Ashford Clinic Blog
Stress and Your Allergies
Stress is something we all experience, but it's become an increasing issue for millions of people. There seems to be an ongoing list of things to be stressed about, from everyday work and life to current events, and there are hundreds of books, podcasts, products, and other resources dedicated to helping people handle their stress. It's an increasingly common issue that can impact your overall health in numerous ways, and your allergy symptoms are certainly part of that list. Let's explore how stress impacts allergy symptoms and what can be done about it.
How Stress Affects Your Allergies
First, a quick review of what allergy symptoms can include: sneezing, cough, sore throat, itchy, watery eyes, skin irritation, post-nasal drip, runny nose, breathing problems, and more. The chemical in your body that plays an important role in causing these symptoms is called Histamine. It also happens that, when you are stressed, the body releases a number of chemicals - including histamine. So, while stress may not cause an "allergy attack", it can certainly make your symptoms worse. While addressing your stress won't prevent your allergy symptoms, it could help them from getting worse.
Easy Ways to Deal With Stress
If you feel that your stress level is making your allergy symptoms worse, there are some easy ways to deal with stress on your own, including making time to relax and do things that you love doing, getting consistent exercise, deep-breathing exercises, getting plenty of sleep, and more. If you feel that your allergy symptoms are getting out of hand, give Ashford Clinic a call. We're here to help with solutions for all of your sinus and seasonal allergy needs.
