Allergies are a significant health concern in South Africa, affecting approximately one-third of the population, with 40% of sufferers being children. The most prevalent allergic conditions include eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), urticaria, food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Notably, South Africa has the third-highest asthma death rate globally, underscoring the severity of allergic diseases in the country.

Recent research has proven the intricate relationship between psychological stress and allergies; the link is bidirectional: stress can make allergy symptoms worse, and allergies can cause stress.

Stress can worsen allergy symptoms. When you’re stressed, allergy experts believe that the body’s immune response becomes dysregulated, leading to an overreaction to allergens, like pollen for instance. This overactive immune response results in the release of chemicals that amplify allergy symptoms. One study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology also found that people with chronic emotional stress have more frequent allergy flares.

On the other hand, allergies are the cause of stress. Allergy symptoms – sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose – can be very uncomfortable to deal with, causing added stress to allergy sufferers.

Managing allergy symptoms effectively often involves the use of antihistamines. Medications like Texa Allergy work by blocking the action of histamine – a chemical released during an allergic reaction – thereby reducing symptoms, such as sneezing, watery eyes, itching and nasal congestion. While antihistamines can alleviate the immediate discomfort associated with allergies, addressing underlying stress is crucial for long-term management.

Implementing stress-reduction techniques can play a pivotal role in mitigating allergy symptoms. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Focus on your stressors. What is stressing you out the most, and what can you do to reduce that stress? If work is stressing you out, ask for assistance, delegate or prioritise to distil the overwhelm.
• Make time to rest. Set out some time in your day to rest without being “productive”. Meditate, listen to music, read a book, or take a power nap!
• Avoid doomscrolling. While its easy to fall into the habit of doom-scrolling during your downtime, spending hours in front of the screen can affect your mental health, rob you of valuable sleep as well as time away from hobbies or exercise. Set limits for yourself and your family, for instance: don’t look at your phone for an hour after waking, stop looking at your screen an hour before bedtime and curate your feeds by capping the number of sites/ news sources you read in one sitting.
• Exercise daily. When you do aerobic exercises – like walking, running and high intensity interval training (HIIT) – adrenaline (epinephrine) is released into your blood stream. Epinephrine release acts as a natural nasal decongestant by constricting the blood vessels in the inflamed tissues in the nose and sinuses.
• Get enough sleep at night. Sleep restores balance in the body and helps to heal allergy symptoms. Not getting enough sleep puts you at risk of getting sick.
• Take your allergy medication as prescribed.

By combining effective allergy treatments, such as antihistamines like Texa Allergy, with proactive stress management techniques, you can achieve better control over your allergy symptoms and enhance your overall quality of life.

References

1. Allergy Foundation South Africa. (n.d.). Common Allergy Diseases. Allergy Foundation South Africa. Available from https://www.allergyfoundation.co.za/allergy-information/ (Accessed: 5 February 2025)

2. Bruce, D. F. (2008). Stress Relief Strategies to Ease Allergy Symptoms. WebMD. Available from https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/stress-and-allergies (Accessed 5 February 2025)

3. Cleveland Clinic. (2024). How to Finally Stop Doomscrolling. Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-doomscrolling-and-how-to-avoid-it (Accessed 18 March 2025)

4. Harvard Health. (2021). Is stress making your allergy symptoms worse?. Harvard Health. Available from https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-stress-making-your-allergy-symptoms-worse? (Accessed 5 February 2025)

5. National Health Service. (2024). Cetirizine. NHS. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/cetirizine/#:~:text=Cetirizine%20blocks%20the%20effects%20of,feel%20better%20within%20an%20hour (Accessed: 6 February 2025)

6. McNamee, D. (2014). Are allergies made worse by stress?. Medical News Today. Available from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274888. (Accessed: 10 February 2025)

7. Patterson, A.M. et al. (2014). Perceived stress predicts allergy flares. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 112 (4): 317-321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2013.07.013.

8. Rehl, M.R. (n.d.) Dr. Rehl’s 10 TIPS For Sinus and Respiratory Health This Fall and Winter. Arizona Sinus Center. Available from https://www.arizonasinus.com/dr-rehls-10-tips-for-sinus-and-respiratory-health.htm (Accessed: 14 March 2025)