Allergy Testing: Determining What You Are Allergic To

Do you find yourself getting a stuffy nose or runny nose in the spring time when the trees are in full bloom? Do you eyes start to water when you visit your aunt's house that has two cats? Do you suffer from painful headaches that are right behind your eyes? When a weather front is about to blow through do you get painful headaches and pressure in your head?

You might have an allergy, but you are not sure of the specific allergen that is triggering your allergic reaction. An allergy doctor will recommend an allergy test or two to diagnose your condition.

There are different types of allergy tests each used to determine different types of allergies. Each test works better for determining certain categories of allergies.

It is a good idea to be familiar with the different methods of allergy testing before you make an appointment with your doctor. Tests can fall into three categories: prick tests, elimination tests, and blood tests.

Prick Tests

The scratch tests are probably the most common type of allergy testing that is done. A grid drawn on either the arms or the back and a small amount of the suspected allergen is placed into the grid and the skin is pricked. This allows a small amount of the allergen to be absorbed by the skin. The site is then observed to watch for indication of an allergic reaction such as swelling, redness or itching. A result is often detected in as little as twenty minutes with this method of allergy testing.

With this method many different types of allergens can be tested at the same time. This makes this method very useful when the allergen is unknown, for airborne allergens and for allergies from foods and insect bites.

Elimination diets for food allergies

If a food allergy is suspected, another type of allergy testing that is often performed is the elimination diet. In this process, a variety of foods that are potential allergens are eliminated from the diet for a period of several weeks. Each food is then individually introduced back into the person?s diet, with careful observation to see which selection will cause the allergy symptoms to return.

This method of allergy testing works best on mild allergic reactions, but can be potentially dangerous for severe, anaphylactic allergies. If a severe allergy is suspected, there is a third method of allergy testing that is preferred to ensure that a potentially life-threatening substance is not introduced into the body in any way.

Blood Tests

The final type of allergy testing that is commonly performed is called a radioallergosorbent test, or RAST. This test is done in the laboratory, using blood that is drawn from the patient. The blood is examined for the presence of immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies, since this will indicate whether the immune system is producing an allergic reaction in the body. Elevated levels of these IgE?s can tell your doctor whether you are allergic to certain types of allergens, although this type of allergy testing does not tend to be as accurate or precise as other methods.

Allergy testing is the best way to determine exactly what you are allergic to. There are several different methods each with their strengths and weakness. You will need to work with your allergy doctor to determine which allergy test method is the best for you to determine what is causing your painful allergic reactions. With this knowledge you will be able to avoid the allergens and increase your quality of life.

Want more information on allergy testing and where to find help with mold allergies? Try visiting http://www.allergyanswersguide.com/, a popular website that offers tips & resources related to wheat allergies & mold allergies.

What Is A Gluten Allergy

In wheat, barley, rye, and low level oats, there is a rubbery like protein called gluten. This substance is what helps the dough bind, which you would see with baked breads and other baked foods. Although these grains contain gluten, which can cause a gluten allergy in sensitive people, they also contain a number of other proteins that can also cause allergy symptoms.

The four primary proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley includes albumin, globulin, gliadin, and glutenin, better known as gluten. While the symptoms and severity of the symptoms of gluten allergy vary from one person to another, generally a person would experience hives, swelling, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, or asthma. If the person is highly sensitive to gluten allergy, the symptoms could be life-threatening.

The good news about gluten allergy is that if the person has a reaction after eating wheat or wheat product, making an early diagnosis is easy. The challenge is that so many of the foods we eat are made with wheat, making it difficult to tell where the real problem lies. Most often, a trained doctor or allergist would conduct a skin prick test or take blood to confirm that gluten allergy is the problem.

If the reaction to gluten is severe, the solution might be to eliminate wheat and wheat by-products from the diet. However, if the gluten allergy is minor, then reducing the amount of wheat consumed and/or allergy medication or shots might do the trick. If the person with gluten allergy is a young child, chances are he or she will outgrow the allergy.

Gluten Intolerance, also known as Coeliac Disease, is a hereditary disorder that affects the immune system. In this case, when gluten is consumed, the mucosa, which is the lining of the small intestine, is damaged. When this happens, important vitamins and nutrients are not absorbed properly. When a person has this type of gluten allergy, the symptoms would be different in children than they would be in adults.

