Navigating the weight loss journey can be especially challenging when you're also dealing with allergies. Allergies can subtly sabotage your weight loss efforts in ways you might not expect. It’s possible to integrate your allergy management into your overall wellness plan, making it easier for you to stay on track with your health goals. This holistic approach ensures you don't have to sacrifice comfort for progress.
Introduction: Allergies and Weight - A Complex Relationship
Allergies make us miserable, but do they also make us fat? The physical fallout of allergic rhinitis and chronic allergy symptoms is far greater than stuffy noses, sneezing, and sleepless nights. Allergies and adult sleep apnea strain our physical wellbeing, both body and mind. The regulation of food intake in the body is a very complex process, which involves biochemical signals from many sources including the brain-gastrointestinal tract, fat stores and the pancreas. The digestive system needs to process and deliver nutrients to the whole body. A stressed digestive system is less able to process energy and nutrients for the rest of the body.
Understanding Allergies
What is Rhinitis?
The definition of rhinitis is "nasal irritation." Nonallergic rhinitis is characterized by persistent sneezing or a runny, stuffy nose without a known cause. The signs of nonallergic rhinitis resemble those of hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but they lack the typical signs of an allergic reaction. Both toddlers and adults can develop nonallergic rhinitis. But after age 20, it becomes increasingly prevalent. Nonallergic rhinitis can be brought on by various factors, such as seasonal changes in weather, specific foods, medications, and chronic health conditions. After an allergic etiology has been ruled out, nonallergic rhinitis is diagnosed. Blood or skin tests for allergies may be necessary.
The mucus is the fluid that the nose generates. Normally, this liquid is transparent and thin. It aids in preventing the inhalation of dust, dirt, and allergies. Dust, pollen, germs, and viruses are all captured by mucus. Typically, mucus runs down the back of your throat. Due to its small size and thinness, you are frequently unaware of this. An irritated nose may generate more mucus, which thickens and turns pale yellow. The nose's front and rear may start to produce mucus. The mucus may contain substances that aggravate the back of the throat and make you cough. More mucus flowing down the back of the throat causes postnasal drip.
Symptoms of Rhinitis
It can occasionally be challenging to distinguish between allergies and the typical cold. There are about a hundred different types of cold viruses. You can confuse a cold for a seasonal allergy because both tend to become common at specific seasons. Allergies develop annually around the same period and last as long as the allergen is present (usually 2-3 weeks per allergen). Along with other nasal symptoms, allergies also result in itching of the nose and eyes. The nose and eyes don't itch as much when you have a cold, which lasts around a week.
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The symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis are likely to fluctuate throughout the year. Nonallergic rhinitis symptoms and signs may include:
- Itchiness in the eyes and nose
- Stuffy nose
- Running nose
- Sneezing
- Mucus in the throat
Allergies and Inflammation
Allergies not only strike at the respiratory system but also can prompt body inflammation and exacerbate calorie-burning inefficiency. If you're allergic to something, that may be the cause of inflammation. The result can be an excess in water retention and minor weight gain. Allergy season can totally mess with your weight loss goals. Those pesky pollen counts can make you feel rotten. And who feels like working out when your head is pounding?
The Connection Between Allergies and Weight Gain
Research and Studies
Adult allergic rhinitis is greatly linked to obesity or being overweight. Obesity and overweight in adults are often linked to higher chances of nonallergic rhinitis. Similarly, adult obesity is linked to a higher risk of nonallergic rhinitis. The found links are non-statistically significant in female adults but greatly significant in male adults in an analysis. Obesity in children, however, is linked to allergies in a smaller number compared to adults.
One study even linked over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medication, such as Zyrtec and Allegra, with weight gain. Some researchers speculate that the release of histamines during an allergic reaction could trigger increases in appetite and lead to more frequent or over-eating.
Food-specific IgG antibodies are tightly associated with low-grade systemic inflammation contributing to weight gain. The obese group had two and a half times the IgG antibodies against certain foods than the children in the normal weight range. They also had three times the levels of CRP than the normal weight group. This indicates inflammation in the body makes it harder to lose weight.
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Lack of Sleep and Poor Diet
Lack of sleep, whether caused by allergies or sleep apnea, leads to poor diet decision-making throughout the day. A University of California, Berkeley sleep study explored why lack of sleep leads to weight gain. First, they found lack of sleep to impair participants’ abilities to make complex decisions. Second, sleep deprivation boosted the brain centers that reward primal behaviors like eating. Whether excess eating comes from impaired decision-making or simply the desire to comfort ourselves during allergy attacks, associated weight gain is real for many patients.
Poor sleep affects hunger hormones such as ghrelin and leptin so you eat more than is good for you.
