Are allergic reactions linked to stress?

Stress is the body’s response to circumstances, both internally and externally, which obstructs the normal balance of life. Nearly all the body’s systems – nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive system – make some adjustments in response to stress.

It is no news that stress can cause uproar in your immune system, but the latest research on stress is a little bit surprising. Some researches have indicated that mental and emotional stress can actually lead to some physical reactions in the body, including allergic reaction. This latest assertion makes avoiding or managing stress even more important to the overall health of an individual.

There is still ongoing research on the reasons why stress can lead to an allergic response, but Mast Cells are known to be one culprit. These cells are responsible for launching defensive mechanisms like histamines as a response to food proteins.  A review by 2004 journal of Neuroimmunology discovered that when one is stressed, immunoglobulins forces Mast Cells to produce vitamins and other chemicals that create a reaction in the body.

In the same note, researchers at Ohio State University have discovered that prolonged stress can increase the occurrence of existing allergies. This reaction is what is known as a “late phase reaction” which is quite difficult to manage.

There are certain skin reactions associated with stress as well. The skin reaction involving itchy hives is a result of stress or stress-worsening eczema, a condition more common among people under 25 years.
Chronic and prolonged stress can lead to the production of cortisol in the body, the main hormone in the body that induces stress. When cortisol is produced more in the body, it can affect the cell which may compromise your immune system. Because the compromised immune system can’t keep diseases and sicknesses at bay, the bacteria and virus may proliferate to affect many cells in the body. This will definitely lead to increased chances of illness and other symptoms of allergic reactions.
Everything that significantly reduces stress may reduce the extent of allergic reaction in your body. Although stress does not directly lead to allergies, it can increase the level of allergic reaction in the body by increasing the level of histamine in the blood.

Stress and allergies can therefore be said to be partners in crime because when someone has an allergy, the resultant effect such as fatigue, nights of fitful sleep, and a combination of other allergic symptoms will need you to seek for stress relief.