Good question
Good question! In this section PlusOnline goes in search of answers to nagging questions. This Time: Could You Be Allergic to Exercise?
It probably sounds a little crazy, but you can really be allergic to exercise. This is called exercise anaphylaxis, also known as exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA).
Allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that occurs when you come into contact with an allergen: that which you are allergic to. The allergy cells in your body then release a lot of histamines, so that your body is, as it were, ‘attacked’ by inflamed cells.
Exercise Anaphylaxis
In exercise-dependent anaphylaxis, your body reacts strongly to exercise, which makes you allergic to exercise or sports. The reaction can occur with or without a food allergy. Exercise anaphylaxis is a rare condition with little research. The condition has only been known since 1979. It is estimated that only eight and a half thousand Dutch (50 out of a hundred thousand) suffer from it.
Symptoms
The symptoms can vary from person to person, making it difficult to notice that you have exercise-induced anaphylaxis. According to Gerardo Miranda-Comas, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (NYC). “They can be as harmless as flushing, fatigue, or itching, or more serious, such as tightness, swollen throat, high blood pressure (hypertension), or acute heart problems,” he says.
Causes
A hypothesis from an earlier study is that it occurs when someone is already allergic to something, for example certain foods, and then makes physical exertion. You can then get an allergic reaction after a fitness training, because you have eaten peanuts before the training, for example. The physical exertion then reinforces the reaction of the food allergy.
According to allergist and immunologist Dr. Purvi Parikh, of NYU Langone Health, exercise anaphylaxis can also occur when a person does not have a food allergy: “One can normally eat certain foods without any problems, but once they exercise with these foods in their system they can suddenly get a response.”
Another hypothesis is that exercise increases blood pressure, which can trigger an allergic reaction. Other factors such as medication, temperature and hormones could also play a role. More research needs to be done to clarify.
Do you suspect that you suffer from exercise anaphylaxis? Stop exercising immediately and contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Do you also have a good question? Send us a mail.
