Plenty of people experience allergies, but many of them don't realize just how much they're messing up their day. If you think you have allergies, even if they seem to be mild, and are experiencing a groggy, hazy feeling throughout your day, those allergies may very well be to blame. Here's what you should know about how and why this happens, in addition to what you can do about it.
Inflammation
One of the reasons why you're not feeling so well is because the body is doing its best to oust the allergens that are upsetting your body. In order to do this, the body increases inflammation throughout, but especially in the nasal passageways and surrounding areas. This includes your eyes, throat, and even your head.
Inflammation never feels good. If you've ever had a wound or infection, part of the discomfort has come from the inflammation in the area. The same is true of allergies.
Cytokines
Another thing that happens when you're having allergies is that the body undergoes a cytokine attack. This is actually a good thing because the body is fighting the allergens and preventing them from seriously hurting you. However, it doesn't feel very good.
This is very much like what happens when you're sick. Most of the time, the illness itself isn't what makes you feel bad. It's instead the reaction of your body trying to fight that illness. The body also produces histamines, which produces some of the common allergic reactions that flare up, like sniffling, sneezing, watery eyes, and coughing. However, that's not all. Cytokines can also produce the same groggy, uncomfortable, or even achy experience that you go through when you're sick, which can make it hard to work or go to school, especially if allergies are bothering you on a daily basis.
What to Do
These days, there's no need to suffer through these symptoms without help. Your first step to getting assistance shouldn't be to reach for an anti-histamine off the shelf but rather to communicate with a doctor.
Doctors can test you to find out exactly what you're allergic to so that you can avoid those substances in the future as much as possible. This by itself will dramatically cut down on how many symptoms you experience. In addition, your doctor can help you to find the exact type of medication that will suppress your symptoms, rather than a one-size-fits-all medication that you grab off the shelf.
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