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Can Pollen Allergies Cause Heart Palpitations

Can Allergies Affect Joint Pain

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    If you suffer from allergies, you likely know the toll they can take on your sinuses. But what about the rest of your body? Can allergies affect joint pain? Believe it or not, allergies, whether seasonal or food-related, can affect joint pain. Allergy symptoms appear for a variety of reasons, but some symptoms like joint pain may occur because of the humidity and rapid temperature changes that accompany the spring season.

    During allergy season, many individuals experience a spike in allergy symptoms, particularly when there is a high pollen count. Some individuals will have mild symptoms like a stuffy nose and sneezing.

    Others, on the other hand, can experience pain in their neck, back and joints. Joint pain is widespread. A national survey showed one-third of adults claimed to have experienced joint pain within the previous 30 days.

    What Are Complications Of Allergies

    Anaphylaxis is the most common complication associated with allergiesparticularly allergies to foods, insect stings, medications, and latex. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening whole-body reaction to an allergen. Symptoms usually occur immediately within seconds or minutes after exposure to the allergen.

    Anaphylaxis symptoms may include:

    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Loss of consciousness

    Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that should be treated immediately to prevent additional complications, including a blocked airway, cardiac arrest, stopped breathing, and shock. Contact emergency medical services immediately if you or someone else is experiencing anaphylaxis.

    Other potential complications associated with allergies include asthma, sinus infection, ear infection, and lung infection. People with allergies are often more likely to have asthma than people without allergies. Infections are more likely to affect people who suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma.

    Caffeine And Heart Palpitations

    Caffeine often causes palpitations, says Glenn Meininger, MD, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Services for the Baltimore region of the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute.

    Shutterstock/Michelle Lee Photography

    Dr. Meininger says there are two mechanisms through which this happens.

    It is a stimulant, blocking the effects of adenosine and impacting the autonomic nervous system, and it can increase blood flow to the kidneys with excess fluid loss and dehydration .

    Coffee, tea, soda and chocolate are the leading caffeine-containing items, but some dessert type foods and snacks may also contain this stimulant.

    If youre drinking at least three cups of caffeinated coffee a day, for instance, this may be causing or contributing to your skipped or extra beats.

    The American Medical Association Complete Guide to Mens Health recommends gradually knocking down your coffee consumption. A cold-turkey cessation may cause headaches.

    If during your jumpy heartbeats you do not experience any other symptoms, youre most likely not having a panic attack.

    There are isolated cases in which caffeine can trigger a panic attack, and panic attacks include heart palpitations.

    However, panic attacks also typically come with a feeling that you cant breathe in enough air, a sense that death is imminent or that something awful is about to happen.

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    Avoidance Of The Cause

    Treatment with medication often works so well that you may not have much motivation or need to avoid the cause of the allergy. However, some people may wish to try to avoid the cause of the allergy, particularly if medication is not fully effective. There are a number of measures you can take to reduce the amount of common aero-allergens.

    See the separate leaflet called House Dust Mite and Pet Allergy for more details.

    What To Do If Foods Cause You Heart Palpitations

    Allergy Symptoms

    First off, take note if you feel any additional symptoms, because those could signal that youre experiencing more than simple palpitations. Seek emergency medical help if at any point you also have:

    • Shortness of breath
    • Pain or discomfort in the upper back, arms, neck, or jaw
    • Feeling of impending doom

    If its the first time youve ever noticed heart palpitations, make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. Its likely nothing is wrong, but its always best to err on the side of caution and make sure that the food-related episode isnt the first sign of a bigger issue.

    Next, start a log and record times when the palpitations recur. Note what you ate or drank and what sort of emotional state you were in. If specific foods or beverages tend to cause recurrences, take that as a sign you should reduce or eliminate those foods from your diet. Your body and your heart couldnt be telling you any more clearly that those substances are doing you harm.

