Could seasonal allergies have a connection to heart disease?
Nasal allergies (also called allergic rhinitis) are a common health problem. They may be seasonal (seasonal allergies). This means they cause symptoms only at certain times of the year. Or they may be perennial. This means they cause symptoms all year long. Other health problems, such as asthma, often occur along with allergies as well.
Normally allergens are harmless. But when a person has allergies, the body thinks these allergens are harmful. The body then attacks allergens with antibodies. Allergy antibodies are attached to special cells called mast cells. Allergens stick to the antibodies. This makes the mast cells release histamine and other chemicals. This is an allergic reaction. The chemicals irritate nearby nasal tissue. This causes nasal allergy symptoms. When this happens in the breathing tubes of the lungs, it can cause asthma symptoms such as cough and wheeze.
The link between heart disease and any allergies (seasonal allergies) was first discovered by Dr. Jongoh Kim, a researcher at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Kim and his team used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1988 and 1994 to pull data and better understand how allergies and heart disease are connected. The team found that those who suffer from allergies during certain times of the year also suffer from heart disease at an increased rate compared to people without allergies.
Across the collected data, six percent of adults suffered from heart disease. However, of those surveyed who recorded wheezing, a common allergy symptom, 13 percent had some form of heart disease. Additionally, the risk for heart disease more than doubled when other risk factors, such as asthma, were calculated in.
Kim concluded that allergies affecting the lungs could eventually lead to heart disease. He suggested that the intermittent inflammation created by allergies could result in the thickening of artery walls, which could then lead to heart disease.
One theory for the possible link between heart attack and allergies is that the inflammatory response that comes with allergies could potentially lead to a thickening of the artery walls, eventually leading to heart disease.
Over-the-counter allergy medications can also help reduce symptoms, but if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure, be cautious. The American Heart Association suggests using antihistamines for allergies instead of a decongestant. You should also check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications for allergies.
