How To Find Out If You Have An Allergy #AD

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Sometimes we find that we cannot eat what we used to before or even wear what we used to before. Things we are so used to suddenly irritate us and make us feel ill and we can’t quite work out what is causing these problems.

Allergies can range from the mildest of reactions to quite severe reactions that may require urgent medical treatment. Whilst it is always advisable to speak to a health professional if you are having a severe reaction so that you can distinguish what the problem is and get medication for it if needed, there are other ways to initally find out.

Allergy testing is a great way to find out exactly what you are allergic to. Obviously you can request testing from your GP. However it can take many months before getting even an initial assessment never mind to the testing stage.  

If you would like to try for a much speedier answer you can order a home allergy test and you can easily discover what your body is reacting to while sat at home. If you are suffering with symptoms of an allergy but aren’t sure if it is one, then this has to be the perfect way to find out what’s going on.

Not only do these tests test for hundreds of allergens but they also offer comprehensive and reliable results within 2 weeks. All that you are required to do is give a small blood sample and get it sent to the partner lab for analysis. Of course, once you get your results, you should consult a GP for advice on any follow up actions and treatment and don’t forget for acute reactions your GP must be your first port of call.

How Will I Know If I Have An Allergy?

There are plenty of telltale signs of allergy – if you think you might be experiencing any allergy symptoms, then be sure to keep an eye out for them. These include itchy or watery eyes, sneezing on a more regular basis than normal and potentially a blocked nose. There may also be slight problems when eating certain foods. A doctor would usually send your for a blood test as a first step so if you don’t want to bother health professionals right now, an at home test might be the one for you.

How Do These Tests Work?

A small amount of your blood is sent to a lab for analysis. These tests can detect something in your blood that is called IgE (or immunoglobulin). This is an antibody which the immune system produces in connection with a reaction to protect the human body from outside intruders.

If you are allergic to something, this will make the immune system produce these antibodies specific to that allergen and these antibodies tell the cells in the body to release certain chemicals – these are what cause the symptoms. The different levels of IgE antibodies in your blood identify what your allergen is. 

There is more information available about allergy blood tests here.

What Do I Do Once My Results Are Back?

If you receive your results back and no allergens are identified, then great! You may still want to consult with a doctor about your symptoms but you can be safe in the knowledge that you haven’t got an allergy like you thought.

If you have found out that you have got an allergy to something, then consult your doctor for a plan of action following up on this allergen diagnosis and to perhaps talk about medical treatment going forward. 

Are you allergic to anything?