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Stress worsened allergic rhinitis flares
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Researchers have established a link between emotional stress and allergic rhinitis flares, according to recent study data published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
“Stress can cause several negative effects on the body, including causing more symptoms for allergy sufferers,” Amber M. Patterson, MD, ACAAI, of the Ohio State University College of Medicine, said in a press release. “Our study also found those with more frequent allergy flares also have a greater negative mood, which may be leading to these flares.”
Patterson and colleagues conducted a secondary analysis of 179 university employees who previously participated in a study that examined the influence of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes and inflammation. They obtained self-reported Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure the perception of emotional stress before each 2-week study period, and they collected daily online diary entries documenting same-day allergy flares, stressful events, perceived stress, mood, and salivary cortisol levels during two 14-day periods. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms.
The allergy flare group (n=69; 39%) self-reported higher perceived stress scores compared with the group who did not demonstrate allergy symptoms. Perceived stress, but not depressive symptoms were linked with allergy flares, according to the two 14-day data.
Researchers also reported a positive relationship between negative mood scores and allergy flares during the study. Cortisol was not associated with allergy symptom flares.
“Symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes can cause added stress for allergy sufferers, and may even be the root of stress for some,” Patterson said in the release. “While alleviating stress won’t cure allergies, it may help decrease episodes of intense symptoms.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.