9 Spots Where Allergy Triggers Hide
Posted on November 29, 2013
You may think you’ve got allergy and asthma triggers under control in your own
home. But do you really? Allergic Living helps root out some crafty culprits that have
your household wheezing and sneezing:
1. The Dirt on Houseplants
If you think the philodendron is setting off your sneeze attacks, think again. Indoor
foliage is rarely allergenic, but the soil in over half of all houseplants is a breeding
ground for mold.
To prevent mold, start by replanting your greens in sterile soil. Avoid overwatering,
and allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before re-wetting. Keep the plant in a
sunny location and tidy up dead leaves. Finally, cover the plant soil with a layer of
rocks. You’ll look like a home decor diva and the barrier will help to block the release
of spores. If you do spot mold, zap it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water.
2. Inflamed Fragrances
Scented candles add ambiance to our homes, but comforting aroma comes at an
irritating price. Candles, air fresheners, and even incense can emit volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) into the air that increase asthma risk and can elicit eye, skin,
and nasal inflammation.
In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, 19 percent of the
participants reported having breathing difficulties or other health issues when
exposed to air fresheners.
To limit your VOC exposure, try other types of mood lighting and natural home
fragrances, like fresh baked cookies and allergy-friendly plants. For clean-air plants,
see this article.
3. Too Cool Laundry
Some washing machines have heat settings that can be adjusted manually, but
others feed the water straight from the pipes. If you need to turn up your hot water
heater for a sanitizing clean, do use caution if you have young children. A
temperature that high can scald little hands.You’re washing the sheets regularly in
hot water, but the sniffling still ensues when your head hits the pillow. Question: Is
the water actually hot? In a South Korean study, cotton sheets that were laundered
at a standard 104 degrees F only shed 6.5 percent of their dust mites. However, a
wash at 140 degrees F killed off 100 percent of the mites.
4. Mite-y Plush Toys
Sure you encased the mattresses in barrier bedding, but then you tucked little junior
in with that cute stuffed lion (aka the dust mite colony). Those snuggly animals are a
magnet for mites.
To eradicate the allergen army, you can wash stuffed animals in hot water, followed
by a high temperature dry, but that may cause the toys to lose their fluff.
A good alternative? Freeze the toys in a plastic bag for 24 hours; freezing also kills
dust mites. You can then wash them on the gentle cycle with warm or cold water,
and let them air fluff in the dryer.
5. Faux Christmas Trees
It’s that time of year for the Christmas tree in many living rooms. And along with the
pine comes the perennial debate about which is worse for allergies, the real or the
fake tree.
Dr. Eric Schenkel, director of Valley Allergy and Asthma Treatment Center in
Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, cuts down the myth that pollen-producers are
always to blame. “I find more problems develop with artificial trees because they
have been kept up in an attic filled with dust, and that bothers people more.”
Schenkel says pine pollen is not as allergenic as most people think, although freshcut trees can introduce mold into the house. To minimize the spores, shake out the
live tree or blast it outside with a leaf blower. Keep its stay in your home to a
minimum; one study suggests a maximum of seven days for those sensitive to mold.
6. Dry-Cleaning
Those dry-clean only labels are not only a pain to your pocketbook, they can
introduce chemicals like perchloroethylene (or PERC), a VOC, into your home. The
solvents used in dry-cleaning can off-gas for weeks, triggering respiratory irritation,
not to mention headaches or dizziness.
Avoid taking your health to the cleaners by purchasing fabrics that can be machine
or hand washed. If professional help is a must, hang dry-cleaning outside for a few
days of fresh air or better yet, seek out “green” cleaners who use processes that
avoid harmful chemicals. For more information and tips on how to keep your home
allergy free see this article.
7. Gas-tronomy
When it comes to kitchen ranges, the gas vs. electric war rages on. But for asthma
sufferers, electric is the mitts down winner. Gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide, a
potent and sneaky asthma trigger.
Tests have shown that even if a bedroom is away from the kitchen and on a different
floor, levels of nitrogen dioxide from a gas stove were high enough to trigger asthma
attacks. But you’re not entirely off the hook with electric.
Steam from cooking can reach ceilings and the tops of cabinets, creating a breeding
ground for mold. Ensure that you have a powerful stove exhaust fan to vent both
nitrogen dioxide and steam, and use it!
