Seasonal Allergies & Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Part Four in Our Seasonal Allergy Blog Series

As part of our Seasonal Allergy Blog Series, we’ve already talked about mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), histamine intolerance, and dysbiosis in the gut as potential root causes of seasonal allergy symptoms. Our fourth post in the series discusses one of our favorite topics as a potential root cause of seasonal allergies: autoimmune thyroid disease.

Also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroid disease affects about 1.5 percent of the general population. As an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, resulting in a wide range of symptoms such as brain fog, constipation, fatigue, aches and pains, and hair loss or thinning. Many individuals with Hashimoto’s disease also experience seasonal allergies and sensitivities to other potential allergens such as mold and mycotoxins; wheat, gluten, dairy, and soy; and various environmental toxins.

As the fourth installment in our Seasonal Allergy Blog Series, this article discusses the link between seasonal allergies and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — and what you can do to alleviate your symptoms during allergy season.

Autoimmunity & Seasonal Allergies: What Research Tells Us

To explore the relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and seasonal allergies, researchers at Tepecik Training and Research Hospital in Turkey studied the incidence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 700 healthy controls and 1,239 patients with allergic rhinitis. Of the participants with seasonal allergies, 83.7 percent had normal thyroid function, 13.8 percent had Hashimoto’s disease with normal thyroid function (euthyroid), and 2.5 percent had Hashimoto’s with low thyroid function (hypothyroid).

The researchers concluded that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was present in 16.3 percent of their seasonal allergy patients, though Grave’s disease (the autoimmune condition that can cause an overactive thyroid gland/hyperthyroidism) was not found. Since autoimmune thyroid disease affects just 1.5 percent of people, this finding is pretty significant!

An earlier study published in Thyroid® found that individuals with Graves’ disease were 42.9 percent more likely to experience seasonal allergies than the general population. However, the study only looked at Japanese cedar pollen as a seasonal allergen.

Another study linked respiratory and food allergens to both Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s — finding that allergic rhinitis was more common among those with Hashimoto’s, and allergic conjunctivitis was more frequent in Graves’ patients. Furthermore, those with Hashimoto’s were more likely to have allergies to dust mites, while those with Grave’s were more likely to have allergies to tree and weed allergens (e.g. alder, birch, hazel, ragweed, and grass).

What You Can Do Today to Reduce Your Allergy Symptoms

The three studies referenced above tell us a few things about autoimmune thyroid disease and seasonal allergies:

Allergies are common among those with autoimmune thyroid disease.
Allergic rhinitis is a common allergy symptom among those with Hashimoto’s, while allergic conjunctivitis is more frequent among Grave’s patients.
Compared to those with Graves’ disease, patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are more likely to react to dust mites.
Other common allergens among those with autoimmune thyroid disease include tree allergens (such as alder, birch, and hazel), weed allergens (including mugwort, plantain, and ragweed), grass mixtures, molds, and household pet allergens (e.g. dog and cat dander).

With this information in mind, you’re probably wondering what you can do to alleviate your troublesome allergy symptoms, reduce household dust, and avoid potential triggers during allergy season.

As a few options, we recommend taking steps to improve your indoor air quality (we love using the AirDoctor™️ household air purifier), dusting and cleaning your home regularly with non-toxic cleaners, and vacuuming your home often with a true HEPA vacuum cleaner. Bagged vacuums with HEPA filters are best for those with allergies and complex chronic conditions (including mold illness and allergic rhinitis).

During allergy season, you’ll also avoid tracking allergens inside your home by removing your shoes at the door and changing into clean clothes after spending time outdoors. If you live with pets, be sure to groom them outdoors whenever possible and wash their bedding often!

Avoiding food allergies and sensitivities, eating a nutritious diet, getting quality sleep, and protecting your thyroid can also ease symptoms associated with autoimmune thyroid disease and potentially reduce allergy symptoms as well. Finding your root cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is just as important as finding your seasonal allergy root cause, as potential causes of autoimmune thyroid disease include everything from nutrient deficiencies and food sensitivities to dental issues and tick bites.

The Doctor-Coach Model Can Help

As you work to get to the root cause of your seasonal allergies (or perennial allergies), booking a call for our Vital You or Vital Basics Method™ is another great option for those with complex chronic conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Book a call today and learn how Dr. Fox and I can help you to heal from complex chronic illness.

Are you ready to find your root cause of autoimmune thyroid disease or another complex chronic illness? Book a call for our Vital Basics Method™ or Vital You program to learn how functional medicine coaching can help you every step of the way!

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