Are you allergic to exercise?

19th February 2019

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'Allergic to exercise', the term might sound uncanny to you, but this is actually a thing. It is true that some people are actually allergic to exercise and in a special case, a sweaty workout can even kill them. The condition is called exercise-induced anaphylaxis, which can cause hives, fainting, vomiting and even difficulty in breathing. What is exercise-induced anaphylaxis? EIA or exercise-induced anaphylaxis was first described in 1979. This condition affects nearly 2% of the entire population. It happens mostly after an intense physical activity like jogging, dancing and bicycling. At times, this can also be triggered by the food you eat before your workout session.
Allergy to exercise is partially similar to other allergies and differs from person to person. When a person suffers from an allergic reaction, their immune system makes antibodies, which is a type of protein present in the blood that fights bacteria and foreign food items. Similarly, when someone with EIA exercises, antibodies are produced even though they aren't needed.

These antibodies produce different immune system chemicals which cause allergy symptoms.

Prevention

Sadly the only way to prevent EIA is by doing lower intensity exercises or by changing the type of exercise you follow. You can also try swimming because till now this physical activity has not been linked with EIA. In case you feel that certain foods lead to this medical condition then do not eat anything six to eight hours before exercising. Also, avoid to workout in extreme weather condition.

Source: indiatimes.com