For years, Mark Johnson battled extreme fatigue.
"I used to find it hard to get out of bed in the morning. I wanted to nap during the work
day, and I was dead tired in the evening," recalled Johnson.
Then a funny thing happened. Johnson started receiving allergy treatment for his nagging nasal congestion, and the energy he had lacked for years started returning.
"The first thing I noticed was the fatigue letting up," said Johnson. "I had just accepted it as my life, but within only a few months, the fatigue was gone."
According to allergist Dr. Stuart Agren, an allergist from Mesa, Arizona, fatigue and allergies go hand in hand.
"The vast majority of patients who walk into my medical practice with allergies say that they suffer from some degree of fatigue," said Agren.
There are a number of explanations for the link between allergies and tiredness. One is that allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion and coughing can interrupt a person’s sleeping patterns. Another is that the medications used to treat allergies may cause drowsiness.
Yet another explanation is that the chemicals released during an allergic reaction can deplete the body’s resources.
"When an allergic person encounters mold or pollen, their body perceives it as an enemy," said allergy doctor. Dr. Agren. "It marshals all of its resources to fight against it and defends itself by releasing toxic chemicals into the body’s systems. Over time, these clashes can leave the body worn out."
According to Dr. Agren, patients with fatigue who also suffer from an allergy-related symptom (such as nasal congestion, sinus or ear infections or chronic cough) may be a candidate for physician-supervised allergy treatment. Allergy treatment desensitizes the body by exposing it to gradually increasing extracts of dusts, molds and pollens. The extracts are mixed into a saline solution and administered through injections or through under-the-tongue droplets. Over time, desensitization therapy can re-train the immune system to "make peace" with allergens in the environment.
Dr. Agren said that nearly all of his patients opt for oral drop therapy (rather than injections or allergy shots) because the drops are painless and can be administered at home. They also work fast. Dr. Agren said that more than 80 percent of his allergic patients and more than 90 percent of his asthmatic patients receive relief from their allergy symptoms (including fatigue) within the first few months of starting under-the-tongue allergy treatment.
For more information on Family Allergy Clinic’s services, information on kids allergies or more, call 1-877-276-3393.
