If you want to help your allergies, lower your stress levels!
Added 01.04.2009
Millions of people around the world suffer from allergies such as hay fever. If you suffer from hay fever you know that symptoms can be extremely bothersome but they are rarely life-threatening. However, many people with allergies also suffer from asthma, which is a serious respiratory condition.
According to a study conducted by researchers from Ohio State University-Columbus and presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Boston, stress and anxiety make your allergies worse.
More stress equals more allergies
During the study, participants with hay fever were made to engage in low and high stress activities. Low stress activities included reading magazines while high stress activities included giving a 10-minute speech, which was videotaped and then shown to the participants, and solving mathematical problems. Before and after the activities, participants were given a skin prick test with an allergen to measure allergic reaction.Up to 100 percent more allergies if you stress
The study determined that moderately stressed participants (after high stress activities) had 75 percent larger allergic reactions than the participants engaging in low stress activities. Furthermore, highly stressed participants (after high stress activities) were found to have 100 percent larger allergic reactions compared to participants doing low stress activities. Participants with high levels of stress and anxiety were also "four times as likely to have a stronger reaction to the skin test one day later after the stress," says researcher Jan Kiecolt-Glaser.Researchers also found that during the study participants had higher levels of stress hormones and interleukin-5, a pro-inflammatory cytokine (a protein involved in cellular communication). Increased levels of interleukin-5 play a role in an allergic response and the increases in stress hormones and interleukin-5 is what scientists believe cause more severe and long-lasting hay fever.
Natural ways to lower stress and hay fever symptoms
One in three Europeans suffers from some degree of stress. Other than exacerbating hay fever, long-term stress can also lead to fatigue and chronic illness. But stress no more because there are many natural ways you can lower stress. As a first step, stress management is highly recommended. You need to find what methods work best for you but here are a few simple things that may help you get started:- Plan your day realistically.
- Know your limitations and believe that it is ok to say "no" at times.
- Supplement with natural stress lowering nutritional supplements.
- Supplement with grape seed extract.
- Think positive.
- Get eight hours of sleep every night.
- Eat healthy.
- Do regular, moderate exercise.
- Try relaxation techiniques like yoga and meditation.
Take Doctor's Natural Grapavin and reduce inflammatory markers like interleukin-5 and other pro-inflammatory markers.
Reducing your stress levels will help to reduce seasonal allergies. If you combine this with nutrients proven to inhibit the development of hay fever, you may well be rid of your allergies forever! One of these super nutrients is grape seed extract and is available at Doctor's Natural. Flavonoids, key substances found in grape seeds that act as antioxidants have been found in many scientific studies to have potent anti-inflammatory properties by down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (cytokines play a major role in allergic reactions).
References:
Gutierrez, D. "Stress Worsens Allergies." Natural News. March 21, 2009.
Tan, Y. & all. "Trans-resveratrol, an extract of red wine, inhibits human eosinophil activation and degranulation." British Journal of Pharmacology. 155(7): 995-1004. 2008.
Park, H.H. & all. "Flavonoids inhibit histamine release and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mast cells." Arch. Pharm. Res. 31(10): 1303-11. 2008.
Kawai, M. & all. "Flavonoids and related compounds as anti-allergic substances." Allergol. Int. 56(2): 113-23. 2007.
