
Allergy meds may increase your recovery time
In addition to causing overheating, some antihistamines have been shown to impact your body’s ability to recover after a rigorous workout. For example, a study from 2016 found that the antihistamine fexofenadine (Allegra) blocks the genes that help increase blood flow to the muscles after exercise. This blood flow is vital for muscles to recover, and consistent training will help muscles grow stronger. So, while antihistamines might mean less muscle soreness and weakness the day after hitting the gym, they may also reduce the long-term benefits of your workout. The study also found that the use of antihistamines before working out could dampen improvements in resting heart rate that usually results from regular aerobic exercise.