Tag Archives: allergy testing

Food Allergy or Food Intolerance? Compared symptoms and Differences

A food allergy occurs when your system reacts to food ingested and triggering a protective response. The allergy can develop from any age with the reaction being mild to severe. According to research, 10 % of the population suffers from food allergy and the numbers keep on increasing. In this post, we highlight some of the most common signs of allergy and how to differentiate between food intolerance and food allergy and the treatment of food allergy. It’s important however that you consult the allergy doctor on the best way to overcome the allergies. Before we dive into the article we differentiate between food intolerance and food allergy

  • Food Intolerance

This is the difficulty in digesting certain foods without triggering any reaction from the immune system and there is no histamine response.

  • Food allergy, on the other hand, causes immune system reaction and histamine response.

It may be hard to tell food intolerance and allergy are hard to tell apart and it’s important that you visit the allergy clinic for the allergy doctor to do allergy testing to determine whether its an allergy or intolerance.

How to differentiate between food allergies and intolerance

  • Food allergy is sudden as compared to intolerance which is gradual
  • Food allergy results from the small number of foods
  • Allergy can be life-threatening and happens every time you eat as compared to food intolerance which is not life-threatening and results if you eat the food often.

Foods that cause Most of the Allergy

  • Milk and Eggs
  • Peanuts and seafood
  • Tree nuts

Symptoms that result from both food intolerance and food allergy

  • Nausea and stomach pains
  • Diarrhea and vomiting
  • Signs of Food intolerance
  • Heart Burn, gas and bloating
  • Headaches and irritability

Signs of Food Intolerance

  • Bloating and nausea
  • Headaches and migraines
  • stomach ache and irritable bowel
  • Feeling under the weather

Above are the most common signs of food intolerance, and below some food that causes intolerance

  • Lactose and wheat
  • Gluten and caffeine
  • Food additives such as flavors

Before you give up on the above food, see a doctor who will diagnose and confirm the cause of the intolerance. Remove the food that causes the intolerance from your diet and supplements the foods.

Sign of Food Allergies

  • Wheezing

Wheezing after eating certain foods signifies a narrowing of the airwaves and an allergic reaction to the food. Wheezing can be fatal and its therefore important that you see the allergy physician for treatment.

  • Hives and Redness

Are you breaking out in hives? or itch? Then it’s possible that you have a food allergy. Hives cause a red rash that is raised on the skin. On its own hives or itch may not be harmful but if it involves difficulty in breathing then you need to see an allergy specialist immediately.

  • Dizziness

After eating food if you feel dizzy, weak or lightheaded that could mean you are exposed to allergens. Dizziness could be an early sign of anaphylactic and it’s important that you visit an allergy clinic for tests and treatment.

  • Intestinal Discomfort

A food allergy could cause stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting and you should see the best allergist for diagnosis.

  • Sneezing and Itching

Although sneezing is mostly associated with hay fever, it can result from food allergies.

How to Prevent Food Allergies
  • Learn which foods cause the allergy and avoid the food.
  • When you visit a hotel, find out how the food is made and verify whether the food contains any allergens.
  • Look at the food labels and check the ingredients in the food at the supermarket
  • Avoid products with labels for you’re the specific allergen that is affecting you
  • Plan before traveling, plan your meals and carry food with that has no allergens
  • Supplement the foods you are allergic to as that will ensure that you remain healthy.

 

There is no cure for food allergies and it’s therefore important that you manage the condition. Pursue a plan on how to identify allergens. An elimination diet will help you pinpoint the food allergens that you are allergic to and help reduce the allergy symptoms. Work with the allergy physician to come up with a written diet plan and follow it diligently. If the symptoms persist make sure you consult your allergist Manassas.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Drug Allergy

Different people react differently to medicine, one person will have a severe reaction, while the other person does not react to the same medicine. Most medications have side effects, but only a small percentage of the reaction is a drug allergy. Differentiating between side effects and allergies is essential. Drug allergy can be mild or life-threatening cases, and it’s, therefore, crucial to follow the prescription as advised by the doctor.

Signs of Drug Allergies

If you experience any of the below allergies, ensure you visit your allergist for a check-up

  • Hives or skin rashes
  • Wheezing and breathing problems
  • Itching and swelling
  • Anaphylaxis which may result in shock if severe. In case you experience severe allergic reactions to more than one body, immediately consult an allergy physician.