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    Minimize Your Exposure To Allergens

    Many doctors see allergy symptoms as a sign that your allergen bucket has reached capacity, and is now overflowing. In other words, your body is designed to deal with a number of offensive substances whether they be dust mites, mold, chemicals, pet dander, and even offending foods but when seasonal allergens like ragweed and pollen are added to that allergen load, your body reaches its tipping point, and lets you know via allergy symptoms.

    So limiting your exposure to various allergens will help keep your bucket from spilling over. Using a high quality, HEPA-grade air filter in your home is one of the best ways to minimize allergen exposure, as is keeping your home or work environment as free as possible of dust or animal hair. When it comes to the allergy bucket, every little bit of prevention counts!

    What Are The Symptoms Of Food Allergies

    An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from food allergies. They are most common in young children but can affect people of all ages. Symptoms range from mild to severe.

    Mild symptoms include:

    • Swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat
    • Shortness of breath
    • Turning blue

    Some patients may develop anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction that causes swelling in the throat and breathing difficulties. Symptoms may develop within seconds of exposure and include:

    • Abdominal pain
    • Inflammation of the face and eyes
    • Mental confusion

    Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency without prompt treatment, patients can go into shock or cardiac arrest.

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    Which Allergy Meds Are Safe For Your Heart

    There are three major classes of allergy medications:

    • anti-inflammatories

    “In general, antihistamines are safe in patients with high blood pressure and other forms of heart disease,” explains Richard Krasuski, MD, director of adult congenital heart disease services at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, but an antihistamine may elevate blood pressure or increase heart rate, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

    Antihistamines for allergies include common OTC allergy drugs such as loratadine , fexofenadine , and cetirizine . However, if the drug also has a D after the name, be aware that it contains an added decongestant that can cause problems.

    The combination of decongestants and blood pressure problems can be big trouble, according to the American Heart Association. Dr. Krasuski says it’s important that people with high blood pressure and other heart problems avoid decongestants, especially pseudoephedrine . “They can raise the blood pressure and increase the pulse, neither of which is ideal in either problem,” he says. “They can also increase the risk for heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation.”

    “This can reduce the antihypertensive effects of blood pressure medications and lead to loss of blood pressure control,” adds Dr. Campbell.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Mold And Pollen Allergies

    Are you developing allergies in menopause? Food sensitivities and allergies in middle aged women.

    Allergies to mold and pollen are among the most common. Often referred to as hay fever, they are the result of molds or pollen from various flowering plants, grasses and trees. Since some plants only grow and flower at a certain time of year and some molds grow better in different weather conditions, these allergies may only affect you during specific seasons. This is why they are normally referred to as seasonal allergies.

    Common symptoms include:

    • Postnasal drip

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    Food Allergies And Heart Palpitations

    Many people today live with food allergies and food sensitivity. While milk products cause reactions in some individuals, others cant tolerate nuts, certain fruits, or shellfish. Regardless of which specific food triggers the physical symptoms of a food allergy, heart palpitations are common during an allergic reaction.

    Experiencing a pounding heart after eating a meal can feel uncomfortable. Most heart palpitations resolve themselves without medical intervention. If you notice heart palpitations after meals and want to talk to a health care professional about it, contact Peconic Bay Medical Center at and schedule an appointment.

    By Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T.

    Often when I write about the best and worst foods for the heart, I talk in the context of heart-healing foods that are good to eat, as well as foods that should be avoided because they fan the flames of inflammation. Those discussions focus on how the things we eat and drink every day affect heart health over the long haul.

    Today, though, I want to shift gears and focus on foods that can have more immediate and noticeable impacts on the heartstarting with foods that can cause heart palpitations. In this article Ill explore:

    Why Foods Cause Heart Palpitations

    Feeling palpitations after eating is a relatively common experience, which tends to occur when a substance in your food or drinkor your bodys natural biochemical response to that substancejolts the hearts electrical system and causes fluttering sensations, skipped beats, or a feeling that your heart is beating too hard or too fast.

