Do allergies lead to mental issues? Are both these aspects even remotely related? Well, if you have the above questions in mind, read along. Below, we’ll try to clear all the doubts you have about allergies and mental health issues. Also, we’ll discuss the symptoms of allergy and how you can manage the same.
What are allergies?
Allergy is your body’s immune response to something which is normal for others. For example, if your body’s immune function triggers when you go near pollen, dander, or eat something, it means your body is allergic to that thing.
What are the common symptoms of allergies?
Allergy symptoms can vary from allergy to allergy and person to person. However, some common symptoms are:
- Runny Nose
- Itching in Eyes Or Nose
- Watery Eyes
- Coughing
- Sneezing
If you notice such symptoms, especially when you go near something, it indicates an allergy.
Now to our main question:
Can Allergies Lead to Mental Health Issues?
A study conducted in Taiwan suggests that if a person is suffering from allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema, the risk of you developing some mental illness increases.
Also, whenever you feel allergic to something, and the symptoms persist, it can be quite irritating. Not only will it impact your efficiency/productivity, but your mental peace. Also, you might feel frustrated and stressed if the allergy doesn’t let you sleep.
And all this can definitely take a mental toll on you, leading to mental health issues. However, this never means a pollen allergy leads to chronic depression or stress. After all, depression or mental stress can also be because of a poor relationship or a bad boss at the office.
So, you shouldn’t directly link allergies to some chronic mental disorders. However, allergies lead to irritation, frustration, and mild stress, which can further cause health issues (depression or anxiety) if the symptoms persist.
How can you deal with allergies to prevent mental stress or issues?
Here are some ways of dealing with allergies:
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are the most common drugs that can help you relieve allergy symptoms, such as:
- Skin Reactions
- Sneezing
- Watery Eyes
However, always go for 2nd generation antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratadine and not 1st gen antihistamines such as Benadryl. It’s because 1st gen antihistamines cause drowsiness and can also affect your brain.
2. Nasal Decongestants
If you’re suffering from sore throat, cough, swollen or stuffy nose, you can use nasal decongestants. However, make sure not to take these decongestants regularly for more than 72 hours.
3. Stay Away from the Allergen
This may seem a bit obvious, but it works. Find the thing that causes or triggers allergy in you and stay away from it always. If you don’t get the allergy at all, you won’t need any medication. It’s simple.
4. Talk to your Doctor
You can always go for universal solutions such as antihistamines. But allergies can vary from person to person. So, it’s recommended that you reach out to your doctor and get some medication prescribed.
Also, in some cases, allergies can be chronic. So, make sure to keep the anti-allergy medication in your reach all the time.
Wrapping Up
Although there aren’t many studies that say allergies directly lead to mental issues, there is one such study (Allergy: A Risk Factor For Suicide) that supports this fact.
“Persistent allergies at times can cause mental stress along with physical discomfort. It is important to discuss regarding any such chronic allergies and related mental stress with your doctor so that the condition can be managed appropriately.
Follow the suggestions of your doctor and take the medicines as prescribed for your well-being”.
