Everyone has probably heard of the term allergy. This word has many interpretations and if you ask a hundred people, you’ll probably receive a hundred different answers. By definition, an allergy is a reaction caused by the immune system. These reactions can occur in many circumstances, and will often appear in a bizarre way.
Different materials which are usually harmless to most people can easily trigger an allergic reaction. It’s important to identify your triggers with a professional so you can find a way to solve your problems. A common trigger could be a new medicine you’re not used to, or even an incredibly appreciated and frequently used food like peanuts.
But things aren’t always so simple. Even a particular moment in your life can lead to an allergy appearing. This is related to hormones, which will change what is happening to your body. There’s a very strong link between a hormonal imbalance and developing different allergies. An event like childbirth or menopause, which will typically occur during normal life, can lead to huge changes as your body is susceptible to a hormonal imbalance. It’s during these times that most hormone-related allergies will make their debut.
The Connection Between the Immune System and Hormones
The most frequent occurrence when you hear someone talk about allergies is treating it as an unpleasant surprise. Popular belief tends to make everybody think that you’re born with an allergy. But that’s not always the case, as a lot of allergies are seasonal and will show up out of nowhere.
This can happen because of the connection between the immune system and our hormones. A condition we tend to see often is estrogen dominance. This particular case takes place when there’s an excess production of estrogen or low progesterone values. These hormones are incredibly important in women, which often find themselves with many allergies after puberty.
The connection is due to the fact that estrogen will cause an increase in histamine, while progesterone will take care of breaking it down. If these hormones aren’t working together correctly, the body will produce more histamine than it usually does and several allergic reactions can take place. This is just one of many cases that show how the immune system and hormones need to work together.
How to Treat Allergies Caused by a Hormonal Imbalance
Like everything that will cause problems to your health, treatment is needed. But treating allergies is not as easy as just taking a pill and not worrying about it anymore. We already know by now that numerous different things can cause an allergic reaction, so finding the correct treatment is not always an easy task, even for a professional.
Antihistamines represent the preferred treatment for most allergic reactions. These drugs reduce the production of histamine, which will in most cases reduce symptoms. But they’re not effective if these symptoms are caused by a hormonal imbalance. By taking antihistamines, symptoms are masked and the main cause is not addressed. In these cases, treating allergies with hormone therapy is far more effective.
By restoring the correct balance, estrogen dominance will no longer be able to manifest. By making the underlying problem disappear, you won’t spend your entire life managing symptoms. A lot of people need to take drugs during their entire lifespan when restoring the correct hormonal functions in their bodies would allow them to stay healthy and feel much better.
If you’ve got an allergy, you should check the underlying cause with a professional and work on the correct prescription. Don’t stop at antihistamines, try to solve your problem instead of managing it and you’ll feel much better.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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