Drugs that cause most allergic reactions

  • Antibiotics that contain sulfamides
  • Anti-inflammatory medications such ibuprofen, and medications such as aspirins
  • Chemotherapy drugs
  • Anticonvulsants

How to Diagnose drug allergy

Before the doctor takes the allergy test, he will seek to know the following

  • How long you have had the allergy reaction
  • Description of the symptoms and when they began
  • All the medication that has been taken

To precisely differentiate between side effects and drug allergies, the following test can be done

  • Skin Test

The test will mostly show penicillin allergy

  • Blood test

The allergy doctor may order for a blood test to rule out any other cause of the reaction other than the drugs. Although this test is rarely used to test allergies because their accuracy is unknown

  • Drug Challenge

The process involves ruling out which drug is causing the reaction out of the all the drug one is taking. The doctor will inject a small amount of the medications you are taking to help rule out any other

Drug Allergy Treatment

Treatment for drug allergy will include the following

  • Treatment for the drug allergy one is currently facing
  • Medications to enable you to take the drug causing an allergy if it’s vital for your well-being, and there is no better supplement

Treatment of symptoms one is currently facing will involve

  • Withdrawal of the drug causing allergy

The allergy physician will prescribe a different drug and withdraw the one causing the allergy

  •  Medication

Antihistamines

The  allergy doctor will prescribe an antihistamine to treat the allergy symptoms

Ora or injection of corticosteroids will treat more severe inflammations

Treatment for drugs that one must take

The allergy doctor will carry out a procedure known as drug decentralization. The doctor will give you the medications in small doses until there is no more allergic reaction. If the drug causes life-threatening reactions, then the doctor will have to discontinue the medications.

Once the drug allergy reaction starts, ensure you visit an allergy clinic in va immediately for a check-up. Ensure you give a detailed description to your doctor of all the symptoms.

 

Effective ways to deal with ocular allergies

Ocular allergies tend to develop when the immune system of the body becomes sensitive and overreacts to certain elements in the environment, which might or might not be harmful to the body. As soon as the allergens come into contact with the antibodies of your eyes, the cells release histamine immediately along with other substances that make the tiny blood vessels inside the eyes leak. As a result, the eyes become red, watery and itchy. In most of the cases, the symptoms of ocular allergies are strikingly similar to many eye diseases, which make it difficult to diagnose the problem unless you opt for the specific allergy testing methods.

 Common symptoms of ocular allergies:

The most common types of eye allergies are seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis or contact allergic conjunctivitis. The symptoms of these eye allergies are often accompanied by sneezing, coughing or a runny nose which are common symptoms of nasal allergies.

The common symptoms include:

  • Burning eyes
  • Redness
  • Fluid discharge
  • Itching

What triggers eye allergies?

The common allergens which cause ocular allergies are pollens, weeds, mold, pet dander, dust mites and irritants such as perfume, smog, cigarette smoke or vehicle exhausts. People suffering from eye allergies for a prolonged period may also develop severe dark circles under their eyes. Sometimes, the eyelids become puffy and the eyes are unable to tolerate bright lights. At times the itchiness becomes so severe, that the patients are unable to stop themselves from scratching or rubbing their eyes and ultimately end up worsening up the infections.

How to deal with ocular allergies?

In order to keep ocular allergies at bay, you should avoid the allergens which trigger the problem.

  • Try to stay indoors, during the high pollen period of the day. Use HEPA efficiency air purifier and air conditioning system, in your bedroom and car.
  • Using mite-proof bedding to combat the dust mites.
  • Use a dehumidifier in your home, to restrict mold growth.
  • Wash your hands and change your clothes whenever you return home from outside or play with your pets.
  • Try to cover your eyes with high-quality sunglasses, to shield them.
Effective medications to deal with emergency situations:

Whenever there is an emergency situation, but you are unable to visit the allergy clinic to get hold of the allergy shots or immunotherapy, or the eye drops you may try out these simple yet effective medicines, which are readily sold in the medical stores without any prescription.

  1. Decongestant eye drops
  2. Artificial tears
  3. The antihistamines

However, it is always better to consult an eye allergy specialist doctor because, the decongestant eye drops may not work after repeated usage or the antihistamines might dry up your eyes excessively, leading to other problems.

Asthma Treatments And Other Ways Of Managing Asthma

asthma treatments

If you have asthma you need to know how to manage it for you to live a productive life and also avoid complications. To help you out, here are tips on how to manage the condition:

Take the medications regularly

Most asthmatics make the mistake of stopping taking their asthma treatments as soon as the symptoms go away, but this shouldn’t be you. Remember that when you stop taking a given medication, you expose yourself to the condition. To be on the safe side, you need to know the controller and rescue medications.

