If you love to get outside and exercise, you don’t want to be slowed down by your allergies. Those symptoms aren’t just annoying; they can inhibit your athletic performance. Here are some ways you can manage your allergy symptoms and still keep to your exercise regimen.
How Allergies Impact Athletic Performance
The most common allergy symptoms are caused by the release of histamines, chemicals that control inflammation, increase mucus production and affect the sleep-wake cycle. Their ultimate goal is to trap and flush out the perceived threat, and they do so by inflaming the nasal and respiratory passages and increasing mucus in the nose and throat.
As a result, you may notice the following issues, especially when exercising:
- Distracting symptoms. It’s difficult to exercise at your maximum level if you have to stop every few minutes to sneeze or blow your nose.
- Dehydration. Mucus production requires water, so you may feel dehydrated faster when you’re in the middle of an allergic reaction. Hydration is also critical for working out safely.
- Respiratory issues. Inflammation in the throat and nasal passages constricts your airflow, reducing your oxygen intake. This can be a big issue for endurance and your muscles, which need oxygen to keep exerting effort.
- Sleep disruption. As mentioned, histamines affect the sleep-wake cycle. If you’re not getting the quality rest you need, you may be groggy the next day and have a harder time recovering after a hard workout.
- Exercise-induced asthma.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Asthma is characterized by a narrowing of the airways and difficulty breathing. Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, which can range from mild to severe. Asthma is a well-known complication of allergies, and exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma that is, as the name suggests, triggered specifically by physical activity. Therefore, allergies and physical activity together increase your risk of asthma symptoms.
Managing Allergies
To stay on top of your athletic program, you’ll need to manage your allergies. There are three main ways to do that.
Allergen Prevention Strategies
Sometimes, the easiest and most effective way to avoid allergic reactions is to avoid your allergy triggers in the first place. For example, if you’re allergic to pollen, consider working out indoors at home or at the gym, so you’re breathing cleaner air.
Medications
Of course, many sports take place outdoors, so prevention isn’t always feasible. In that case, try over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants. Antihistamines block histamines from working, and decongestants can bring quick relief for many common allergy symptoms. You may also consider saline rinses or neti pots to flush irritants out of your airways and relieve inflammation.
Allergy Immunotherapy
Medications, too, can only go so far, especially if you’re an athlete; you have higher respiratory needs and more frequent exposure to allergens. If OTCs still aren’t bringing you the relief you need, a long-term allergy treatment is your best option. Immunotherapy desensitizes your immune system to allergens, thereby preventing allergic reactions entirely.
If you want to learn more about any of these allergy management strategies or how to keep up with your active lifestyle with allergies, call North Alabama ENT Associates to speak with one of our allergists.