The Role of Histamines
When pollen levels are high, your body mistakes it for a harmful invader. So your immune system freaks out and reacts by releasing histamine, which causes allergy symptoms we’re all too familiar with, like:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Fatigue
- Headaches
Your body thinks pollen is dangerous, so it activates your fight or flight response. Adrenaline and cortisol levels spike, causing inflammation throughout your body.
How Allergies Stall Weight Loss
All that inflammation makes you puffy and bloated, helping to mask any progress you've made toning and trimming down. But it also:
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- Lowers immunity so you're more likely to get sick
- Disrupts sleep cycles so you wake up groggy and craving sugar
- Zaps energy so working out feels impossible
Between poor sleep, inflammation, and cravings, it's easy for seasonal allergies to sabotage your diet and exercise routine. Like when your willpower is sapped, and you reach for cookies instead of a healthy afternoon snack.
Obesity and the Immune System
Being obese can easily affect a person's immunity and thus pushing them to be more prone and susceptible to allergies of different sorts, especially the ones associated with lungs and respiratory organs, such as rhinitis. Obesity-related immune dysfunction or immunological response has been proven in recent studies in human and animal models to raise the risk for different illnesses. This has yet to have a clear cause identified.
You become more susceptible to infection if you consume excessive calories or have a diet high in sugar and fat. This is due to the possibility that it will raise blood sugar levels or result in oxidative damage. Reactive oxygen species are produced in excess compared to the body's capacity to detoxify cells, causing oxidative damage. This kind of oxygen impairment increases your risk of infection.
You risk developing protein-energy malnutrition if your protein intake is too low. Additionally, there have been major immune system abnormalities linked to this. Contrary to popular belief, deficiencies and malnutrition can occur in people who are obese, and they can also occur due to a poor diet. Therefore, regardless of weight, deficiencies could very well exist in anyone who eats badly.
Can Losing Weight Help with Allergy Symptoms?
Weight loss is linked to a 48%-100% remission of asthma symptoms and usage of asthma medication in obese people with doctor-diagnosed asthma. Additionally, published studies show that losing weight helps obese asthmatics better control their condition and that weight loss surgery, in particular, has a significant positive impact on asthma severity, medication use, dyspnea, exercise endurance, and acute exacerbations, including hospitalizations for asthma. Furthermore, whereas no appreciable changes have been seen in exhaled nitric oxide or other markers of eosinophilic airway inflammation, weight loss in obese asthmatics is related to improvements in lung function and airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine.
Practical Tips for Marrying Allergy Management and Weight Loss
1. How to Get Tested For Allergies
Between 40 and 50 million Americans suffer from allergies or asthma. Since these illnesses are so widespread, it may seem that any doctor should be able to deliver the most efficient remedies because the diagnosis and treatment are both simple. But allergists are specialists in their profession and have received specific training, which enables them to:
- Test for allergies.
- Determine what is causing your pain.
- Correctly identify your ailment
- Do not focus only on treating your symptoms.
- Create a unique strategy to get rid of your symptoms.
- Give you the most affordable care possible that achieves the finest results.
2. Immunotherapy Treatment
Allergy immunotherapy is a form of treatment. It entails giving the patient progressively smaller dosages of an allergen-this aids in increasing one's tolerance for the allergy. The symptoms of allergies are diminished or gone after developing tolerance.
The method by which allergy immunotherapy functions is to progressively increase the allergen's exposure to the patient's immune system. Until a maintenance level is attained, this is done regularly. After immunotherapy is finished, tolerance to the allergen is frequently maintained. The likelihood of long-term success varies from individual to person, though. Immunotherapy can effectively treat the following allergies:
- Mold allergy
- Pollen allergies
- Dust mite allergy
- Hypersensitivity of insect venom
- Cockroach allergy
- Animal dander allergies because of cats and dogs
3. Eat the Right Foods for You
Start out with a professional to identify which foods you may be most allergic to, and then adjust your diet accordingly by avoiding them. And, don’t just avoid the foods you’re allergic to, eat natural anti-inflammatories like berries, nuts, and leafy greens. These can help counteract the effects of allergies as well as helping you shed pounds.
Moving from a study to an individual, the tennis player Novak Djokovic had life-changing benefits when he cut gluten out of his diet a few years ago. He grew up in a family that ran a pizza restaurant and, not surprisingly, his diet was dominated by bread, pizza, and pasta. For years, Yorkest customers have fed back that they have lost weight when removing their reactive foods and a study has been published showing that (120) people who eliminated their IgG reactive foods significantly improved their body composition and lost weight.
4. Regular Indoor Exercise
Isn't it frustrating how pollen and other allergens can totally mess up your outdoor workout plans? If you're looking to avoid a runny nose while still getting your exercise, why not try some indoor activities like yoga, Pilates, or even dance? These options can keep you moving without having to step outside. Plus, whether you're working out in the fresh air or in a comfy, climate-controlled room, the benefits are the same. Exercise indoors - Hit the gym instead of running outdoors when pollen is high. Or pop in a workout DVD and get your sweat on inside. Work out early or late - Pollen counts peak during midday, so shift your workout to morning or night to lessen exposure.
