What Causes Drowsiness From Allergy Pills
As mentioned above, histamines also play a role in regulating your sleep. But these are not the same histamines that are triggered by the immune system. These are the ones in your brain.
Your brain has neurons that produce histamines, and it is these histamines that control your sleep-wake cycles.
The older allergy medications that are also known as first-generation antihistamines typically constitute diphenhydramine or doxylamine succinate. These can cross the blood-brain barrier.
When you take allergy products that contain the first-generation antihistamines, the medications block the histamine receptors in the brain.
When you are awake, the histamine neurons in the brain are firing at high speed. The neuron firing speed reduces when you feel sleepy or tired.
So while blocking stopping the allergy symptoms, they inadvertently impact the ones in the brain and reduce the neuron firing speed. The reduced neuron firing speed signals to your brain that you are feeling tired or sleepy.
How To Tackle Allergy Fatigue
To fight allergy fatigue, individuals need to remove allergens wherever possible. Dust, pollen, and even pet hair can cause symptoms like breathing issues at night. A bed should be covered throughout the day by a mattress encasement and pillow covers. Likewise, a person should vacuum their homes floors often and keep windows closed. An air purifier that removes allergens can make sense for certain households.
Allergy sufferers can take steps to protect their own body, too. For instance, allergy medications can be purchased over the counter at drug stores. Antihistamines and decongestants are popular options to fight back against allergy symptoms. Individuals can take a nightly bath or shower before bed. In doing so, they wash away allergens and particles on their skin and hair.
Allergy Shots Side Effects For Adults
Allergy shot side effects or reactions are usually minimal and easy to manage. Because youre being injected with allergens sometimes your body can overreact.
For this reason its important to always carry an Epi-Pen with you to the doctor, in your car, to work/school. Ill explain the side effects and reactions Ive experienced during my 5 years of allergy shots.
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Tired It Could Be Allergies
Most people know that allergies cause sneezing and a runny nose, but they can cause a host of other symptoms, too, including fatigue. In fact, as many allergists will tell you, fatigue is one of the symptoms that allergy sufferers are most likely to complain about.
So why do allergies make us tired? Here are a few possible reasons:
If allergies are wearing you out, start by figuring out what you are allergic to. Using an environmental or food allergy test kit, your doctor can gauge your reaction to hundreds of allergens, including pollen, dust, mold, pet dander, and food proteins. Your test regimen may involve a blood test or a series of skin pricks that penetrate the top layers of the skin.
If you react significantly to allergens, talk to your doctor about an allergy treatment program. If your symptoms are mild, your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that will not affect your sleep schedule. If your symptoms are severe or if they stretch out over more than a few months per year, you may be a candidate for allergy immunotherapy.
Allergy immunotherapy can be prescribed as under-the-tongue drops or as shots. Shots are administered at the doctors office a couple of times per week, but allergy drops are safer than shots so they can be dosed at home.
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What Causes Allergic Reactions
About 50 million people in the United States have allergies. Thats about one in every seven people, according to the American College of Asthma, Allergies, and Immunology,
People are generally born with sensitivity to substances, handed down by their parents. However, some people develop allergies over time.
Common allergens include pollen, mold, pet dander, or foods, which trigger an allergic reaction.
When people with allergies inhale or ingest these allergens, the bodys defense system kicks into overdrive. The immune system unleashes a flood of antibodiesimmunoglobulin E to fight off the perceived enemy.
The is the allergen is not an infection that requires fighting, but an irritant that should be ignored , explains James R. Haden, MD, president of the Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Fort Worth, Texas.
For someone with allergies, the immune system views a harmless speck of pollen the same as a dangerous parasite.
The rush of antibodies unlocks histamines in the cells, which spring into action to rid the body of the allergens. Think of histamines as the chemical security guards in your bloodstream, quickly ushering out the threats.
Its this chemical storm of histamines that leads to coughing, sneezing, hives, rashes, itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a scratchy throatall signs of an allergic reaction.
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How Can Allergies Make You Tired
Allergies are caused by your immune system responding to airborne allergens by releasing chemicals that create inflammation in your nose. As a result, you might experience nasal congestion, sneezing, and an itchy, runny nose. All of these irritating allergy symptoms narrow airways, making it difficult to breathe, especially when youre lying down. These allergy symptoms can make for difficult nights sleep.
While many people suffer from seasonal allergies , many Canadians experience year-round symptoms. The culprit: common indoor allergenssuch as dust mites, pet dander, and mouldall of which can be found in the bedroom.;Fortunately, there are actions you can take to minimize your exposure to these allergens so you can enjoy a better nights sleep year-round.
Discover The Source Of Your Symptoms
You may already believe that allergies are the root cause of your fatigue and other symptoms, but there may be more to it than that. An ear, nose and throat specialist can fully examine to make sure other issues such as sinusitis or deviated septum arent causing or worsening your issues. They can also conduct an accurate allergy test to find out exactly which allergies you have, and how severe each one may be. Common triggers of allergies include dust mites, mold, pet dander, and pollen.
