Is Stress Making Your Allergy Symptoms Worse?

Stress can be far more than just the feeling of being overwhelmed. Studies have shown that stress can cause a cascade of physical symptoms as well as psychological ones. Some common physical side effects of stress are headaches, chest pain, tiredness, and tension or muscle pain. What some people may not realize, however, is that stress can actually make allergy symptoms worse, too.

When your body is under stress, it releases a host of hormones and other chemicals throughout your system. One of these chemicals is histamine which is what causes allergy symptoms like itching, sneezing, and sinus congestion. If more histamine than normal is released into your bloodstream, you may find that your allergic reactions are worse than normal.

Of course, finding out that stress can increase your allergy symptoms is stressful in itself. That is why it is important to find ways to achieve stress reduction so that your body has the strength to fight allergic reactions. 

A few suggestions for stress reduction are: 

  •  Reducing your workload or finding ways to make it more manageable.
  •  Get a full night’s sleep and practice sleep hygiene.
  •  Exercise can help you breathe better and will help reduce stress.
  •  Try mindfulness or meditation.
  •  Carve out some “me time” each day.

Taking your allergy medication can help reduce stress as well. If your body is not overtaxed from fighting allergies, it will have more energy to combat the symptoms of stress. This is especially important during allergy season when spring allergies are more intense. Prolonged periods of time where you are sneezing, coughing, and having trouble breathing will take a toll on your body. A tired body is more prone to stress and this can also lower your immune system, making it even more difficult to combat allergies.

Popular allergy medications to help with allergy symptoms include the Epipen Auto-Injector and Rhinocort Nasal Spray, both of which are available to buy online in the UK through Pharmacy Planet. Visit the allergy section of their website today to find out more about how to get allergy medication shipped directly to you.