5. Staying Hydrated
Adequate water consumption serves as a vital element both for management of allergies and in promoting weight loss. Hydration is important for flushing out toxins and allergens from the body. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 3.7 liters (or about 13 cups) for men and about 2.7 liters (or about 9 cups) for women. This total includes all fluids consumed from water, other beverages, and food. About 20% of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - Drink more water than you usually would to help flush out histamines and allergens. Herbal tea and broth can help too.
6. Deal with Stress In A Healthy Way
Stress can make allergies worse. It can also cause weight gain, especially around your abdominal area. Mindfulness techniques, meditation, and regular periodic exercise can help reduce stress levels. This helps control both weight and allergies. Reduce stress - Allergies spike cortisol so try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing to stay more zen. This lowers inflammation too.
7. Create Conditions Favorable for Good Sleep
If you sleep poorly, it’s not only tiring but can worsen allergies and spoil your weight loss goals. Poor sleep affects hunger hormones such as ghrelin and leptin so you eat more than is good for you. Also, try to make sure that your bedroom is free from allergens. For example, fit your mattresses with fitted hypoallergenic covers.
Besides using hypoallergenic covers, here are several other strategies to improve allergies while sleeping:
- Air Purifiers: Using an air purifier in your bedroom can help remove allergens such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander from the air. Choose a purifier with a HEPA filter for best results.
- Keep Pets Out of the Bedroom: If you have pets, try to keep them out of your bedroom to reduce the amount of pet dander in your sleeping area.
- Wash Bedding Regularly: Wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets at least once a week in hot water to kill dust mites and remove allergens.
- Shower Before Bed: Taking a shower before going to bed can help remove pollen and other allergens from your hair and skin, reducing the risk of them transferring to your bedding.
- Maintain Low Humidity: Keep the humidity in your bedroom below 50% to inhibit the growth of mold and reduce dust mites. A dehumidifier can help achieve this in damp climates.
- Allergy-Proof Your Bedding: Besides hypoallergenic covers, consider using allergy-proof pillows and duvets which are designed to resist allergens.
- Keep Windows Closed: Especially during high pollen seasons, keep your bedroom windows closed to prevent pollen from entering.
- Vacuum Regularly: Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can help reduce the amount of dust and allergens in your bedroom.
8. Monitor the Levels of Pollen and Allergens
Stay informed about Atlanta’s daily pollen counts and air quality indexes. These figures help you determine the perfect time of day for outdoor activities or go, and tell when it’s better to avoid allergen triggers inside your house.
9. Take Allergy Meds
Antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra can help control symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose so you feel more like working out.
10. Try Natural Remedies
Quercetin, butterbur, and stinging nettle may help open airways and reduce inflammation. Ask your doctor if they could be right for you. Eat anti-inflammatory foods - Focus on fruits, veggies, fish, nuts, and olive oil while limiting sugar, dairy, and alcohol.
11. Get Involved with Support Groups or Counseling
After all, coping with allergies and weight loss can be a challenge. Other people who share the same struggle can offer genuine encouragement and helpful hints; friends in nearby groups or avenues of counseling. It's good to share ideas that have worked for others in the same boat as you.
Other Health Issues Obese People Can Face
These issues don't affect all obese people. Your risk increases if you have a history of one of those disorders in your family. Where you weigh may also be important. If your extra weight is predominantly distributed around your stomach, you may be at more risk than if it is distributed mostly around your hips and buttocks. Here are seven ailments associated with being overweight or obese in more detail:
- You are more likely to have high cholesterol and blood pressure if you are overweight.
- The majority of type 2 diabetics are obese or overweight.
- If you are overweight, gallstones and gallbladder disease are more prevalent.
- Obesity has been related to colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, and esophagus cancers.
- Gout, which affects the joints, is more prevalent among fat people.
- The knee, hip, or back are the most typical joints affected by osteoarthritis. Having more weight puts additional strain on these joints and erodes the cartilage, which normally protects them by cushioning the joints.
- A breathing disorder called sleep apnea has been linked to obesity.
Why You Should Consider Medical Weight Loss
The goal of medical weight loss is to assist patients in healthily shedding pounds. Medical weight loss may be helpful for anyone who is having trouble losing weight on their own. Both those who have tried and failed to reduce weight through diet and exercise and those with medical issues that make it challenging to lose weight are included in this. The treatment strategy works far better and makes weight loss longer when it includes pharmaceutical and behavior modification components.
You can receive continuing support and supervision through medical weight loss to keep you on track and assist you in achieving your goals. You can feel confident that you are approaching medical weight loss correctly by working with a medical specialist. Medical oversight enhances both short-term and long-term outcomes.
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