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Could My Allergy Medication Be Part Of The Problem
Prescription medications can cause fatigue, but when used properly and managed well, they can help allergy sufferers battle through.
The best treatment outcomes are always when the patient and physician work together to tailor a treatment plan to a particular patients allergies, lifestyle, and needs, explains Dr. Haden.
Mississippi-based pharmacist Lori Elliott says to use caution when combining allergy medications with other prescription products that can cause drowsiness, including those for pain, anxiety, depression, and blood pressure.
People should take these medications at night, says Elliott, who currently works as a pharmacist in Oxford and has worked as a pharmacist in Georgia and Mississippi for more than 30 years. If drowsiness continues to affect quality of life, I recommend contacting your prescriber for a reduction in dose or a change in therapy.
What Causes ‘your’ Fatigue
Many physical and mental illnesses, as well as lifestyle factors, can cause your fatigue, and that can make it hard to diagnose. In some cases, it might be something simple and easy to fix, like having caffeine at bedtime. But other causes, like heart disease or COPD, are serious, and you may need to start long-term treatment right away.
Your doctor can help you sift through your health issues, as well as diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits, in order to zero in on the cause and help you on the road to recovery.
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How Allergy Symptoms Can Make You Tired
Your immune system responds to airborne allergens by releasing chemicals that create inflammation in your nose. As a result, you might experience nasal congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose. All of these symptoms narrow airways, making it difficult to breathe, especially when youre lying downwhich can make for difficult nights sleep.1
While many people suffer from seasonal allergies , millions of Americans experience year-round symptoms. The culprit: indoor allergenssuch as dust mites, pet dander, and moldall of which can be found in the bedroom.2
What Exactly Is A Food Sensitivity/intolerance
A food sensitivity/intolerance is quite another story. Delayed reactions can appear in many different ways. They can affect any organ in the body and can take from 45 minutes to several days for symptoms to appear.
Food sensitivities can be an extremely difficult puzzle to try to solve on your own. This is due to the delayed onset of symptoms and complex bodily functions involved. In fact, food sensitivities often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This makes them especially adept at being a hidden cause of fatigue!
When your body struggles to digest certain foods, ingredients or additives it may cause a food intolerance.;
Symptoms of food intolerance include:;
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability or nervousness
A food sensitivity or intolerance is caused by the IgG antibody. This is the most common antibody in your blood. It binds with viruses, bacteria, and fungi and help your body remove these harmful substances.
Food sensitivity tests measure the number of IgG antibodies your body develops after eating a particular food.
For example, you may not create any IgE antibodies to dairy products which means you are not allergic to dairy. However, you could produce IgG antibodies which shows that you are sensitive.
To further complicate matters, there are other antibodies that can be measured for food sensitivities. These include IgM and IgA. This means that your IgG antibodies might not react to dairy, but your IgA antibodies do.
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Why Do Seasonal Allergies Make Us Tired
Seasonal allergies can do more than just cause a runny nose or coughwhen left untreated, they can lead to drowsiness and poor concentration, too.
Allergy fatigue is the result of your body working hard to fight off a foreign invader. Its similar to the way your body fights a virus like the common cold or the flu, which can also leave you feeling drained.
When you have an allergic response to something like dust, pollen, or pet dander, your body also releases proteins , which can cause inflammation in your nose. Chronic inflammation has been linked to fatigue and depression.;
Allergies can also indirectly cause you to feel tired during the day by disrupting your sleep at night. Common allergy symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and congestion can make it hard to get a good nights rest, making it hard to stay focused the next day.
Treating seasonal allergy tiredness isnt always simple, either. Common medications like Benadryl often cause drowsiness as a side effect. Fortunately, there are ways to manage fatigue and stay alert during allergy season.
Take Care Of Your Clothes
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, its especially important to put your clothes in the laundry room as soon as you come home. This way, pollen that might be clinging to your clothes wont have a chance to enter your bedroom. But caring for your clothes doesnt end there.
During seasons when allergies are most common, its recommended to avoid air-drying clothes so that it doesnt attract pollen. Instead, the best option is to use a dryer if you have access to one.
Allergies can be unpleasant, especially when they start to interfere with your daily routine and disrupt the quality of your sleep. However, ensuring that your bedroom is an allergy-free environment is one way to help you manage your allergy.
If you experience a severe or persistent allergic reaction, consult a doctor for medical help.
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What About Antihistamines In Cold And Flu Medications
What many people may not know is that cold and flu medicines marketed to treat runny nose and sneezing usually include first-generation antihistamines the more sedating types. Thats because they are often better at treating cold symptoms and drying up runny nose than the newer types.