8. Fishy Friends
Fish may seem like allergy-friendly pets, but without sufficient upkeep, Nemo can
become a symptom trigger. Mold grows on various parts of fish tanks or bowls, and
on areas outside of the tank that remain damp, including the underside of the lid.
Scattered fish food can also encourage mold on your furniture or flooring and help to
nourish a dust mite colony.
To keep mold at bay, dry off above-water tank parts daily, and periodically give the
tank or bowl and all its decorations a thorough cleaning. Filter media should be
changed once a month to prevent mold growth and to keep fresh oxygen flowing.
When you feed the fish, immediately clean up any flakes that miss the tank.
9. Hot Houses
Dry sinuses and cold-induced asthma may prompt you to hibernate, but Dr.
Schenkel advises his patients not to sweat it. “Dust mites are non-existent in areas
of low humidity. But everywhere else in the country, you close the house up, crank
the heat, and dust mite levels go really high. They thrive if the humidity is above 50
percent in your house, as does mold.” For more information on dust mites allergy
see this article.
You can purchase a hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity. If you’re harboring a
tropical climate, consider a dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels below 35
percent during the frosty months and 50 percent for the remainder of the year. As for
asthma symptoms to cold air, the good doctor says to “bundle up and stay hydrated.”
DATA PRESENTED AT WORLD ALLERGY
ORGANIZATION ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
DEMONSTRATES SAFETY OF SELFADMINISTERED ALLERGY SHOTS
Posted on December 13, 2013
SAN ANTONIO– December 13, 2013 – United Allergy Services (UAS)®, a leading
healthcare services company assisting family physicians and health systems to
deliver safe and effective allergy testing and customized immunotherapy services,
today announced that data from a recent retrospective study citing the safety of
UAS’ protocols for seasonal and perennial allergy treatment in the primary care
setting will be presented at the World Allergy Organization’s (WAO) Annual
Symposium on Immunotherapy and Biologics in Chicago. The abstract was also
recognized with a Top Abstract Award by the WAO.
The study, “The Safety of the United Allergy Services Immunotherapy Protocol,”
concludes that the risk of systemic, or adverse, reaction is less with United Allergy
Services treatment protocol than traditional dosage and fast-build up RUSH methods
that involve immunotherapy shots administered at a physician’s office. The UAS
protocol in the study was administered by primary care physicians and utilized self
(home) administration. These results are due to UAS’ slower, more incremental,
immunotherapy build up phase as a self-administered treatment for patients
suffering from seasonal and perennial allergies. Patients that receive allergy shots
according to UAS protocols are under the care of primary care physicians.
Until recently, the only real relief for allergies and allergic asthma remained primarily
in the hands of allergists who administer immunotherapy shots. This already small
community of approximately 5,000 U.S. specialists[i] is expected to decline by 6.8
percent by 2020, while demand for allergy-related services is projected to increase
by 35 percent by the same year.[ii] This forecast only scratches the surface of the true
demand for allergy and asthma care, as only a portion of the approximately 60
million Americans suffering from allergic rhinitis are aware of their condition and seek
specialty care.
Got the sniffles? Migraines spike with allergies
and hay fever, researchers find
Posted on November 25, 2013
CINCINNATI— People with migraine who also battle allergies and hay fever (rhinitis)
endure a more severe form of headaches than their peers who struggle with
migraine, but aren’t affected by the seasonal or year-round sniffles, according to
researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC), Montefiore Medical Center and
the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Vedanta Research.
About 12 percent of the U.S. population experiences migraine, which is three times
more common in women than men. Allergies and hay fever—also known as allergic
rhinitis—are quite common as well, affecting anywhere from a quarter to half of the
U.S. population. They produce symptoms such as a stuffy and runny nose, post
nasal drip and itching of the nose.
The results were published in the Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, online edition of the
journal Cephalalgia. The study is one of the first tying the relationship of rhinitis—
irritation and inflammation of the nasal mucus membrane caused by allergic and
non-allergic triggers—to the frequency of migraine headaches, says Vincent Martin,
MD, professor of medicine in UC’s division of general internal medicine, co-director
of the Headache and Facial Pain Program at UC and lead author of the study.