To protect yourself, take the controller medications daily. You should take the rescue medications when the symptoms come up.

Watch the weather

You need to know how your body responds to the various weather conditions. In most people, the situation is triggered when they spend time in cold, dry air. To protect yourself, wear a scarf over your mouth and nose when you are going out in the cold.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies and are affected by high pollen and mold count, avoid going out in the middle of the day or when there is a lot of wind.

Watch the air getting in the house

The most common asthma triggers that get in the house with the air are: smoke, pollen, and polluted air. To protect yourself, watch the quality of air that you allow into the house. One of the things you should do is to install an air conditioner. You also should make a habit of keeping your house windows closed all the time, especially when there are many triggers in the air.

If insects trigger your condition, consider installing a window screen that will prevent the bugs from getting into the house.

Disinfect your home

According to allergy experts, there is a direct link between hygiene and allergy-triggering agents. If you have pests in the house, it’s only a matter of time before you develop the condition. If there are cockroaches in the house, install cockroach traps. You also should consider hiring a pest control company to help you out.

To ensure that no pests get access to your home, seal any leaks and cracks that might be in your home. Also, avoid leaving drinks, dirty plates, and food on the table.

Conclusion

These are tips on how to effectively manage asthma. Whenever you notice the symptoms, visit an allergist who will undertake a number of tests and recommend the best medications to go for.

Asthma Treatments And Other Asthma Management Methods

asthma treatment

If you have been struggling with asthma, you should know that you have the condition because your airways are more sensitive to the triggers which can be anything from dust to exercises. While there are no known asthma treatments, there are a number of things you can do to manage the condition.

How to manage asthma

The first thing you need to do to manage the disease is to know the symptoms associated with it. When you are suffering from the condition, you tend to suffer from breathlessness, wheezing, continuing cough, and a tight feeling in the chest. To manage the condition, you need to know when the condition comes about. This will help you know the triggering factors.

If you aren’t sure of the factors that cause it, visit an asthma expert to help you. Once you have known the triggers, you should avoid them as much as possible. For example, if the symptoms are heightened when the plants are pollinating, you need to avoid the pollens as much as you can. On the other hand, if you are sensitive to pet dander, you may have to get rid of the pets.

Asthma doctors have been able to show that exercise, breathing classes, and meditation classes are highly valuable in managing the condition. According to the doctors, the exercises come in handy in keeping the lungs in top shape thus reducing the highly sensitive nature.

Another way of managing the condition is making lifestyle changes in your life. You need to avoid exposing yourself to a lot of stress, deep emotional feelings, and lack of sleep. Whenever you are in stressful situations such as due to family or work, find ways of distressing.

If you have tried preventing the condition from coming about without success, you should try treating it. All you need to do is visit your allergy doctors, and the professionals will recommend the best medication. There are plenty of drugs that the doctor can give you.

The most common are reliever medications. These are short-acting bronchodilators that bring fast relief during an acute attack. The medications relax the airway muscles causing them to open; as a result the symptoms go away. You can take the medications as syrup, aerosol spray, or tablet.

Conclusion

The asthma doctors can also give you preventer medications. These are anti-inflammatory medications that prevent acute attacks. An allergist will give you the medication on its own or in combination with other long-acting bronchodilators.

Food Allergy Tips To Consider

food allergies

Food allergies can be very daunting when dealing with them and the effects range from mild to deadly effects. Allergies don’t have any cure so anyone with a food allergy must be very careful and avoid certain foods that may trigger a reaction. Below are tips to consider when dealing with a food allergy:

Tips to consider when suffering from food allergy

Always remember to carry your medication: If the doctor, for example, prescribed an emergency medication, always remember to take it with you everywhere you go so that you can be prepared when it decides to strike. You should note that different people require different types of medications. To ensure that you take the right ones, speak to your doctor.

Read labels: Many food labels nowadays contain important allergy information like whether a certain type of food was produced in a place where they process nuts or whether the additives contain any by-products of wheat or milk. Read each label every time and even if you may have purchased an item and it normally doesn’t give you any reaction, this doesn’t mean that they will always be allergy free since manufacturers tend to change their ingredients after some time thus an allergen might be part of a new creation.

Be careful when cooking: When every member of the family isn’t on an allergen free diet, you may need to be extra careful so as to avoid cross contamination, therefore it might be a good idea to always have two sets of utensils and also two sets of cooking; one for the allergic members and another for the allergy-free members. Also, remember to wash the utensils using hot water and wash thoroughly.

