Relax… for the Sake of Your Allergies
You may be mostly in the clear as we head out of allergy season, but it’s worth a last-ditch effort to de-stress to fight the last of seasonal allergies.
“While there are antihistamines that I can prescribe or allergy shots or allergy drops that I can administer, I really strive to treat the condition wholly. From symptoms to triggers to lifestyle, it’s all influential,” says Chicago allergist Brian Rotskoff, MD. For allergy sufferers, high levels of stress can cause a flare up of symptoms.
A recent study from Ohio State University, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, has found that stress can exacerbate allergy flare ups. “It may be easier said than done, but if stress is worsening allergies, then a patient with allergies needs to find ways to reduce stress.”
Dr. Rotskoff recommends finding a stress-reducing mechanism that works best for the individual. From meditation and deep breathing exercises to avoiding caffeine and smoking, which can heighten the effects of stress, there are variety of ways to reduce stress and allergy symptoms. With the proper allergy treatment routine, and some stress-relieving activities, control of allergies is achievable!
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