“We are not sure whether the rhinitis causes the increased frequency of headaches
or whether the migraine attacks themselves produce symptoms of rhinitis in these
patients,” Martin says. “What we can say is if you have these symptoms, you are
more likely to have more frequent and disabling headaches.”
Martin and Jonathan Bernstein, MD, professor of medicine and director of clinical
research in the division of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at UC, teamed
with Richard Lipton, MD, and Dawn Buse, PhD, both of Montefiore and Einstein; and
Kristina Fanning, PhD; Daniel Serrano, PhD; and Michael Reed, PhD, all from
Vedanta Research, to conduct the study.
The researchers analyzed data from the American Migraine Prevalence and
Prevention (AMPP) Study. A 2008 questionnaire was filled out by nearly 6,000
AMPP Study respondents from across the country who have experienced migraine.
To define rhinitis, participants were asked the question, “Do you suffer from nasal
allergies, seasonal allergies or hayfever?”
Rhinitis occurred in two out of three people with migraine in this study. Bernstein
adds, “The fact that rhinitis occurred in more than half of these individuals
emphasizes that these disorders are intimately linked.”
Based on the results, researchers found the odds of experiencing more frequent
headaches for individuals with rhinitis and migraine was 33 percent greater than
those battling migraines without rhinitis.
The study also categorized participants with rhinitis in subsets—allergic, mixed and
non-allergic rhinitis—based upon their response to questions regarding specific
allergic and non-allergic rhinitis triggers. They were considered to have “allergic
rhinitis” if they “only” reported having nasal symptoms with exposure to allergic
triggers such as cats, dogs, molds or tree pollens. They were called “mixed rhinitis” if
they “not only” had nasal symptoms with allergic triggers, but also had them with
non-allergic triggers such as cigarette smoke, weather changes, perfumes and
gasoline. They had “non-allergic rhinitis” if they “only” reported having symptoms
when exposed to non-allergic triggers.
Those with mixed rhinitis—experiencing both allergic and non-allergic triggers—
fared worse than others. They were 45 percent more likely to experience more
frequent headaches and 60 percent more likely to endure headaches more disabling
than those without rhinitis.
These findings could have implications for treatment, says Richard Lipton, MD, codirector of the Montefiore Headache Center, professor of neurology at Einstein and
principal investigator of the study.
“The nose has largely been ignored as an important site involved in the initiation and
exacerbation of migraine headache,” Lipton explains. “If rhinitis exacerbates
migraine, as these results suggest, treating rhinitis may provide an important
approach to relieving headache in people with both disorders.”
This builds on past research conducted by UC researchers regarding the link
between allergic rhinitis and migraine, explains Martin. They found in a past study
that migraine patients with allergic rhinitis receiving allergy shots had 52 percent
fewer migraine attacks than those not receiving allergy shots.
“This and other research indicate that allergies and hayfever may not just represent
innocent bystanders in the migraine patient,” Martin states. “Clearly more research
needs to be done to define their precise role.”
The National Headache Foundation was a sponsor of this study.
The AMPP Study was funded through a research grant to the National Headache
Foundation from McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Raritan, N.J. The AMPP
study database was donated by McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC to the
National Headache Foundation for use in various projects. There are no financial
conflicts of interest declared by the study authors.
Your Month-by-Month Guide to Allergies
Posted on November 22, 2013
You may feel as though you have year-round allergies, and you may be right. See
what’s most likely to be causing you to sneeze and wheeze as the months go by.
If you suffer from allergies for even part of the year, you may wonder when you’ll get
a reprieve. People with spring allergies, fall allergies, or winter allergies might feel
relief during their off seasons, but for those who experience allergy symptoms yearround — it’s a constant battle with allergens in the air. Here’s a look at which
allergies plague people most — and when.
January
During the winter, there’s less pollen (if any) floating around, but cranking up the
heat indoors can kick up house dust, a winter allergy trigger. If you’re allergic to
dust, winter allergies can be just as bad as in the spring and fall. To reduce dust
exposure, it helps to keep your home’s humidity below 55 percent, use a vacuum
with a HEPA filter regularly, and encase pillows and mattresses with dust-mite-proof
covers.