Know the signs and symptoms to watch out for: It is very important to know how bad a reaction might be, so watch out for any signs like itching, wheezing, swelling, vomiting, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, shock etc. This will help you be able to manage the reaction before it gets worse.

Conclusion

These are some of the tips you should consider when you are allergic to certain foods. While the allergy symptoms might seem minor at the start, they can be lethal especially when you allow them to last for a long time. Regardless of how minor the symptoms are, visit an allergy doctor who will recommend the best medications. As rule of thumb ensure that the professional is highly experienced in handling the issues.

Asthma Treatments: What You Need To Know About Asthma

asthma treatments

You are said to have asthma when the airways are always a little bit swollen. When you exercise or inhale any products that irritate the lungs, the lung muscles start tightening resulting in a plethora of symptoms that include: wheezing, coughing, and a choking sensation.

If you don’t take asthma treatments at the right time, the condition can get worse and have a difficulty breathing. There are two main types of the condition: allergic and endogenous asthma. Allergic asthma is common in children while endogenous asthma occurs in adults. In addition to the mentioned details, other things you need to know about asthma include:

Many factors trigger it

The condition comes about due to many things. Some of these things include: polluted air, dust mite, pollen, hair, pet excretions, and car fumes. The condition also comes about when you are suffering from respiratory tract infections or unhealthy lifestyles such as strenuous physical activities, depression, or emotional anxiety.

You can prevent it

Even if you are prone to the condition, you can prevent it from occurring. Some of the things you can do to keep it from coming about include:

Keep the house clean: This calls for you to do plenty of things. Some of the things you can do is to avoid carpets, pillows, and other things that can harbor dust. You also should regularly clean your clothes and place them in the wardrobe. Blinds can’t hold dust thus you should go for them instead of curtains.

Avoid polluted air: As mentioned above, the quality of the air you breathe has a great impact on whether you will develop the symptoms or not. To avoid the symptoms, be cautious of the air you take in. To ensure that you always have clean air, keep your house well ventilated. You also shouldn’t allow people to smoke in the house. Finally, avoid places with plenty of dust. These include construction sites and crowded areas.

How to keep your asthma in check

Even with the best preventative measures in place, it’s common for asthma to develop at any time. To have an easy time managing it you should always have the allergy medications with you all the time. Before you travel or change medications, visit your allergy doctor to have the condition analyzed and be given the best medication.

Conclusion

This is what you need to know about asthma. You should note that the condition is dangerous and it can lead to grave consequences if you don’t manage it at the right time.

Everything You Need To Know About Nasal Allergy

nasal allergy

Millions of people suffer from nasal allergies. The allergies affect not only the nose but the whole of your life while trying to cope up with the difficult symptoms. Luckily, there are some ways for dealing with the allergies that can improve your well-being, but also your whole quality of life. Since there is no cure for allergies, learning how to address nasal allergy can be almost as good.

Types of Nasal Allergies

The two known types of nasal allergies include seasonal and perennial. They all occur year-round and also causes the same symptoms.

  • Seasonal Allergies are also called hay fever. They are mostly caused by grass or weed pollens and occur at specific times during the year.
  •  Perennial Allergies occur all year round. They are caused by pet dander, mold spores, and cockroaches. Or, if you are allergic to dust mites that are found in your house. This type is easy to control through limiting your exposure to these triggers.

Dealing With Nasal Allergies

In addition to treatment, the best way to avoid allergies is learning how to handle them. Here are simple tips that you can follow and get help.

Remove Pollen-Producing Indoor Plants: Insects pollinate most indoor houseplants. Hence they are likely to cause hay fever through the pollen disperse. Minimize Indoor plants like trees, grasses, and shrubs in your living room.

Use hot wash to kill dust mites: The dust mite is one of the biggest causes of indoor allergies. They are tiny insects living in your bedding or stuffed animals. Consider washing all your bedding using hot water and dry them in a hot dryer to kill dust mites. Also, keep of stuffed animals near your bed and at least wash your blankets and sheets once a week.

Clean hidden sports for indoor allergy: Most preferred hiding places for dust and mold are in curtains, windows, and blinds. Poorly ventilated laundry rooms, refrigerator drain pans, basements, and old books also is a good hiding for indoor allergy culprits. Wipe down your bathroom and vacuum your floors more often. Make sure you wear a mask when cleaning.

How to Relief Your Nose Immediately

  • Flush irritants, allergens and mucus using net pot.
  • Clean your breathing passages using heat therapy.
  • Use therapeutic warming pillow to relieve pressure and sinus pain. The heat helps in loosening up the mucus.

