Spring is in full swing – which means that allergy season has arrived in full force for many in Manitoba. Just like many other facets of our lives, the pandemic has had a long-term impact on allergies. Over-the-counter allergy medicine demand in Canada has grown by 14 per cent in the last two years, indicating that the pandemic's ongoing stress may be affecting allergies. While I can't take your stress away, as a pharmacist, I can help you get through allergy season by helping you manage your specific allergy symptoms.
The last two years have been difficult — one-quarter of Canadians report high levels of stress on most days, and almost half report that their stress levels are worse than before the pandemic. According to research, stress hormones can amplify the already excessive immune system response to allergens, resulting in more frequent and severe allergy flare-ups.