HOW STRESS AND ALLERGIES ARE LINKED

Stress does not cause allergies, but it can make them worse. Similar to an allergy attack, when the body experiences stress, whether  physical, mental, or emotional, stress releases the chemical called histamine, which can mimic allergy symptoms or exacerbate allergy symptoms a person already has. Unfortunately, allergies themselves may cause a person stress if the symptoms interfere with their sleep or daily activities. Chronic stress over weeks or months causes extra cortisol production, the body’s main stress-related hormone. If cortisol remains elevated over time, it begins to compromise the immune system, making a person more susceptible to illness and disease. Therefore, it behooves a person with allergies to find ways to cope with and manage stress.

P.S. Stress is the body’s natural response to life’s interferences. All the body’s systems—including immune, cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous systems—must adjust in response to stress.

---

< < Back to All Articles