nose. While this can help increase airflow to your lungs, it can also create or exacerbate another condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes your airways to be blocked while you sleep, which can interrupt sleep throughout per night. This results in less deep sleep and can lead to waking up with feelings of fatigue.
Get A Skin Prick Or Blood Test
First, its a good idea to find out what is causing your allergies. This will make symptom management and treatment easier. A common way to find out what allergies you have is with a skin prick test. To get a skin prick test, you need to make an appointment with a doctor or allergist and visit their office.
This is how it works:
- The doctor or nurse will scrape your skin with a needle that has different allergens on it.
- After a short time, the spots on your skin that are itchy, swelling, or red will indicate what youre allergic to.
- Although this can reveal your allergies, it can be time-consuming and uncomfortable.
An alternative to a skin prick test is a blood test. Again, this requires an in-person doctor appointment and painful needles to draw your blood and find your allergens. If you want to skip the doctors visit and the uncomfortable old-fashioned allergy tests, you can get an at-home test from Wyndly instead. Wyndlys at-home allergy test is convenient and painless.
Heres how it works:
- Order your test and it will be delivered to your door.
- Follow the simple finger prick instructions and mail it back.
- Our doctor will interpret your results, create an allergy profile, and walk you through a treatment plan.
Once you know what allergies you have, you can start limiting your exposure to them.
Read Also: When Do Pet Allergies Develop In Babies
Common Causes Of Chronic Fatigue
How does it feel to have limitations on your daily activities? It may imply a negative impact on how we perceive our lifestyle. Every day, there are habits that people often forget to recheck. Significantly, working day and night without having a good sleep can lead to one of the causes of chronic fatigue. Doctors often suggest that stretching, strength training, and anaerobic exercises can stop these causes. People that want to enhance their endurance and flexibility should go to this site . Improving your core and ensuring that your heart rate is stable defeats the chances of chronic fatigue. Yet, be careful with how you work out and read more information regarding the causes of chronic fatigue.
Illnesses That Can Cause Extreme Fatigue
Many people do not understand how someone can be feeling tired all the time. However, the reality is that many people have trouble dealing with chronic fatigue. They always feel tired, have trouble staying awake, have trouble concentrating, and ultimately fatigue seems to take over all facets of their lives. While normally we all feel fatigued when suffering from some bacterial or viral infection or any other medical condition, there are many reasons why you might be feeling fatigued all the time. A constant lack of energy and continuing fatigue could be an indication of an underlying medical condition. There are many illnesses that can make you feel fatigued. So what illnesses can cause extreme fatigue and how do you deal with chronic fatigue? Lets take a look.
Read Also: How Do You Treat Flea Allergy Dermatitis
Tired All The Time: Sinusitis And Chronic Fatigue
We have all experienced fatigue. Between long work hours and the demands of family, many find themselves exhausted at the end of each day. However, the pace of modern life may not always be to blame. If you are having symptoms such as feeling exhausted after walking two blocks, having chronic sore throats and muscle pain, or feeling heavy and sluggish rather than rested after a nights sleep, you may be experiencing chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome disrupts work and family life for hundreds of thousands of people.
The causes of chronic fatigue remain a mystery, but some research suggests that for many sufferers the answer may be right under, or more accurately inside, their noses. People who suffer from sinusitis often list chronic fatigue as one of their most troubling symptoms, equal to facial pain and a blocked nose. If you have symptoms of chronic fatigue, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you have a history of sinusitis?
- Do you feel facial pressure or have frontal headaches?
- Do you have unexplained body pain?
Is My Sinus Infection Making Me Tired
You feel worn-out, no matter how much sleep you get. Youre sluggish throughout the day. On top of that, every little thing seems to bug you. So whats going on? In some cases surprisingly it might be sinus infection fatigue.
Sinus infections, or sinusitis, have long been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, a health condition in which no amount of sleep seems to keep you your normal, alert self.
Sometimes, the fatigue that comes with a sinus infection can be extreme, and other sinusitis symptoms can lead to trouble sleeping, making the situation worse.
If you know youre dealing with a sinus infection or if you just cant shake that tired feeling get the advice of a doctor. There are certain home remedies, medicines and surgical options that could offer help.
In the meantime, if youre trying to get some much-needed shuteye while dealing with a sinus infection, here are some tips.
- Sleep on your back, propped up with a few pillows. Elevating your head and neck can help your sinuses drain easier.
- Use a humidifier. Dry air can worsen sinusitis symptoms, so keep those moisture levels up.
- Try herbal teas. Caffeine-free teas like chamomile, eucalyptus and lavender can soothe you and your sinuses. Plus, inhaling a bit of steam from your cup can help loosen your nasal passages.
- Resist technology. It can be tempting to jump on your phone, tablet or laptop when your symptoms are preventing you from sleeping, but the light can disrupt your system and keep you up longer.