Conclusion

Dealing with nasal allergies can be a bit tricky. The above tips will make things easier for yourself. To keep the condition in check, you should regularly visit your allergy doctor.

Facts About Food Allergy

food allergy

These days, food allergies are continuing to increase. This is partly because many people are consuming a lot of processed foods. These foods often contain additives and preservatives. As a result of this, the body will react to foreign ingredients that have been added to the food. Since this is the case, it is worth educating ourselves on the facts about food allergy. Please read on to find out what these facts are.

Fact #1: The Symptoms Of Food Allergy will Vary

These days there are many different types of food allergies. This means that the symptoms of each allergy will vary in severity. One person may have to be rushed to the hospital to receive treatment. Another may only have a small rash around their mouth, or feel a little sick in the stomach.
Be aware that the symptoms of such allergies will change with age. If you have a child with food allergies, know that the allergies will have disappeared by the time they turn three years old. Sensitivity to certain foods will also go away as they get older.

Fact #2: Reactions Will Occur At Different Times

Reactions to the allergies will all occur at different times. Some might appear only a few minutes after you have ingested the food. Others may take a couple of hours. And there will be some reactions which may take several days to appear. A person may have consumed a chocolate bar on Wednesday, but their rash may not appear until Thursday. “Eat now, and pay later” is a well-known phenomenon when it comes to food allergies.

Fact #3: Food Allergies Are Usually Related To Doses

One mouthful of peanut may be OK for one person to consume, but any more than that, or if it is spread onto a piece of toast, then this is sure to result in a reaction. Wheezing is one common response to peanut allergies. Most people will not have any response to a cup of milk every day. However, others may start to feel sick after they have consumed two or three cups of it. You can be sure that if you consume shellfish on a daily basis, a rash will begin to spread to others areas on your body. It might be perfectly fine if you consumed some crap over several hours on a daily basis.

Conclusion

These are just a few facts that are worth being aware of. The best way to avoid getting the allergies, is eating healthy and cook your food. Sometimes the allergy symptoms can be fatal; therefore, you shouldn’t ignore them. To be on the safe side, visit your allergy doctor whenever you see even the most minor symptoms.

Everything You Need To Know About Ocular Allergies

ocular allergies

Warm sunny days are here again, and most welcome them with open arms after a long, cold winter. The drawback for allergy sufferers is that allergens are everywhere and seem to be especially bad this year. Allergies not only affect the nasal passages, but can affect the eyes as well.

Ocular allergies

Ocular allergies, or allergic conjunctivitis can cause itching, redness, lid swelling, tearing, light sensitivity, and swollen eyes. The severity of symptoms can vary from mild irritation to severe itching and burning. Allergy experts estimate that 20% of Americans suffer from ocular allergies. Eyes are especially vulnerable to allergens and irritants. Allergens cause cells in the eye to release histamine, which causes blood vessels to dilate and mucous membranes to become itchy, causing the eyes and lids to become inflamed. When the blood vessels expand, more allergen molecules can flow from the bloodstream to the eye, causing redness and swelling.

Allergens are more prevalent outdoors, but common indoor allergens include pet dander, dust mites, and molds. These indoor allergens are present year-round and cause perennial allergic conjunctivitis for some. For contact lens wearers, the irritation caused by ocular allergies, can be particularly severe. Allergens can bind to the contact lens surface and prolong exposure to the eye. Ocular allergies can drive some contact lens wearers to stop wearing contacts. Increasing the frequency of lens replacement can be helpful. Talk to your doctor about daily disposables.

Treatment options for the condition

The response of symptoms to anti-histamine medication can indicate whether allergies are causing the symptoms. Allergy testing and review of patient’s life and environment help to identify sources.

If you suffer from an ocular allergy:

See an allergist to identify allergens causing symptoms.

Some people find comfort in cold compresses on the eyes. The compression reduces the inflammation in the blood vessels. Artificial tear drops cooled in a refrigerator can provide similar relief.

Topical medications are commonly used and tend to be an effective ocular allergy treatment. Delivering medication directly to the eye reduces the risk of side effects to other areas of the body. Dual action anti-allergic drugs are applied twice daily and combine the antihistamine with medication that stabilizes the eye’s mast cells. These drugs can be implemented before inserting lenses in the morning and after they have been removed at night, maintaining contact lens wear and minimizing discomfort associated with allergies. Before you start using any of the medications, you should ask your allergy doctor if this treatment option will work.