Tired? Allergies May Be Causing Your Fatigue
By Jacob Inman, for Revive Your Life
Photo by beckypai
Have you ever felt completely worn out, exhausted, fatigued, unmotivated, and blurry-eyed? Sure, most of us can say that we have, at some point, felt this way. But think for a minute how much one’s quality of life would suffer if this became the norm for say, a period of several months, an entire year, or even longer!
Unfortunately, this is often the case for those who suffer from seasonal or chronic allergies. Many people fail to make the connection between their chronic fatigue and the power of the allergic response, but the two are explicably linked.
Allergic Fatigue and the Immune System
It’s really quite simple. The allergic response is nothing more than an overzealous reaction from our immune systems. Our bodies recognize and sense some type of “invader” (pollen, dust, certain foods, etc.) and immediately shift into attack mode as a means of protecting themselves. In reality, the human immune system is not that smart - if it sees something that it does not recognize or know how to deal with, its only response is to “kill” it.
Take, for example, a situation in which a “foreign” object is introduced into the body in the form of a transplanted organ. The organ transplant is meant to provide a benefit to the recipient as the organ is most often essential to the continuation of life. Often times, however, it is the immune system that causes the transplant to fail because the organ is seen as an invader and rejection of the transplanted tissue occurs. This is an example in which an overactive immune system becomes detrimental to our well-being.
Constant firing of the immune response due to allergic triggers will no doubt create fatigue and exhaustion. This is the same type of tired and lethargic feeling experienced when we have a cold or the flu. The immune system is working overtime to rid our bodies of something that it thinks should not be there. Unfortunately, in the case of allergic triggers, these substances are very benign and otherwise harmless, but again, for those with allergies, the over-reactive immune system does not see it that way. The constant battle that is being waged within our cells depletes energy reserves and leaves us feeling tired and moody.
Allergic-Inflammation and Poor Breathing Cause Fatigue
The continual grinding of our immune system is not the only cause of allergy-induced exhaustion. In fact, other symptoms caused by the allergic response exacerbate the fatigue, most importantly, chronic nasal congestion. Allergies obviously cause the runny nose and sneezing episodes that we experience, but also cause the membranes of our airways to become swollen.
This inflammation is a result of the immune system’s release of histamine, a protein which causes dilation and increased permeability of the blood vessels as well as constriction of smooth muscle. Gaps between the cells in vascular tissue are created by phosphorylation, allowing blood fluids to seep out into extra-cellular space which further contributes to inflammation. The contraction of smooth muscle related to histamine is one of the major causes of asthma as the airways constrict and breathing becomes difficult.
It is easy to see how a consistent flow of histamine can cause significant breathing problems for most allergy sufferers. Short, rapid breathing such as that experienced by hyperventilation syndrome sufferers will create a sense of anxiety and will greatly contribute to chronic fatigue. Researchers are also starting to make the connection between nasal obstruction due to allergies and the impact that this has on the quality of our sleep. Just like those who suffer from sleep apnea, allergy sufferers experience many micro-arousals each night as the body senses the struggle to breathe despite significant nasal congestion. These awakenings (which may occur up to several hundred times per night) have a dramatic impact on sleep cycles and prevent us from obtaining the deep REM sleep that we need.
Overcoming Fatigue Caused by Allergies
So how do we deal with the fatigue caused by our allergies? Here are some proven methods that can be very effective:
- Minimize all other potential sources of fatigue in your life. Make sure you are getting the proper amount of exercise and rest, and maintain your blood sugar levels through proper nutrition. Drink plenty of water and stay away from foods that contribute to inflammation. Make sure that you are managing the contents level of your bucket!
- Reduce your exposure to allergens, and, if necessary, consider over-the-counter or prescription medicines to relieve symptoms. Allergy avoidance is far-and-away the most important defense against allergic fatigue. Although I am not a huge proponent of synthetic drugs, these are sometimes a necessary tool for symptom management. If these drugs can greatly improve breathing, sleep, and one’s overall sense of well-being, then they should at least be considered.
