There are some illnesses that can simply be a tough case to solve, often leaving people bouncing from specialist to specialist to determine the cause. In some cases, allergy might be the key to finding a treatment that really works.
In this blog, learn how Irritable Bowel Syndrome, heartburn and headaches can be brought on by allergy, and how treating the underlying allergy may help.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that’s rarely addressed at the root cause. From an allergic perspective, we know the best way to treat a condition holistically is to determine the cause and treat at that point. For 20-65% of those who experience IBS, an underlying allergy – food and/or environmental – can be identified as a root cause.
During your environmental allergy season (i.e. ragweed, grass, tree), traditional allergy symptoms begin when you inhale your problematic allergens. Dr. George Kroker, a co-author of the La Crosse Method Protocol, explains that inhaling these irritants can cause seasonal irritation in the bowel, too. If you experience IBS during a certain time of year, you might consider whether your environmental allergies are a missing link.
Dr. Kroker says that food allergies can cause IBS symptoms, too. When food allergy is the cause, he notes that patients can experience additional symptoms beyond the typical IBS symptoms – including moodiness, fatigue, phlegm or mucus accumulation, and headaches.
If you’re struggling to find relief from IBS, meeting with an allergy provider may be a good option.
Heartburn
In some cases, antacids may not do the trick for heartburn. Heartburn has an allergic connection through a condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). EoE is a buildup of white blood cells (called eosinophils) in the esophagus that can gather due to allergy – often mimicking heartburn symptoms.
Those with EoE learn that typical heartburn treatment doesn’t help the burning and discomfort. An allergist could determine which allergens are ultimately causing this build up and create a treatment plan to help you eliminate exposure and build allergen tolerance to avoid long-term heartburn.
Headaches
Food and environmental allergies can cause headaches – another commonly unknown allergic symptom.
When you think about inflammation and congestion that accompany seasonal allergies, it’s no surprise that headaches could be a tag-along symptom. When the sinus cavity is blocked because of allergy, fluid and pressure can build, causing sinus pressure, facial pain, and headaches.
Additionally, three percent of headache sufferers attribute a food as a cause. Those with chronic migraines may find a reduction in headache days after treating the cause of the offending food allergen, as explained in this previous blog.
Find care near you
If these conditions and their potential causes ring a bell for you, you may ask your provider how allergy could be playing a role. We can share details about providing allergy testing and treatment using personalized allergy drop immunotherapy, or help you find a provider near you already offering allergy treatment following the La Crosse Method™ Protocol.