    Coffee drinkers, think about the last time you drank one cup too many. You know what I mean!

    If your heart is healthy and you have no history of arrhythmia or heart diseaseand youre not experiencing any other symptomstheres little need to worry about an occasional episode of these irregular beats. For people who do have arrhythmias or cardiac issues, however, its a different story. Palpitations caused by food can cause an existing disruption in your hearts rhythm to escalate, and potentially lead to a major event.

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    The Connection Between Springtime Allergies And Cardiovascular Disease

    Over 50 million people suffer from allergies in the U.S, and each year, 785,000 Americans suffer from their first coronary attack. These statistics may seem unrelated, but could there be a link?

    Seasonal allergies often lead to coughing, sneezing, and bodily discomfort. For most, they are simply a nuisance in the spring months. However, new research may have found a link between common allergies and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

    Allergies and Cardiovascular Disease

    The link between heart disease and allergies was first discovered by Dr. Jongoh Kim, a researcher at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Kim and his team used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1988 and 1994 to pull data and better understand how allergies and heart disease are connected. The team found that those who suffer from allergies during certain times of the year also suffer from heart disease at an increased rate compared to people without allergies.

    Across the collected data, six percent of adults suffered from heart disease. However, of those surveyed who recorded wheezing, a common allergy symptom, 13 percent had some form of heart disease. Additionally, the risk for heart disease more than doubled when other risk factors, such as asthma, were calculated in.

    More Research is Needed

    Tips for Managing Seasonal Allergies

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    Alternative Methods For Controlling Allergies

    Five ways to relieve seasonal allergies naturally

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    If you continue to suffer from allergy symptoms but can’t take allergy medications because of high blood pressure or other heart problems, there are other ways you can help mitigate the sneezing, sniffling, coughing, and watery eyes that allergies can trigger.

    Consider these allergy-control methods:

    • Run a dehumidifier, because mold loves moisture.
    • Use allergen-reducing bedding such as mattress and pillow protectors.
    • Try a saline nasal spray or wash to reduce nasal congestion.

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    What Are The Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies

    Seasonal allergies are among the most common. Often referred to as hay fever, they are the result of molds or pollen from various flowering plants, grasses and trees. Since some plants only grow and flower at a certain time of year and some molds grow better in different weather conditions, these allergies may only affect you during specific seasons.

    Common symptoms include:

    What Is An Allergic Reaction

    An allergic reaction happens when your immune system goes into overdrive when exposed to a normally harmless substance. Think pollen, animal dander or certain foods. Anything that causes this reaction is called an allergen.

    When exposed to an allergen, the immune system responds by sending out antibodies to try and remove the allergens. Histamines and other chemicals are released into the bloodstream, which cause allergy symptoms. Those symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on your body’s reaction and how much of the allergen is in your system.

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    Allergy Treatment Begins At Home

    Avoiding allergy triggers at home is one of the best ways to prevent allergy symptoms. Controlling temperature, humidity, and ventilation are a few ways to allergy-proof the home. Cleaning, vacuuming, and using HEPA air filters also helps control allergies.

  • Premature ventricular contractions are premature heartbeats originating from the ventricles of the heart. PVCs are premature because they occur before the regular heartbeat. There are many causes of premature ventricular contractions to include: heart attack, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, mitral valve prolapse, hypokalemia, hypoxia, medications, excess caffeine, drug abuse, and myocarditis.

  • At MedicineNet, we believe it is important to take charge of your health through measures such as a living healthy lifestyle, practicing preventative medicine, following a nutrition plan, and getting regular exercise. Understanding your symptoms and signs and educating yourself about health conditions are also a part of living your healthiest life. The links above will provide you with more detailed information on these medical conditions to help you inform yourself about the causes and available treatments for these conditions.

