Why Your Allergies Are Suddenly Worse in Your 40s (Perimenopause & Hormones) | Allergy Actually

Did Your Allergies Come Back in Your 40s? It Might Be Your Hormones.

Did your allergies suddenly get worse (or appear out of nowhere) in your 30s or 40s? Do your allergy or asthma symptoms seem to flare at certain times of the month? You’re not losing it—it’s in your hormones AND your immune system!

In this eye-opening episode of Allergy Actually, your bestie allergist moms – Dr. Kara Wada, Dr. Amber Patterson, and Dr. Meagan Shepherd – are having the conversation no one else is: the powerful link between hormonal shifts and allergic diseases.

They dive deep into how the rollercoaster of perimenopause, puberty, and pregnancy can put your allergy cells on high alert. Learn how estrogen can act as the "gas pedal" for inflammation and progesterone as the "brake," and what happens when that balance is disrupted. From new-onset asthma to increased reactivity, this episode is a validating and empowering guide for women at every stage of life.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why perimenopause can trigger new or worsening allergies, asthma, and mast cell symptoms.
The science behind how hormones (estrogen and progesterone) directly impact your allergy cells.
The "Rule of Thirds": how conditions like asthma and autoimmune diseases can change during pregnancy.
Why puberty is another key time for allergic conditions to shift, and why allergists should be re-evaluating at this stage.
Why your symptoms, not lab tests, are the key to diagnosing perimenopause.
Practical, low-hanging fruit and lifestyle changes (like an anti-inflammatory diet and stress reduction) to help manage symptoms.
How treating one layer of inflammation (like allergies) can free up bandwidth to address others.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE
00:00 Intro
00:32 New Allergies in Your 40s? You're Not Alone
02:35 Why Symptoms (Not Labs) are Key for Perimenopause
05:12 The Science: Estrogen 'Gas Pedal' & Progesterone 'Brake'
07:40 How Puberty & Pregnancy Change Allergies & Asthma
12:43 Practical & Lifestyle Tips for Managing Hormonal Flares
14:32 The Domino Effect: How Treating Allergies Helps Everything Else

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ABOUT HOSTS
KARA WADA, MD
Dr. Kara Wada is a quadruple board-certified physician in allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine, and founder of the Immune Confident Institute. As a Sjogren’s patient and life coach, she combines modern medicine with lifestyle and mindset practices to help patients harness their body's ability to heal.
Website → https://drkarawada.com/
LinkedIn →   / karawadamd  
Instagram →   / immuneconfidentmd  
Facebook →   / karawadamd  
Youtube →    / @drkarawada  
TikTok →   / immuneconfidentmd  

AMBER PATTERSON, MD
Dr. Amber Patterson is a world-renowned allergy and immunology expert pioneering the future of immunotherapy. As the U.S. ambassador for ILIT™ (a 3-injection allergy shot protocol), she is redefining allergy care through her practice, Auni Allergy®, and the groundbreaking Auni ILIT Learning Network.
Website → https://auniallergy.com/
Instagram →   / auniallergy  
Instagram →   / amber_patterson_md  
Facebook →   / auniallergy  
Youtube →    / @auniallergy  

MEAGAN SHEPHERD, MD
Dr. Meagan Shepherd is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with nearly 15 years of experience specializing in advanced immunotherapy. She is known for her practical, evidence-based approach and her unique focus on "allergy-conscious living"—designing homes, habits, and lifestyles that improve her patients' quality of life.
Website → https://shepherdallergy.com/
LinkedIn →   / meagan-shepherd-md-02b7776a  
Instagram →   / shepherdallergy  
Facebook →   / shepherdallergy  

DISCLAIMER
The information in this podcast/video is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.