Tired? It could be allergies. Allergies often lead to fatigue and can also cause related symptoms such as inability to concentrate and lack of energy or motivation.
Allergic Fatigue Causes
Steven Park, MD, an otolaryngologist in New York City and author of the book Sleep, Interrupted, confirms that allergies, especially those caused by airborne substances, can interfere with breathing and prevent a good night’s sleep. “When your nose gets stuffy, your tongue starts to fall back, creating a vacuum effect in your throat,” Dr. Park says. “So you keep waking up because you can’t breathe.”
Another cause of fatigue, ironically, may be allergy medicine taken by allergy sufferers. Some allergy medications cause drowsiness. When taken over time, they can disrupt sleep patterns.
Managing Allergic Fatigue
Avoiding allergy-causing substances can help to some degree. If you are allergic to outdoor pollens, minimize outside time. If you’re allergic to dust, clean and vacuum regularly to avoid build-up.
Another way to manage allergic fatigue is a good nighttime routine and proper timing of medications. For instance, allergic patients should abstain from ingesting pseudoephedrine–a decongestant that causes restlessness–before sleep.
For a more complete resolution of allergic fatigue, consider a permanent fix with allergy immunotherapy-either through allergy shots or sublingual allergy drops.