February
Mold and dust can cause year-round allergy symptoms, but even if dust and
mold don’t bring on the sniffles for you, trees can cause your allergies to flare at this
time of year, depending on where you live. “We can see tree pollen as early as
February, even in the Northeast,” says Marjorie L. Slankard, MD, an associate
attending physician and director of the Allergy Clinic at New YorkPresbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. In the United States, trees that
commonly cause allergies include catalpa, elm, hickory, olive, pecan, sycamore, and
walnut. Tree pollen can cause the same symptoms as most spring allergies —
watery eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion
March
Tree pollen remains high on the list of allergens for March, which marks the
beginning of spring. “If the trees, grasses, and pollens start coming out early, March
can be rough going for people with spring allergies,” Dr. Slankard says. Though nice
spring weather beckons you outside, if you have spring allergies, keep your eye on
the pollen count. The higher the count, the worse the allergies will be. A good place
to check pollen counts is at the National Allergy Bureau of the American Academy
of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.
April
April showers can bring … spring allergies. All that rain can make for blooming
flowers, but as beautiful as they are, flowers and their pollen means discomfort for
people with spring allergies. In some areas of the country, grass pollen emerges
in April, too. Between the pollen from the flowers and the pollen from the grass,
spring allergies may make you feel especially miserable.
May
Allergic to tree pollen? Although tree pollination can begin as early as February, it
can last through May. That means you might need to slog through spring allergies
for four long months. Grass pollen can also emerge this time of year in some parts
of the country.
June
June is a key grass pollen month in many areas, and it’s likely that grass pollen will
start to trigger your spring allergies by this time of year if it hasn’t already. As the
days get longer and the temperature gets higher, you’ll probably want to spend more
time outdoors. If you suffer from spring allergies, you may have good days and bad
days — the temperature, the rainfall amount, and even the time of day will affect
grass pollen levels, and you’ll need to adjust accordingly.
July
The good news is that by July, grass pollen should subside and you might feel like
your spring allergies are finally becoming manageable again. The bad news is that
July marks the start of fungus spores and seeds, so if you’re allergic to molds and
spores, too, you may feel like your allergies never end. Mold can grow on fallen
leaves, compost piles, grasses, and grains.
August
August is a prime month for people with summer allergies to mold spores, which
peak during hot, humid weather. You might want to stay inside on days when the
mold spore count is particularly high. The best way to keep away from these
allergens is to run the air conditioning with a HEPA filter — this cool comfort
indoors should help you feel better during the dog days of August.
September
Late summer/early fall ragweed is the most common cause of fall allergies.
Depending on where you live, ragweed-fueled fall allergies can start in August or
September and continue through October and possibly November. Pollen grains are
lightweight and spread easily, especially on windy days. The more wet and windy
autumn is in your area, the more easily the pollen spreads, and the worse your
symptoms will feel
October
Chances that fall allergies will ease by October get better the farther north you go in
the United States. But in warmer climates, fall allergies can linger well into this
month. Seasonal rain and wind can also ramp up mold spores — if your fall allergies
include mold or fungi spores, your symptoms may linger.
November
The ragweed pollen season usually ends by mid-November in most areas of the
country. If you have fall allergies and react to fungi and molds, you probably face
your worst symptoms in late summer and early fall. Although you might feel
miserable from the end of March until November, making it seem like you have yearround allergies, you should get a break now. November may be one of the best
months for people with outdoor allergies, which allows for enjoying the crisp
weather. Then, just in time, indoor allergies to pet dander and indoor molds pick up.
December
As pretty as they are, real Christmas trees can make you wheeze and sneeze. It’s
likely not the tree itself that triggers allergies but the microscopic mold spores that
can harbor in its branches. If you can’t resist buying a live tree despite winter
allergies, take it home a week before you plan to decorate it and leave it in a garage
or an enclosed porch. Then give it a good shake to try to get rid of any spores.
Study: Hay Fever More Commonly Found In
Southern U.S. Kids
Posted on November 15, 2013
Children in the southern United States are more likely to suffer from hay fever,
according to research conducted by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and
Immunology (ACAAI).
Researchers looked at data from over 91,000 kids, finding that
over 18 percent suffered from the disorder. Hay fever rates were highest in the
southern and southeastern U.S., while the lowest rates occurred in Alaska, Montana
and Vermont.
