Allergies!! How allergies may be affecting you more than you know!
Q: What are some symptoms of environmental or food allergies?
Irritability Excessive restlessness • Depression • Anxiety • Personality changes • Seizures • Migraines Neurological • Coughing and wheezing • Chronic runny nose • Asthma • Recurrent bronchitis • Recurrent ear infections Immune • Chronic or recurrent infections • Chronic acne • Canker sores • Eczema • Itchy rash • Hives • Bed-wetting • Bladder infections • Fainting • Hypoglycemia • Anemia • Sinusitis • Eczema • Psoriasis• Chronic pain • Irritable bowel disease
Q: Are environmental allergies associated with endometriosis?
There is now increasing evidence that people who suffer from endometriosis have a higher incidence of environmental and food allergies as well as auto-immune or other immune disorders. In a study of 689 women, researchers found the relative risk of 4.2 (significantly increased) for prevalence of concomitant allergies.
Q: What role can allergies or atopy play in chronic fatigue syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome and the fibromyalgia complex of neuro-muscular disorders have been associated with the body’s inability to fight with allergens. In layman terms, there is evidence that by being constantly under attack from allergens, the body’s immune system is busy fighting the allergens and becomes weakened to support a healthy immune system.
In a population based study of 42,558 patients with atopy (allergy) compared with 170,232 patients without atop from 2005 to 2007 with follow-up to 2011. The overall incidence rate of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was significantly higher ( 2.59 fold) in the atopy cohort compared with the non-atop cohort significantly after adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities.
Q: Are there more people suffering from allergies now? And why?
The incidence of allergies is rising, and some scientists believe that increased chemical pollution in our air, water and food supply is causing the frequency and severity of allergic reactions to escalate. Natural and synthetic hidden ingredients in food, the genetic manipulation of plants, less diversity in the diet and poor digestive function also may be contributing factors. While the issue of food allergies is complex, testing can help identify offending substances. This information can be used to modify your diet – or your child’s diet – to experience.
Q: What are some other instances of allergies being the culprit in relation to Women’s health?
Vulvar irritative disorders, recurrent vulvo-vaginal infections may be either due to a person’s weakened immune system from chronic allergies or may be a direct response to ingested allergens from food or direct contact for example to detergents, creams, lotions etc.
Chronic pelvic pain, painful periods and painful sex have all exhibited association with high incidence of food and environmental allergies.
It is well known and proven that irritable bowel disease is an amalgamation of symptoms that may be arising from various food sensitivities and allergies, which may in turn increase the incidence of chronic pelvic pain conditions.
Q: How can we test for these allergies?
There are easy blood tests available now for testing of a host of environmental as well as food allergens. These tests are comprehensive and can help reveal some surprising results.
Q: Are there any treatments available?
Depends on the allergen. There are allergy shots available for a lot of the known environmental allergens. The process is called immunotherapy. The allergy shots are prepared specifically for that particular allergen and then given in a series of subcutaneous injections.
Q: Do I need to see an allergy specialist or can my regular doctor take care of this?
Your primary care physician can take care of the initial work up and then refer you accordingly. We do perform the testing and treatment at our offices as well and are happy to schedule a consultation to go over the details.
Stay tuned for more facts and figures….
Dr. Adeeti Gupta