Can Allergies Make You Tired? Causes & Relief Tips

Ever feel fully drained during allergy season? You might not imagine that allergies can make you tired. While itchy eyes, congestion, and sneezing are the usual culprits if you are dealing with allergies, you may not realize that allergies can also kill your energy. Why does this happen? This article will answer the question, Can allergies make you tired, and how to manage it? Read on!

Quick Takeaways

• Allergies can cause fatigue by triggering an immune response, disrupting sleep, and increasing inflammation.

• Common symptoms include brain fog, sleep disturbances, low energy, headaches, and irritability.

• Best ways to combat allergy fatigue: Avoid triggers, take non-drowsy antihistamines, improve sleep hygiene, stay hydrated, and manage stress.

Can Allergies Make You Tired?

Yes, according to the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, allergies can make you tired or feel fatigued, which is referred to as “allergy fatigue”. How does allergy-induced exhaustion or tiredness occur? Take a look!

1. Your Immune System Overworks

• Research says that when the body gets exposed to allergens like dust mites, pet dander, or pollen, it triggers or provokes the immune system.

• This, in turn, releases histamines and other inflammatory mediators, which contribute to inflammation in the body parts, leading to symptoms like drowsiness and fatigue.

2. Poor Sleep Quality

• Allergic symptoms like nasal congestion and sneezing often get worse at night, which makes it difficult to stay and fall asleep.

• This can result in restless sleep which can accumulate with time, leaving you feeling tired and dizzy.

3. Chronic Allergies Keep Your Body in a Stress State

• Constant chronic allergies like allergic asthma or perennial allergic rhinitis can lead to continuous exposure to allergens.

• This can lead to persistent and chronic fatigue as the immune system stays highly alert and the body repeatedly releases chemical histamines in response to allergens.

4. Psychological Stress & Fatigue

• When dealing with the discomfort and inconvenience of allergies and the unpredictable worsening of the symptoms, the body undergoes emotional exhaustion.

• This happens when you continuously check for allergens, manage your medications, and stick to preventive measures. This can drain you physically as well as mentally. 

What Types of Allergies Cause Fatigue?

Some allergies are more likely to cause extreme tiredness than others. Here are the main culprits:

• Pollen Allergies: When pollen counts from weeds, grasses, and trees are high, you may experience nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and sneezing. This can lead to poor sleep patterns and persistent fatigue.

• Dust Mite Allergies: Allergic reactions to dust mites can also cause congestion, coughing, and sneezing, which can lead to sleep disturbance. This can result in chronic fatigue.

• Pet Allergies: Allergies to pet dander, urine, and saliva may cause congestion, itchy skin, and wheezing. This can contribute to sleep disturbances and constant exhaustion or tiredness.

• Food Allergies: Though food allergies lead to hives or swelling, they can also cause allergy fatigue due to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and nausea. This interrupts the sleep pattern and results in tiredness.

• Mold Allergies: Allergies to mold spores, commonly found in moist spaces, can also contribute to chronic fatigue, which causes respiratory issues such as coughing and wheezing. This makes it difficult to breathe and sleep properly, causing tiredness.

• Insect Sting Allergies: Allergies to insect stings like those from wasps or bees can also lead to fatigue as the body supports the immune system. Though the immediate symptoms are highly dramatic, the after-effects are lingering tiredness and physical exhaustion.

‍Note: The extent of allergy fatigue can vary from one individual to another, depending on the severity of the allergies, the sensitivity of a person, and how well a person manages it. If you are not sure about the type of allergies, see a doctor to diagnose and treat them well.

Potential Symptoms of Allergy Fatigue

If your allergies are making you feel tired, you may also experience:

These symptoms affect your quality of life and also make it difficult to function properly in daily life. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor for effective treatment.

How to Treat Allergy Fatigue

To fight off allergy-related fatigue, the doctors may help with these treatment options:

1. Identify & Avoid Your Triggering Allergens:

• The doctors may ask for allergy testing such as blood tests or skin prick tests to know about allergies and suggest effective measures to avoid them.

• This might include maintaining a dust-free home, using allergen-resistant bedding, limiting contact with pets, and staying indoors at the time of high pollen seasons.

2. Take Medications That Won’t Make You Sleepy

The providers may prescribe these medications to effectively manage the symptoms of your allergies:

• Antihistamines: A study reports that blocking the histamine effects, antihistamines relieve symptoms such as watery eyes, skin rashes, and sneezing. The best antihistamines for fatigue are cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine to prevent daytime drowsiness.

• Decongestants: These drugs help get rid of nasal congestion, but always take them cautiously and as prescribed by a doctor. 

• Nasal Corticosteroid Sprays: These relieve inflammation in the nasal passages which reduces runny nose and nasal congestion.

• Eye Drops: Prescription or over-the-counter eye drops can aid in relieving watery and itchy eyes. 

3. Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots):

• Immunotherapy or allergy shots can help prevent these kinds of allergies, including dust mite allergies, food allergies, seasonal allergies, and pet allergies.

• They work by slowly exposing the body to high amounts of allergen with time to build an effective tolerance.

• Allergy shots offer long-term relief from symptoms of allergies and potentially prevent fatigue.

Best Tips to Fight Allergy Fatigue Naturally

Along with medication, follow these lifestyle tips to boost your energy:

• Manage Your Allergies: Recognize all the triggers that are causing specific allergies and manage them with the use of medicines such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays.

• Improve Sleep Hygiene: Get 7-9 hours of sleep to recover from fatigue and practice relaxation techniques for better sleep quality. Also, keep your room allergen-free and wash your bedding.

• Stay Hydrated: Drink a lot of water to fight off allergy fatigue by relieving congestion, thinning mucus, and promoting the immune system. This leads to easier sleep and reduced fatigue.

• Consume a Balanced Diet: Eating anti-inflammatory foods, like fruits and green veggies, and avoiding allergy-triggering foods such as milk, soy, or peanuts can eventually prevent fatigue.

• Manage Stress: Chronic stress can worsen symptoms of allergy, contributing to fatigue. So, engage in stress-reducing activities like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.

• Practice Exercise: Engaging in physical exercises can boost energy levels, improve sleep quality, relieve inflammation, and strengthen the immune system.

• Consider Allergy Shots: In case of severe or persistent allergies, see a doctor for immunotherapy or allergy shots to alleviate allergen sensitivity and reduce symptoms over time.

Final Thoughts

So, can allergies make you tired? Well, from what we have learned in this article, yes, allergies can cause tiredness or fatigue by triggering an immune reaction, affecting your sleep quality, causing chronic allergies, and impacting you psychologically. Along with persistent tiredness, you may experience other symptoms, including brain fog, irritability, sleep disturbance, breathing issues, etc.

You can reduce allergy fatigue by avoiding allergens, taking non-drowsy antihistamines, improving sleep hygiene, staying hydrated & eating an anti-inflammatory diet while also Managing stress & incorporating exercise.

If your fatigue is persistent or severe, consult an allergist for a proper diagnosis and long-term treatment options like immunotherapy.

Ready to take control of your allergies and reclaim your energy? Start today!

Read Also: How to Deal With Seasonal Allergies & Itchy Eyes

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