The bottom line is this:
Don’t assume that the chronic fatigue that you are experiencing is “normal”. Fatigue can be a very real and very troublesome symptom that many people do not connect with their allergies. Taking the necessary steps to help alleviate your allergic symptoms will very likely increase your motivation and level of energy, as well as greatly enhancing your mood.
Do you notice a dramatic difference in your energy levels when your allergies flare up? If so, how do you cope? Please share your thoughts with the Revive Your Life community in the comments section below!
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8 Responses to “Tired? Allergies May Be Causing Your Fatigue”
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For me, its all about the food allergies and intolerance. I defiantly have to stay away from certain foods that causes inflammation in my body such as soy, grains, sugars and a few other foods. I have more vitality when I eat keep those substances out of my body.
@ Carla - Good point! Allergies come in many forms and those who have food allergies have limited treatment options other than diet elimination. Fatigue is a very common symptom of food allergies as well.
Well this is why i could be tired all the time in this article. I have chronic sinusitis and body aches. I cannot move for nothing. Its to the PC and couch for me. Its not right!
thank you for this article. I am definitely experiencing this - though allergy doc confirmed only allergic to dust! How to avoid that??!! do over the counter prescriptions stop your body’s immune system from working over time? or just block the histamine reaction? I ask because I don’t think OTC meds have helped with my energy, but have with my sinusitis. But allergy doc also told me these shouldn’t be used all the time. and all prescription allergy meds I’ve tried have their own sleepiness factor.
@ Cinnamon - Yeh, it’s really hard to avoid dust, but focus on keeping your house clean, use air cleaners if possible, mattress covers are a must. Also, it’s important to keep your body healthy…eat well, sleep much and stay hydrated. If you are still bothered, consider allergy shots, they worked quite well for me!
For the past two years, I have suffered from chronic fatigue. If I do yard work for 15 or 20 ,minutes, I have to sit down and rest as I am tired and out of breath. Just walking upstairs to my bedroom tires me out. Playing 9 holes of golf at our club (5 minutes from my house) exhausts me. BUT i do go to workouts 3 times a week across town and do 60 minutes of exercise with no trouble at all. I was in Calif last month and played 18 holes of golf two days in a row without fatigue. I have had every test known run including sleep apnia which I now sleep with the machine. I have had two stents put in my heart for blockages but no change in my fatigue. Blood tests, xrays are all normal. I have been an insulin dependent diabetic for 46 years but well controlled with very good HA1Cs. Is it possible that something at home or near by is causing allergic problems? I am 68 years old and KNOW that I am not suppose to feel this tired!
My constant fatigue has been with me for almost 3 yrs.! I do not get a stuffy nose and really don’t have much in the way of a scratchy throat. Sneezing occurs here and there so I never considered my state of constant tiredness to be allergies. I could sleep 12 hrs. a night and still be tired! I know gluten is a bigger problem than people realize as a cause of allergies but it is sooo hard to avoid. I have been taking claritan d and almost immediately noticed a HUGE difference in my energy level. Today for experiment I decided not to take one. BAD DAY. I feel like a zombie again. I eat VERY well, exercise and my house is clean and I use the dust protectors on my mattress and pillows but I am allergic to something. Of course I don’t want to rely on claritan d and it can’t be good to take that daily but what are my options? If I have NO energy and can’t concentrate I can’t work:(
This whole allergy thing is new to me and its driving me crazy. I dont really like taking medicine, so I kind of just deal with it. But now it is by far the worse it has been. My eyes constantly burn, I have excessive amount mucus in the back of my throat/nose, and most of all i am always tired. I think im tired cause i just want to close my eyes. They dont burn as much when i do. As soon as I get home the first thing i do is go straight to my bed and I slept during my lunch break. The mucus is getting out of control and honestly it is grossing me out. Please help with any home remedies that will help. thanks