Allergy season is in full swing, leaving millions of us sneezing and sniffling. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: New York City allergist Jennifer Collins, M.D., estimates more than 1 in 4 women with allergies don’t know they have them, as symptoms often don’t appear until later in life. “Allergies are becoming increasingly common for reasons we don’t fully understand. In fact, many of my female patients think their allergy symptoms, like fatigue and fog, are just part of daily stress.” When allergies are diagnosed, many women reach for antihistamines. But the medications may also cause weight gain. A Texas A&M study found that children taking allergy meds had a higher body mass index, and Yale researchers found that people who used prescription antihistamines to relieve allergy symptoms were more likely than non-users to carry excess pounds.
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