Allergens are otherwise harmless substances that your immune system views as a “threat”. If you experience allergies then it’s a sign of two things:
1) Your immune system is actively working
2) Your immune system is misfiring (attacking the wrong substances).
If you’re reading this you’re probably wondering if allergies can weaken your immune system. The answer is yes, allergies can weaken your immune system! In the following sections I’ll talk about what happens when your immune system attacks allergens and how it can weaken your body.
Allergies Weakens Immune System
Allergy effects our body immune system and In hindsight I had obvious signs of allergy are-
- Eczema
- Chronic stuffy nose
- Itchy eyes – seasonal
- Itchy ears
- Extreme Fatigue (could hardly wake up in the morning)
Be Aware Of Your Symptoms and Seasonality (Time of Year)
If you’re feeling run down, don’t count out allergies. Allergies can sap your energy, but if they tie up your immune system they can make you susceptible to colds and infections. There fore one must follow this tips.
- Spring time is usually tree allergy season
- Summer is usually grass allergy season
- Late summer into fall is usually weed allergy season
These pollens will overlap with each other and can have a compounding effect on your allergies.
If you’re experiencing allergies in the winter, or year-round, dust mites might be the culprit. Because you can’t see dust mites you’ll never realize it but dust mites live in our homes, and in our beds.
The worst symptoms with dust mite allergy were in winter and summer because the HVAC system would blow them around the house. Because they’re invisible to the naked eye, dust mites can remain suspended in the air for hours. Once you inhale them the allergic symptoms begin!
Environmental Allergies
Environmental allergies are also known as aeroallergens. These are substances in our environment that we come into contact with every day.
No matter the season, a windy day is likely to blow around pollen, mold, and other substances that we inhale. Our body isn’t supposed to react to these things but sometimes it does and results in a stuffy nose, itchy eyes and skin, and general fatigue. Below are a list of common environmental allergens.
- Pollen
- Dust Mites
- Mold
- Pets and Animals
- Yeast
Allergy Shots Illuminated The Impact Of Allergies Weakening Immune System
Allergy Shots are a long term process, time investment, and aren’t cheap (though insurance should cover most of the cost). Allergists give an allergy test, discover what you’re allergic to, and create custom mixed of the things you are allergic to and put them in your body (with an injection or drop).
With allergy shots your body is constantly being exposed to the substances you’re allergic to. The process aims to retrain the immune system to recognized the allergens as harmless.
Most people are on allergy shots for multiple years and the improvement rate is around 70% (many people no longer need to take medicine after being on the shots).
Over the course of the 1st year on allergy shots, I gained a tremendous amount of energy. I began sleeping better and waking up with energy. My skin improved, eyes stopped itching, and my ears felt better too.
If you’re worn down from allergies and your immune system is having trouble overcoming allergies then start looking into allergy shots.
Tips For Indoor and Outdoor Allergies
Pollen Allergy
For pollen allergies it is suggested the following tips:
· Avoid going outside on windy days
· Exercise indoors, or outdoors during low pollen times (early morning)
· Wear an allergy face mask
· Choose to live by the coast where there are lower pollen counts
· Utilize the HVAC in the summer with the best furnace filter available
Dust Mites and Pet Allergy
Dust mite are the most common indoor allergen and one that most people aren’t aware of. More people understand pet allergy because they can be seen and can cause immediate symptoms. Luckily the management of these allergens have many similarities.
· Use the best mattress covers for allergies (will help with dust mites and pets)
· Use the best furnace filter for allergies
· Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner for allergies
· Remove carpets if possible (less space for dust and dander on hard flooring)
· Use a HEPA air purifier for allergies
· Use a dehumidifier to reduce air moisture (dust mites like humidity)
Conclusion
In this article we answered if allergies can weaken your immune system. Allergies are actually a sign of a working immune system, however it is “working” on the wrong things that aren’t really a threat. These allergens include dust mites, pollen, mold, pet dander, and yeasts and we encounter them on a daily basis.
With antihistamines I turned off the inflammatory response of my symptoms. But to really improve I began getting allergy shots that helped retrain my immune system. Now I have very minor symptoms to the things I was allergic to and I have way more energy.
If you suspect you have allergies and your immune system is failing you I recommend getting improving your home environment with dust mite mattress covers, wearing a mask while exercising outside, and using HEPA air filters.
