Top Benefits of Allergy Immunotherapy: More Than Just Symptom Relief

Allergy immunotherapy is more than symptom relief. While its ability to provide relief from annoying and uncomfortable symptoms is undoubtedly beneficial, it offers more than that. The improvements in your symptoms can echo through other parts of your life, improving everything from the quality of your sleep to your social life. 

So, if you’re considering allergy immunotherapy, here are a few benefits you may enjoy throughout the process. 

What is Allergy Immunotherapy?

Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is a treatment that helps desensitize your body to a particular allergen. It works to achieve an allergen-specific tolerance by repeatedly exposing your body to that allergen. 

The doses of allergy immunotherapy, delivered via drops under your tongue or an injection under your skin, contain small amounts of the allergen. This exposes your immune system to the allergen, giving it the opportunity to build an allergen-specific tolerance. 

The process takes time, usually requiring at least a year before you begin to notice the early improvements. The best results usually show up in years two and three. 

Symptom Relief and More: What Immunotherapy Offers

Allergy immunotherapy can be incredibly beneficial. It offers much more than symptom relief, providing improvements that affect everything from the quality of your sleep to your social life. The most notable benefits include:

Reduced Allergy Symptoms

Allergy immunotherapy is best known for its ability to dramatically reduce allergy symptoms. Some people can even be exposed to the allergen they’re allergic to with little to no reaction. The results can be incredibly impressive, but of course, yours will depend on how your body responds to treatment. 

New Allergy Prevention

Allergy immunotherapy actually changes your immune system. It can help prevent the development of new allergies and asthma, potentially saving you from all sorts of annoying and uncomfortable symptoms down the road. 

In children, it can prevent the progression of allergic diseases from allergic rhinitis to asthma! So, if your kiddo has allergies, allergy immunotherapy is well worth considering.

Decreased Dependency on Medications 

If you or your child deal with allergies, you’re probably all too familiar with the standard allergy meds. Decongestants, antihistamines, corticosteroids—they’re all staples for treating allergies. Unfortunately, their effects only last between 24 and 48 hours (sometimes a little longer, depending on which you choose). 

This creates a vicious cycle, requiring a level of dependency on the medications to prevent the recurrence of symptoms. You might find yourself regularly reaching for allergy meds, taking them like clockwork as the effects wear off. 

That’s where allergy immunotherapy really sparkles. Since it can dramatically reduce allergic symptoms, it can also significantly reduce your dependency on medications. You might not need to take any allergy meds to stay comfortable, and if you do, it will likely be far less frequent than before. 

This not only saves money that you would’ve otherwise spent on a never-ending supply of allergy meds but also helps you stay more comfortable, even when exposed to the allergen. 

Mental Health Benefits

Allergies can take a toll on your mental health. Researchers have uncovered a definitive link between allergies and mental health. Those with seasonal allergies, for example, are associated with various psychiatric problems, including a higher chance of developing a mood, anxiety, or eating disorder. 

People with food allergies have higher chances of experiencing mental health disorders, such as anxiety and panic disorders. Those with year-round allergies are more prone to experiencing anxiety and depression. 

The connection stems from a handful of mechanisms, but inflammation is the biggest one. An allergy causes an inflammatory response in your body. The very same inflammatory response has been connected to different mental health issues, as it can affect your brain’s function, limiting the production of serotonin. 

It further impacts your mental health by releasing histamine, which affects various brain functions, including those surrounding your sleep and mood. It can also cause sleep disturbances, and if you’re not getting good sleep, both your mental and physical health can suffer. 

It’s an interconnected web of issues, all stemming from the allergic response an allergy causes. So, when you begin to desensitize your body to the allergen using allergy immunotherapy, you may find that your mental health improves. Of course, allergy immunotherapy isn’t a cure, but it can make a huge difference in how you feel mentally. 

Sleep Improvements

Sleeping with a runny nose, itchy eyes, and scratchy throat can be tricky. Add incessant coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing to the mix, and sleeping becomes nearly impossible. A lack of sleep is a major issue, especially if the problem persists for days, weeks, or even months on end.

Sleep deprivation and deficiency put you at a higher risk of various health problems. It has been linked to things like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, and obesity. It’s even connected to a higher chance of injury. 

While allergy treatments can offer temporary relief, allergy immunotherapy can offer long-term improvements. Over time, you may begin to notice that you sleep better, especially as your symptoms start to ebb and become less noticeable. 

Positive Social Impact 

Allergies can put a damper on your social life, especially if you’re allergic to something like pollen or pet dander. You may be unable to go outside during the spring to hang out with your friends and family. Or, you might be unable to visit your friend’s house since they have a dog or cat. 

With allergy immunotherapy, you may find that you can enjoy those experiences and places once again. The treatment can dramatically reduce your symptoms, potentially allowing you to enjoy the places and experiences you previously couldn’t without experiencing significant symptoms. 

AIT Benefits: In a Nutshell

The benefits of allergy immunotherapy are far-reaching. It offers more than decreased symptoms. It can improve everything from your sleep to your social life to your mental health. While the improvements won’t happen overnight, for many, they’re well worth the time and effort it takes. 

If you’re considering allergy immunotherapy, remember to chat with your healthcare provider first. They can help you select the treatment that best suits your needs, budget, preferences, and medical history.