Although stress and anxiety do not cause allergies, research has uncovered that they can worsen symptoms. We review what the study shows and how you can manage these conditions below.
About the Study
Researchers at The Ohio State University found that even slight stress and anxiety can substantially worsen your reaction to everyday allergens. They also found that this impact can linger, even worsening the day after the initial allergy attack.
Study Methodology
For the study, researchers recruited 28 people with a history of hay fever and seasonal allergies. The participants spent two half-days in a research unit, where they were given standard skin prick tests several times to determine their reaction to various allergens. Blood, saliva and serum samples were also taken at various points during the study.
The participants were also given numerous psychological questionnaires to determine levels of stress, anxiety, self-confidence and feelings of control.
On the day of the low-stress control condition, the participants were given the skin prick test, then asked to read from a magazine. On the day of the high-stress experimental condition, they were asked to give a 10-minute videotaped speech and solve a series of math problems without pen or paper in front of a panel of “evaluators.” They then had to watch the videotape.
The wheals, or raised bumps on their skin from the skin prick test, were measured before and after the experiment, then the next day.
Study Results
The study authors reported, “People who were highly anxious had raised wheals that were twice as big after they were stressed compared to their response when they were not stressed. These same people were four times more likely to have a stronger reaction to the skin test one day later after the stress.”
How To Find Relief
You should manage your stress, anxiety and allergies to prevent severe symptoms.
To manage stress and anxiety, you can:
- Meditate and practice mindfulness.
- Take classes at Be Hot Yoga Atlanta.
- Talk to a mental health professional.
To manage allergies, we recommend:
- Practicing avoidance of known allergens.
- Taking over-the-counter allergy medications.
- Talk to an allergist about immunotherapy.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert allergist, call ENT of Georgia North today.