“According to the study, wetter regions with average humidity were associated with a
decreased number of children with hay fever,” said Dr. Micheal Foggs, president
elect of the ACAAI. “The study also found areas of the south with warm
temperatures and elevated UV indexes seem to harbor more hay fever sufferers.”
Over the counter hay fever remedies include nasal corticosteroid sprays,
antihistamines, decongestants, montelukast (Singulair), allergy shots and sinus
rinses.
Cat Allergies Double Among Asthma Sufferers,
Study Reveals
Posted on November 8, 2013
The number of people with asthma who are allergic to cats is on the rise — it’s
doubled over 18 years, a new study finds.
“From 1976 to 1994, positive allergy skin tests in people with asthma have increased
significantly,” study author Dr. Leonard Bielory said in a news release from the
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
“Not only have we found the number of asthma sufferers allergic to cats has more
than doubled, but those with asthma are also 32 percent more likely to be allergic to
cats than those without asthma,” he added.
The researchers also found that people with asthma are more likely to be allergic to
several environmental triggers common in the fall, including ragweed, ryegrass and
fungus.
The study was scheduled for presentation Friday at the ACAAI’s annual meeting, in
Baltimore. The data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published
in a peer-reviewed journal.
About 60 percent to 85 percent of people with asthma have at least one allergy, but
the most common types of allergies in people with asthma have not been well
researched, according to the ACAAI.
“This study helps us better understand common trends in allergy and asthma, which
can lead to improved diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. James Sublett, chair of the
ACAAI indoor environment committee, said in the news release. “While it is unknown
exactly why there has been an increase in asthma and allergy sufferers, it is thought
a number of environmental factors can be responsible.”
During the holidays, allergy symptoms can suddenly appear in people with asthma
and those who’ve never had allergies. For example, while visiting friends and
relatives with cats, a person may develop a runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes.
There is also something called the Thanksgiving Effect, where college students
return home and discover that they are now allergic to a pet that never before
triggered symptoms.
“Allergies can strike at any age in life, with symptoms disappearing and resurfacing
years later,” Bielory said. “Allergies and asthma are serious diseases. Misdiagnoses
and inappropriate treatment can be dangerous.”
Fall Allergies: Leaves Problematic for Mold
Allergy Patients
Posted on November 1, 2013
Fun fall decorations, such as pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks are a great way to
get in the seasonal spirit. And who doesn’t love stunning fall foliage?
But if you have mold allergies, these signs of the season can do a number of your
health, Michael Beninger, MD, an ear, nose and throat expert at the Cleveland Clinic
warned in a news release.
As ragweed season winds down in the North and Northeast, the leaves start to fall,
ramping up mold production. When leaves just sit in your yard, moisture
accumulates, accelerating mold growth. Fallen foliage from summer gardens gone
bad and more can also be mold hot spots.
As with all allergens, avoidance is your best strategy, Dr. Beninger said.
“If you’re a person with bad mold allergies, you probably should spend more time
indoors,” he said in a news release. “Don’t rake your own leaves; be careful with with
any kind of vegetables that are rotting [such as Halloween pumpkins].”
It’s also best to roll up the windows in your car or home, and run a fan at home to
circulate air through your house to fight fall allergies, Warner Carr, MD, an allergist
and fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, told
Weather.com. It’s also essential to visit an allergist to make sure you know what
you’re really allergic to, so you can create the best-possible treatment plan.
“There are simple, safe and effective therapies that we can do, so people aren’t
suffering from seasonal allergies,” Dr. Carr said. “Allergies can have a huge impact
on quality of life, and it’s completely unnecessary suffering.”
Mold allergies can create the same symptoms as other seasonal irritants: itchy,
watery eyes, runny nose and nasal congestion, which often causes sleepless nights
and daytime fatigue. Sore throats and headaches can also occur.
For people with asthma, mold can exacerbate their symptoms when it’s inhaled,
regardless if they have other allergy symptoms — though 70 percent of asthmatics
also have allergies, according to the ACAAI.
When Allergies Trigger Asthma: Allergic asthma is
the most common form of asthma. Proper
diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing
attacks.
