The Role of Hormones in Allergies and Why Symptoms Change Over Time

The Role of Hormones in Allergies and Why Symptoms Change Over Time

Getting older is both liberating and maddening. You’ve suddenly developed year-round allergies with the other changes menopause brings. Sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes drive you crazy almost every day.

Maybe you’re pregnant and have never had a single sniffle as trees and flowers bloom each spring, but your pregnancy seems to have triggered a barrage of allergies to every plant you see. It’s not just plant pollen. Skincare products you’ve always used trigger frustratingly itchy rashes.

Hormones play an important role in allergies. It’s not unusual to suddenly find yourself dealing with allergies for the first time or experiencing changes in how allergens affect you. Learn why that happens and what you can do about it with Premium Allergy‘s insights.

Hormonal Changes in Your Adult Years

Hormone production takes place in the organs and tissues of your endocrine system. As you get older, some hormone levels decrease while others increase. The organs that produce hormones may be affected by the production rates of other hormones, leading to concerning health issues.

1. Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands near your kidneys produce three hormones:

• Aldosterone – Keeps electrolytes and fluid levels balanced.
• Cortisol – Handles the stress response, which helps regulate how fat, glucose, and protein are broken down. It also manages inflammation.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – Helps with sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone) production.

2. Hypothalamus

The brain’s hypothalamus produces hormones that influence how other parts of the endocrine system function. While the hypothalamus releases the same amount of hormone, tissues in other areas of the body may not regulate hormones the same way as before.

3. Pancreas

Your body uses insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy. As you age, the insulin produced in the pancreas may not be used properly. Cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.

4. Pituitary Gland

Take the pituitary gland, for example. It grows throughout part of your adult life, but in middle age, it begins to shrink. This affects how much hormone it can store. The back of the pituitary gland stores hormones required by the hypothalamus, while the front part stores hormones used by the adrenal gland, breasts, ovaries, testes, and thyroid.

5. Thyroid

The thyroid produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. Thyroid production remains consistent, but your metabolism begins to slow down starting in your 20s. When the thyroid doesn’t metabolize thyroid hormones as quickly as they are produced, it can lead to abnormal thyroid function, increasing the risk of health issues such as arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and tachycardia.

Surrounding the thyroid are four small glands called the parathyroid glands. They regulate calcium and phosphate levels. When the parathyroid hormone levels rise too much as you age, it can weaken bones and lead to osteoporosis.

Understanding the Relationship Between Hormones and Immunity

Cortisol is an important hormone when it comes to allergies. The “stress response” hormone is both anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy. Cortisol levels decline with age, so you lose some of the protection from inflammation and allergies.

Different sex hormones and cortisol affect immune cell function. Here’s a summary of their roles in your immune system.

• Cortisol helps reduce or suppress inflammation, but chronic stress can weaken the immune system and cause inflammation.
• Estrogen helps increase the immune response, but it also increases the risk of autoimmune conditions.
• Progesterone suppresses your immune response, regulating your immune activity.
• Testosterone suppresses your immune system, lowering inflammation and immune response.

When a woman’s hormone levels change during pregnancy or menopause, inflammation also changes. This makes you more susceptible to infection. 

During pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed by increased progesterone, which is why allergies may impact you more. After childbirth, the allergies you experienced may ease as hormone levels return to normal.

Men find that testosterone production decreases with age, usually around age 40. As this happens, muscle mass and energy decrease while body fat and emotional changes, such as depression, increase. Men sometimes find that lower testosterone helps ease severe allergies.

Why Allergy Symptoms Change as You Age

Allergies occur when an allergen enters your body through the air you breathe, something you eat, or something your skin comes into contact with. Your immune system contains these lymphoid organs:

• Adenoids
• Appendix
• Blood vessels
• Bone marrow
• Lymph nodes
• Lymphatic vessels
• Lymphoid tissue in the small intestine
• Spleen
• Thymus

These organs affect your growth and development. They are also tasked with releasing white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Some of these lymphocytes, specifically the B cells, produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

When your immune system detects something in the body that shouldn’t be, it sends white cells to wage war against that invader by releasing IgE antibodies and alerting mast cells to the invasion. Mast cells then release histamine, which triggers the inflammatory response that causes the sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and watery, itchy eyes.

If the allergen is a food or insect sting/bite, the histamine response may cause swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat. Skin allergies (contact dermatitis) cause a red, itchy rash. Allergy medications, such as antihistamines, offer temporary relief in some cases. Food or insect allergies may require an EPI-PEN if there’s a serious reaction.

Hormonal changes as you age impact your immune system. Cortisol levels also increase with age, and that means your body continually experiences chronic stress. This places an older body under continuous strain on the immune system. It’s more prevalent in women than men, especially as estrogen declines with menopause.

At the same time, thyroid hormones also change after 50 for women and 60 for men. This also shifts allergy symptoms, making them feel more severe or leading to new allergies appearing later in life.

Tips for Mitigating Worsening Symptoms

Whether you’re experiencing allergy symptoms for the first time or not getting the same relief from allergy medications as before, you can make lifestyle changes or try newer allergy treatments. You don’t have to suffer in silence.

• Avoid opening a window when air quality is poor or pollen counts are high.
• Keep humidity levels between 35% to 45% to prevent mold and kill dust mites.
• Run air purifiers in your home.
• Swap carpeting for wood flooring, or make sure you steam clean your carpets regularly.
• Take a shower after spending time outside.
• Wash clothing that’s worn outside.
• Washing bedding every month or two to get rid of dust mites.
• Wear an N95 mask if you have to go outside when pollen counts are high or air quality is poor.

Most importantly, see an allergist and get a professional diagnosis. Once you know your exact allergens, allergy shots or sublingual treatments help your body build a healthy response to exposure. 

Your Fresno allergy doctor goes over the best allergy medications to use while your body adjusts through regular immunotherapy treatments. With time, you’ll be free of the allergy symptoms that make it hard to get through the day. Book an appointment online with Premium Allergy & Respiratory Center today.