    How Common Are Allergies

    Long-term COVID-19 Symptoms: Cardiac Perspective, Palpitations (POTS)

    Allergies are very common. About 1 in 4 people in the UK are affected by an allergy at some time during their lives. Each year the number of affected people increases.

    It is estimated that half a million people in the UK have had an anaphylactic reaction to venom . Nearly a quarter of a million people under the age of 45 have had anaphylaxis due to nuts.

    A manifesto from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published in 2017 is calling for concerted policy action to tackle the âallergy crisis in Europeâ. It points out that allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. Up to 1 in 5 patients with allergies live with a severe debilitating form of their condition they struggle daily with the fear of a possible asthma attack, anaphylactic shock, or even death from an allergic reaction. The manifesto proposes a series of evidence-based recommendations to tackle the burden of allergy in Europe, foster allergy research and help strengthen allergology as a medical speciality. It is available in âFurther Reading and Referencesâ, below.

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    Can Allergies Increase Heart Disease Risk Dr

  • ute. Although a fast heart rate is commonly defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per
  • e the main cause of changes in your HRV trend
  • Increased heart rate Anxiety Confusion Dizziness All these symptoms can lead to a coma and, in some cases, death. They appear quickly after eating, so immediate medical attention is vital. 2. Lettuce. Lettuce is the food most related to lipid transfer protein syndrome. The consumption of this vegetable is a frequent cause of allergy
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    Can Allergies Cause Heart Palpitations

    Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â itâs anonymous and free!

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    Dangers Of Allergy Meds For Your Heart

    Have high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, or another heart condition? Heres what you need to know about allergy drugs.

    Allergy medications might seem harmless enough they’re sold over the counter , so that makes them safe, right?

    Not necessarily.

    Though allergy drugs can stop the misery of seasonal bouts with pollen, hay fever, and grasses, some can aggravate a heart condition, or be downright dangerous when mixed with blood pressure drugs and certain heart medicines.

    “If a patient has allergies or a cold and is considering OTC medications, it is always recommended to talk with the pharmacist on site, or to ask your physician for recommendations in the context of the other medications that are prescribed,” says L. Kristin Newby, MD, MHS, a cardiology professor at Duke Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

    “Some OTC medications for example, those containing pseudoephedrine or similar components may cause increases in heart rate or blood pressure that could exacerbate some cardiac conditions,” explains Dr. Newby.

    Irregular Heartbeat And Itching Or Burning

    Allergy Symptoms

    Reviewed on 8/5/2020

    There are a few different medical conditions that are strongly associated with:

    • Irregular Heartbeat
    • Itching Or Burning

    While the symptoms above can be considered a guide to help associate symptoms common among the conditions below, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms. Below are the top condition matches for your symptom combination from MedicineNet:

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    Identify When Symptoms Start

    So youve decided you probably have seasonal allergies. Great. But also, not great, because while allergies from pollen arent typically serious, they also arent fun.

    Some people are like, Oh, its just allergies, but allergies can be debilitating. Quality of life goes down, people miss school and work and theres an economic impact, says Dr. Drew Ayars, an allergist who sees patients at the allergy clinics at UW Medical Center Montlake and UW Medical Center Eastside Specialty Center.

    Your first step toward getting relief is figuring out what kind of seasonal allergies you have.

    Does your foggy-headed misery set in before the first flowers bloom? Or later in spring when everyone starts mowing their lawns again?

    You dont have to be tested to know what youre allergic to. You can correlate symptoms to pollen counts around that time, he explains.

    Thats because different types of pollen emerge at different times. In late winter and early spring, the most prevalent pollens are from trees hazelnut, birch, alder, oak, cottonwood, ash and juniper are especially common in the Seattle area, Rampur says. Mid- to late spring is full of grass pollen, and the biggest culprit in late summer to fall is weed pollen.

    Once you notice when specifically your allergies flare up, you can put a plan in place for dealing with them .

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