Because of their sedating effect, cold medicines with antihistamines are labeled for nighttime use. Take this labeling seriously, as some include medications like doxylamine that are more sedating than others. Check labels for dosages, as well, as these may vary, even within brands.
More is not better read labels carefully and take only as recommended. Dont supplement a multi-symptom cold medication with another single-ingredient antihistamine.
Can Allergies Make You Tired
Spring is coming, along with the unfortunately familiar itchy eyes, runny nose, and regular sneezing of seasonal allergies. Up to 40% of Americans suffer from allergies, or allergic rhinitis. If you also suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea, those seasonal allergy symptoms can result in even less sleep and more miserable days.
But can allergies make you tired? Yes.;
Symptoms of allergies include fatigue, along with sneezing, itchy or runny nose, watery eyes and for many, poor sleep. Often the brain fog and out of it feeling many describe, is in fact, fatigue brought on by the internal inflammation that occurs when suffering from an allergy response.;
When youre exposed to allergens like pollen or grass, your body creates an immune response by producing cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that help you fight infections and help you fight off foreign substances like pollen. When cytokines are released, inflammation in the nasal passage leads to narrowed airways and congestion. If the inflammation continues for longer periods of time, your brain and thinking may get foggy. The longer it continues, the more exhausted youll feel and the harder it is to function throughout the day.
Allergy sufferers are also more than twice as likely to have insomnia than those without. Without good sleep at night, youre going to feel more tired throughout the day.
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How Are Food Allergies/sensitivities Diagnosed
People with food allergies know exactly what food causes their allergy. They eat peanuts or a product with peanuts in it and immediately have a reaction. Their food allergy was diagnosed using either blood tests or skin tests.
In an allergy skin test, a very small drop of a liquid food extract, one for each food, is placed on the skin. The skin is then lightly pricked where the food extract was dropped. This is safe and generally not painful. Within 15 to 20 minutes, a raised bump with redness around it, similar to a mosquito bite, may appear. This shows that you are allergic to that food.
There are two accepted methods in determining a food sensitivity:
Laboratory tests
Lab tests for food sensitivities measure IgG or IgA antibodies to particular food proteins. Ideally, a lab will test both, as you can have a reaction to one but not the other. Once a food allergy is ruled out food sensitivity tests are run. For example, if you suspect you react to peanuts, ruling out a peanut allergy should be your first priority. Should the food allergy test show that you are not allergic to peanuts, your doctor may decide to investigate a peanut or legume sensitivity.
Elimination or reset diets
Your fatigue is different than the fatigue of anyone else you know. Youre a unique snowflake and your nutrition should reflect this. Food might not even be the cause of your fatigue. But the only way to find out is to experiment.
How To Prevent Allergy Fatigue
The best way to prevent allergy fatigue is to find an effective treatment option for your allergies. The first step in managing allergies and preventing symptoms like fatigue is to find out which specific allergens trigger your reactions. After this diagnosis, there are ways to minimize allergies and avoid fatigue. You can minimize allergy fatigue in several ways:
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Allergy Pills Make You Feel Drowsy Truth Or Myth Read On To Know More
You are passing by a flower shop, and the wind blows in your direction. You feel a sneeze coming. Soon you have a runny nose, itchy eyes, uncontrollable sneezing, and even wheezing. Does this scenario sound familiar?
Those who suffer from allergies can attest to the fact that despite taking appropriate measures to avoid the allergens, sometimes, things get out of hand, and you end up with an allergic reaction similar to one mentioned above.
Once the allergic reaction starts, you are faced with a familiar problem. Should you take the;allergy products, or should you wait out the allergy?
It is the common belief that drowsiness and allergy products go hand in hand. It is an accepted side effect that seems like the lesser evil when an allergy strikes.
However, new allergy medications do not make you feel drowsy. How is that possible? How to ensure that you do not feel drowsy during the day after taking allergy products? Read on to find out more!
Primary Care Doctors Serving Families And Individuals In Fort Worth
Our team at Primary Care Associates of Texas knows how to get to the root of the problem and properly evaluate your symptoms. If you are experiencing what you think may be a food allergy, we can conduct blood tests, allergy screenings, and employ any other means necessary to help you find the answers you need.
Dont live with fatigue, discomfort, or pain any longer.Connect with us today by calling today, or send us an email to book your first appointment.
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Reducing Allergens In The Bedroom
Eliminating allergens in your bedroom is the best way to reduce the chance that your allergy symptoms will act up at night and interfere with your sleep, making you tired during the day. However, this is often easier said than done. Allergy-causing substances are often found in common places, like your mattress and linens. Humans can easily bring outdoor allergens inside when they collect on clothing and hair.
Taking precautionary measures can help eliminate allergens in your home. Below, you can find ways to limit allergens from some of the most common sources in your bedroom.
