Episode 74: The Allergic Triad: How to Deal With Allergies, Asthma and Eczema in Moms and Kids

In this episode, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Toni discuss the atopic triad of allergy, asthma and eczema that both perimenopausal moms and their kids can experience. Find out what you can do to prevent and treat these inflammatory issues today. We also uncover why hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause can trigger things such as hives. What is an allergy? Hypersensitivity disorder of your immune system, where you react to normally harmless substances in the environment that most people won’t react to. Allergic symptoms include: Itchy, watery, red eyes Runny nose Sneezing Headache or pressure in sinuses Itchy throat Postnasal drip Constant clearing of throat More serious symptoms include: Eczema - inflammatory skin condition Asthma - immune reactivity and inflammation in airways causing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath Hives and anaphylaxis The prevalence of allergic symptoms is increasing! Allergic rhinitis, including runny nose, dark circles under eyes and throat clearing, affects as many as 40% of kids in US CDC reported food allergies increased by 18% in US since 1990s Eczema affects about 1 in 5 kids in US, with rates tripled in past 3 decades Asthma affects at least 1 in 8 kids in US, with rates tripled between 1980 and 2008 Increased immune system reactivity causes may include: * Hygiene Hypothesis or Microbiome Disruption* Your immune system needs to learn to respond to components in dirt and soil* Babies born by C section are 5x more likely to develop allergies than vaginal birth, since they are not exposed to mom’s vaginal microbiome* Also influenced with breastfeeding* Good bacteria are needed for “oral tolerance” and immune tolerance, so you are less reactive to foods and environmental allergens* Reduced gut flora diversity linked with increased risk of eczema, damage to gut lining allows foreign particles to trigger more immune reactions since more than half of your immune system is found along your gut - see Episode 8* Germ phobia can make kids more allergic* Insufficient micronutrient and antioxidant intake* Environmental pollution and compromised liver detoxification pathways * Liver filters all the blood in the body from the digestive system and removes toxins, allergens, hormones, chemicals, drugs, etc.* Your liver contains the Reticuloendothelial System (RES) containing immune cells that remove antigens from the digestive system* If overworked with high levels of chemicals and pollution, your liver will not be able to remove allergens appropriately - see Episode 33* Stress and adrenal function* Adrenal glands produce stress hormone cortisol, which is needed for an appropriate immune response* If overstressed or burnt out, you produce less cortisol resulting in more inflammation - for more info, see Episode 24* Genetics* Can be modified by environmental factors* Just because your parents suffer from allergies doesn’t mean you have to!