Posted on October 29, 2013
More than 26 million Americans have asthma, and the number of people with it
continues to rise. A chronic and potentially dangerous disease in which the airways
of the lungs become inflamed, asthma is closely intertwined with allergies. “Anything
that can cause allergies can also cause asthma symptoms,” said David Rosenstreich,
MD, director of the Allergy and Immunology Division at Montefiore Medical Center in
New York City.
As many as three out of four adults with asthma have at least one allergy. In fact, the
most common form of asthma is allergic asthma, which accounts for 60 percent of all
cases. Allergic asthma, also known as extrinsic asthma, is set off by inhaled
allergens such as dust mites, mold, pollen, and pet dander. “When some people
breathe in allergens, the tubes in their lungs become inflamed,” said Dr.
Rosenstreich.
“People think of seasonal allergies as a runny nose, but your airway starts at your
nose,” said Boyd Hehn, MD, a pulmonologist at Thomas Jefferson University and
Hospitals in Philadelphia. “So it’s a chain reaction where that runny nose will cause
the asthma to act up and the airway to become inflamed.”
Non-allergic, or intrinsic asthma, can be triggered by other factors such as anxiety,
stress, exercise, cold air, and viruses. But many of the symptoms are the same for
both kinds of asthma, including coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and
shortness of breath.
Rachel Lewis has been dealing with allergic asthma since she was a child, and she
suffered her first asthma attack at age 7. “The doctors told me I would grow out of
my allergies, but they’ve only gotten worse,” said Lewis, 30.
For people like Lewis, it’s critical to manage their exposure to allergens that may
trigger attacks.
Doctors who suspect a patient has allergic asthma perform tests to see what they’re
specifically allergic to. This can be done with a skin test, where a small amount of
allergen is placed on top or slightly below the skin with a needle. Doctors then look
for an immediate reaction, usually a rash resembling a mosquito bite. A blood test
can also be done to look for allergen-specific antibodies in the bloodstream.
Fall allergy season is here, and people sensitive to common autumn allergens such
as ragweed and mold are starting to feel its effects.
“Once the ragweed comes out, a lot of asthma patients are coming into the office,”
said Dr. Hehn. “Controlling the allergies can only help in limiting asthma symptoms.”
Lewis lives in Texas, where fall can be a windy season with a lot of allergens blowing
around. She’s looking forward to winter, “when I can go outside and actually
breathe.”
Experts recommend those sensitive to seasonal allergies limit their time outdoors on
days when there are high allergen counts. These daily counts can be found online
through the National Allergy Bureau, part of the American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology.
There are several simple steps that someone with allergic asthma can take to control
their symptoms. Here are a few suggestions:
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Keep home and car windows shut during peak allergy times.
Use an in-home air filtration system.
Protective bedding covers can keep dust mites out of pillows and mattresses.
Limit cats and dogs to certain rooms in the home, and keep them out of the
bedroom.
Bathing pets regularly reduces allergen counts, and frequent vacuuming can
help control dander.
Lewis has her own strategies to manage her allergic asthma:
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She takes hot showers after she’s been outside and exposed to pollen.
She only uses fragrance-free laundry detergents.
When she cleans, she wears a mask.
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She keeps a lint roller with her to get pet dander off her clothing.
“It’s a constant effort to keep all my symptoms balanced and controlled,” said Lewis.
“Some people think I’m overreacting and making my allergic asthma a bigger deal
than it is. But until you go through that experience of not being able to breathe, then
you don’t really know what it’s like and how scary it can be.”
Think You Have A Cold? Think Again
Posted on October 24, 2013
Itchy throat? Runny nose? You must have caught that bug that is “going around” the
office, right? Well, not so fast. While we’re quick to jump to the “I’ve got the latest
bug” conclusion, most of us neglect considering another extremely common ailment
this time of year: allergies.
There are actually tons of reasons why you might suffer from these late-onset
seasonal allergies, even if you’ve never had a problem with them before. Sometimes
stress causes our body to deplete its stores of vitamin C — leaving our immune
system vulnerable.
Allergic reactions can also often affect our guts, leading to sluggishness and even
depression. Ultimately, consider getting a professional allergy test if you’ve got a
cold that you just can’t seem to shake — it could be something else entirely.