Allergies can cause all kinds ofunpleasant, distracting symptoms, from digestive upsets and headachesto respiratory trouble and runny eyes. However, you may also haveexperienced another few hallmark symptoms of allergy problems:fatigue, drowsiness, and mental sluggishness.
If you have had noticeable troublegathering your thoughts, maintaining your alertness, or even stayingawake during the day, you need to understand how your allergies maycreate or aggravate your tiredness. Take heed of the following fourkey points about allergy-related fatigue.
1. Allergens Cause BiochemicallyBased Fatigue
An allergic reaction occurs when yourimmune system goes into battle by mistake, attacking a harmlesssubstance as if it were a virus or other germ. It does this byinstructing mast cells to produce antibodies for release into thebloodstream. These antibodies belong to a category known asimmunoglobulin E.
In addition to immunoglobulin E, theimmune system releases a substance called histamine. When both ofthese substances produce an inflammatory reaction in the body, youmay experience a sense of tiredness alongside other, more obviousallergic symptoms.
2. Allergic Sinusitis Can CauseBrain Fog
Individuals who feel dazed and unableto think well often describe their problem as brain fog. While brainfog may occur in association with many health problems, most notablyfibromyalgia, it can also occur as a side effect of a conditioncalled allergic sinusitis.
Allergic sinusitis may resemblesinusitis caused by an infection in some respects. However, you candistinguish this condition by the presence of an itchy eyes, nose, orthroat (which more commonly occurs with allergies). The symptoms ofallergic sinusitis can plague you for months at a time.
In addition to the inflammatoryprocesses created by mast cell activity, allergic sinusitis canreduce the amount of oxygen you can take in through your nose. Thisreduced oxygen level can interfere with your daytime mentalefficiency and cognitive function.
3. Sleep Apnea and Allergies GoTogether
If you suffer from allergic sinusitis,you may naturally breathe through your mouth instead of your nose.Unfortunately, while this response can help your lungs get somemuch-needed air, it can also create or worsen another condition knownas sleep apnea.
Sufferers from sleep apnea experienceairway blockages as they sleep. These blockages may interrupt sleepmany times per night, leaving the sufferers to face each day in astate of fatigue. Sleep apnea may also raise these individuals' risksfor heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and liver disease.
The same inflammatory reactions thatproduce allergic sinusitis can also cause your tonsils and adenoidsto swellup while also drying out your sinuses. These issues can encouragesleep apnea attacks or make an ongoing case of sleep apnea moresevere. It may even interfere with your ability to use a CPAP(continuous positive airway pressure) device.
4. The Wrong Allergy Medications CanMake Your Sleepiness Worse
When you desperately seek relief fromnagging allergy symptoms, you may reach for any over-the-countermedications that seem to help, including antihistamines.Unfortunately, certain kinds of antihistamines induce drowsiness -not only at night but also during the day.
The nighttime sleep you get with theaid of such antihistamines may not do your brain and body much goodthe next morning, even if you discontinue their use during the day.Some people suffer from sleepwalking and poor sleep quality as aresult of these drugs.
Fortunately, you don't have to letallergies wreck your sleep quality or your daytime productivity. Contact Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Fort Worth to schedule a consultation.We can develop a personalized treatment plan to help you control yourallergy symptoms and side effects.
