When you think of allergy immunotherapy, you probably think of long-term relief from allergic symptoms. While this treatment can definitely provide long-term relief, it can offer so much more than that. It can improve multiple areas of your life, from the quality of your sleep to your social life to your mental health.
While it’s not a cure for any issues that may plague you (including your allergies, since allergies aren’t curable), it can make a huge difference in your life. Here are a few benefits that this powerful treatment can provide.
Understanding Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is a powerful treatment that helps “train” your body to become less reactive to a particular substance. It delivers a small, incrementally increasing dose of the allergen to your body via a tablet or drops under the tongue or an injection under the skin.
Through repeated exposure to the allergen, this treatment gives your immune system the chance to build an allergen-specific tolerance. It takes time, but once your body begins to adjust, the transformation can translate into reduced or even eliminated allergy symptoms.
Of course, it’s important to note that the transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes two to three years for the most noticeable results to appear, although you might notice slight improvements in the first year.
The Benefits of Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergy immunotherapy offers multiple far-reaching benefits. These perks include:
Reduced Symptoms
The biggest perk is arguably the improvement in allergic symptoms. Allergy immunotherapy is incredibly good at dramatically reducing allergy symptoms. For some, the improvements might allow them to be around the allergen with manageable symptoms, but for others, the symptoms might nearly disappear! Of course, everybody is different, so how your body responds might look different.
Reduced Dependence on Medications
If you deal with allergies, especially severe or chronic allergies, you’re probably all too familiar with decongestants, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and similar medications. These meds are staples for providing immediate allergy relief. Unfortunately, their effects only last so long. Rarely do they last over 48 hours, although there are some products out there with a 72-hour improvement window.
Since they only last for so long, you’ll need to keep taking the medication to enjoy the benefits. This can create a vicious cycle, causing you to reach for allergy meds at the end of each window when the symptoms begin overshadowing your day once again.
That’s where allergy immunotherapy steals the spotlight. Unlike these meds, AIT focuses on the allergy, not the symptoms. While it takes longer for the effects to appear, they can hang around for years once they arrive.
You may find that as your treatment progresses, you rely less and less on your allergy medications. You might not even need to take them!
New Allergy Prevention
Interestingly enough, allergy immunotherapy can prevent new allergies. It changes your immune system and, in the process, can save you the headache of developing new allergies. It can even prevent the progression of allergic diseases from allergic rhinitis to asthma in children!
Improved Sleep
Trying to get quality sleep with allergies can be a nightmare. Between a runny nose, itchy eyes, and a scratchy throat, getting comfortable enough to fall asleep and stay asleep can be tough. If you add coughing, sneezing, or difficulty breathing to the mix, getting good sleep becomes nearly impossible. This can become a huge problem, especially considering the importance of sleep in overall health.
The longer your sleep deprivation goes on, the higher your risk of health problems like heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It can even raise the risk of injury!
While allergy medications can press pause on your allergic symptoms, allergy immunotherapy can make significant changes that last much longer. As your symptoms ebb, you may find that the quality of your sleep improves, allowing you to feel rested and more energized each morning.
Improve Social Life
Your allergy improvements can even echo into your social life. Allergies can put a damper on social activities, especially if you’re allergic to something like pollen or pasture grasses. You might be confined indoors during the spring or be unable to visit your friend with dogs due to your pet dander allergy.
With allergy immunotherapy, you can work toward improving your symptoms. With time and consistency, you may find that you can enjoy those places and experiences that previously caused uncomfortable and annoying flare-ups!
Mental Health Improvements
Allergies can take a toll on many aspects of your health and wellness, including your mental health. Through extensive research and studies, researchers have found a definitive link between allergies and mental health.
For example, seasonal allergies are associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, including mood, anxiety, and eating disorders. Food allergies are associated with higher chances of experiencing mental health disorders like anxiety and panic. Year-round allergies are associated with higher chances of anxiety and depression.
The link is there. The connection is the result of various mechanisms, inflammation being the main one. When your body responds to an allergy, the inflammatory response it produces is the same as that which has been connected to different mental health issues. It can impact your brain’s function, affecting serotonin production.
The web of connectivity is intricate and complex, but the link is clear. So, as your allergy symptoms improve, you may find that your mental health improves. Of course, AIT isn’t a cure for any mental health condition, but you may find that it makes a big difference in how you feel mentally.
Boosting Overall Well-Being Through Fitness
Fitness plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being. Regular physical activity not only helps improve your physical strength and endurance but also enhances your mental clarity and emotional balance. Engaging in a variety of exercises tailored to your needs can prevent chronic diseases, improve energy levels, and even boost self-confidence. A fitness trainer can be an invaluable guide on this journey, helping you create personalized workout plans, stay motivated, and achieve your fitness goals effectively and safely. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to elevate your routine, the right trainer can make all the difference in your fitness success.
Enjoy All That Allergy Immunotherapy Has to Offer
Allergy immunotherapy offers so many benefits that go far beyond basic symptom relief. While symptom relief is a huge improvement, AIT can help with everything from your sleep quality to your mental health to your social life. Of course, the improvements take time, so it’s important to be patient.
If you’re considering allergy immunotherapy, chat with your healthcare provider. They can help you determine the best type of allergy immunotherapy for your needs based on factors specific to you, including your medical history.