Also Check: How To Help Allergy Sore Throat
What Causes Allergies Anyway
An allergic reaction is a chain reaction that starts in your genes and is expressed by your immune system, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology .
When you have an allergy to something, like pollen or grass, your immune system views it as an invader . It then overreacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E , which travel to cells that release chemicals called histamines, Dr. Monteleone explains. Cue the stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
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Candida And Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue is a condition that effects millions of Americans each year. This condition is often touted as incurable by modern medicine and often times is not diagnosed as a legitimate illness. In fact, many suffering with chronic fatigue are often told that its all in their head, and often are misdiagnosed as having depression.
However, those suffering from chronic fatigue know that this illness is not all in their head. In fact, most with this condition want to be healthy and want to live a normal life but simply cannot. Unfortunately, many lose hope when dealing with this disorder and simply accept the circumstances in which life has given them.
Luckily, there may be a possible solution and cause to this disorder. In our experience, those suffering from a chronic fatigue type conditions often have a candida overgrowth in the gut and body. If you youve landed on this page, we will assume that you already know all about candida. However, if youve never heard of this pathogenic fungus before and would like the full details, please go to our candida homepage.
Recommended Reading: Can Seasonal Allergies Make Your Stomach Hurt
Find Out Your Allergens
The first step in getting rid of your brain fog is finding out whats causing your allergies. If you dont know what youre allergic to, you should visit a doctor who specializes in allergies. Theyll run tests to find out whats causing your symptoms.
Common allergy tests include:
- Skin tests. This involves pricking your skin with a needle to expose you to a small amount of an allergen. If youre allergic, youll develop a raised bump in the spot of the allergen.
- Blood tests. If you have allergies, your blood will contain certain cells that show youre sensitive to certain allergens.
- Physical exam. There are many physical signs of allergies, from skin irritation to nasal and breathing problems. These can help your doctor diagnose your allergies.
How Your Allergies Might Be Making You Tired
Most people who ask themselves, Why do I feel so tired all the time? wind up blaming their fatigue on being stressed, overworked, or other external causes. Others may point to a lack of sleep or getting poor sleep. While these potential culprits can contribute to lack of sleep, theres another suspect whom Houstonians should keep in mind: allergies.
Very few people suspect that their allergies can rob them of quality rest or make them feel tired, but they can, and for multiple reasons. The next time you ask yourself, Why do I feel so tired all the time or even, Can allergies cause fatigue? remember these three things:
Read Also: Does Flonase Help With Allergies
The Link Between Seasonal Allergies And Drowsiness
So why do we feel tired after a seasonal allergy reaction? Whats the link? One reason is that the drowsiness can be brought on by other allergy symptoms. When you have seasonal allergies, you can get swelling and congestion in your nose. This nasal blockage makes breathing at night more difficult, which can cause you to get less sleep or lower quality sleep. Thus, the next day you feel tired and fatigued. You might even experience brain fog.
Another reason for allergy-related fatigue might be attributed to your body working to fight off the perceived threat of the allergen that entered your body. When you have an allergic reaction, your body mistakes a harmless substance for a foreign invader. It then responds with antibodies to fight the threat. This extra work that your body is putting in can also make you feel tired, similar to when your body is dealing with a cold or flu virus.
Finally, if you have seasonal allergies, you might take an over-the-counter antihistamine. While some of these allergy meds are non-drowsy, that cant be said for all of them. Benadryl in particular is known for causing drowsiness. If you take allergy medications and youre feeling tired, check the side effects to see if that could be causing your fatigue.
So How Do Allergies Make You Tired
When battling with allergies, many chalk up their fatigue and low energy to stress and other factors. But the truth is, allergies contribute to fatigue in more ways than one.
1. Your Long-Term Immune Response is Exhausting You.
When your bodys in healing mode, it prioritizes its resources to bring you back to health.
With short-term illnesses like colds or the flu, well typically feel tired for a few days and begin regaining energy as we start feeling better.
But with allergies, our immune system stays active for longer than its meant to, requiring more resources and energy to keep up the disease-fighting histamine and immunoglobulin E activity.
As time stretches on, the inflammation meant to heal us can become chronic and lead to long-term fatigue resulting from diversion and depletion of your bodys energy.
2. Youre Breathing in Less Oxygen.
Stuffed noses and congestion make it harder to breathe and reduce your oxygen intake. With less oxygen comes less energy for our cells to refuel our bodies, making the impact of a long-term immune response even more exhausting on our systems.
3. Youre Not Sleeping Well.
Nasal congestion can make it uncomfortable, if not impossible to get a good nights sleep. In addition to our decreased oxygen intake, finding a comfortable position to fall asleep can feel like an infuriating pipedream.
Sleep is a restorative process that keeps us healthy our health declines when were deprived of sleep, leaving us more and more fatigued.
Also Check: How To Prevent Peanut Allergy In Infants
