Can allergies cause fatigue?

Aside from sneezing, congestion and itchy, watery eyes, allergies can cause fatigue and disturbed sleep. Poor sleep can lead to decreased productivity, depression, memory problems, and may make it hard to function during your daily activities. All of this makes it crucial to treat fatigue from allergies in the name of a good night’s rest.

How do allergies cause fatigue?

Allergens release chemicals called histamines. These chemicals help fight your allergies but will also cause swelling of your nasal passage, which can make your symptoms worse. A lack of sleep caused by constant nasal congestion can leave you with a hazy, tired feeling.

How can you treat fatigue caused by allergies?

The good news is there are many ways to get allergy relief so you can get rid of that looming, tired feeling. The first step in finding this relief is getting tested for allergies, so you know what’s causing your symptoms. Then you can work together with your doctor to find an allergy treatment that’s right for you.

Know What You’re Allergic To

To fix your fatigue symptoms, you should find out what exactly is causing your allergies. If you do not know what you are allergic to, you can schedule with one of our board-certified allergists. Our doctors ask about your medical history and perform an allergy test to determine what allergens are bothersome to you. Patients will learn which allergens they tested positive to during their initial visit. Based on the test results of your allergy skin test, our allergists will determine the best treatment options for your allergy symptoms.

Limit Your Exposure

Once you know which allergens are causing your allergy and fatigue symptoms, you can find ways to reduce your exposure to them. If you have outdoor allergies to mold, trees, weeds, or grass pollen, we recommend closing your windows to keep these allergens outside. When you do spend time outside, you should bathe and change your clothing as soon as you go back inside. If you have allergies to pets, dust mites, or other indoor allergens, regularly cleaning your sheets and changing out your HVAC filter can help minimize your contact.

Treat Your Symptoms

While avoidance will be your best defense, there are times when it can be impossible to avoid allergens that trigger your symptoms. When an allergen enters your immune system, your body releases histamines, which can cause a runny nose, congestion, and inflammation. Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines will be your first line of defense against allergy symptoms. For a more effective response to relieve your suffering, you can consider getting allergy shots, or immunotherapy. Recent research supports the effectiveness of this immunotherapy for both allergies and asthma. Allergy shots can help reduce fatigue because they provide non-drowsy allergy relief. These shots are also the only way to suppress the underlying allergy response for long-term relief.

What if my fatigue is not caused by allergies?

There is a chance that you may have allergies, but also a deeper sleep issue. If that is the case, our physicians can refer you to one of a sleep expert. A sleep expert may have you take a sleep test, which can be in completed your own bed at home. The results from this test can help your doctors determine why you are feeling so tired.