For children, the gluten allergy would be seen as abdominal distension, impaired growth, abnormal stools, irritability, poor muscle tone, malabsorption, poor appetite, and wasting of muscle. If an adult has this type of gluten allergy, then diarrhea, significant weight loss, abdominal cramping and bloating, constipation, and offensive stools are common.

In both cases of gluten allergy, a doctor would need to perform blood tests to make a confirmed diagnosis. Once done, the only treatment is to have gluten completely eliminated from the diet. Because of this, it is essential that nutrient and vitamin deficiencies be addressed with things such as niacin, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, chromium, magnesium, selenium, folacin, molybdenum, and phosphorus. With proper care and diet, a person with gluten allergy can enjoy a hearty choice of foods without the irritating symptoms.

Grant Segall RPh is a pharmacist and webmaster for the allergy related website http://www.allergy-allergy.com.

What is Milk Allergy?

Milk allergy is the immune system's response to cow's milk. Cow's milk is one of the most frequent food allergens because of one or more of the proteins that it contains.

There are lots of proteins in cow's milk that cause allergic reactions. Whey and Casein are it's two components. The curd that forms when milk is left to sour is called Casein. The watery part that is left when the curd is removed is called whey.

Eighty percent of cow's milk is made up of Casein. It is also the most important allergen found in cheese. The harder the cheese the more casein it has.

The other 20% is made up of whey. It is composed of two main allergenic proteins, namely alpha lactalbumin and beta lactaglobulin.

Milk allergy usually starts in infancy. There are studies that show that two to three percent of infants have milk allergy but most outgrow it within the first few years. By the age of four, sixty percent of milk allergic infants out grow their milk allergy another eight percent outgrow it by the age of six, but there are those who never outgrow it.

Though a lot become milk allegry sufferes as infants, cow's milk allergy can be acquired later in life.

Symptoms

Milk allergy symptoms can be seen on the skin or felt in the digestive system or respiratory system.

Milk allergy causes skin reactions that can be an itchy red rash, hives, eczema, allergic "shiners" (black eyes), and swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat.

Digestive system reactions of milk allergy sufferers might be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, bloating, or abdominal cramps.

Respiratory system reactions of those with milk allergy are runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, or coughing, or even anaphylactic shock.

Some people can have a reddish ear love or a hazy look in their eyes. Another symptom that can be had from milk allergy is bedwetting, inattentiveness, and lethargy.

Avoidance is the key with allergies. That means not drinking milk. Someone that has milk allergy has to be very careful in what products to buy. They have to read the product labels and see what milk proteins that are contained within. Milk maybe the hidden allergen in a lot of processed meats like hotdogs, pepperoni, salami, sausage and bologna. There are also some non-dairy products that contain casein.

There are some other milk products that can be substituted for cow's milk. milk allergy sufferes find this useful when baking and cooking food. The type of milk substitute depends on the food that it will be used for.

Rice milk is good for drinking and cereal. It can be used for baking or as a thickening agent and is perfect for those with milk allergy.

Some recipes you can have broth, juice or water as a substitute for cow?s milk.

In some cases a person with milk allegry can use goat's milk or soy milk. However, these types of milk are also allergenic and the person allergic to cow's milk will often be allergic to goat's milk as well.

Having milk allergy does not mean that you can bypass the calcium requirement in your nutrition. The recommended daily allowance of a person depends on the age. Good sources of calcium aside from milk are green vegetables, fish with soft edible bones, and seafood.

Calcium cannot be absorbed without vitamin D, which comes from eggs, liver and sunlight. That means to maintain a healthy lifestyle even with a milk allergy, one has to take vitamin supplements to complete their dietary balance.

For answers to All your frequently asked questions about milk allergy, please go to: Milk Allergy or go to: Allergy Answers or to: All About Allergies

Allergy Treatment Guide - Know Your Options

People face some type of allergy to all sorts of things, this may include environmental allergens, odors, fumes, food, and cigarette smoke just to name a few. Allergy treatment and testing is required when symptoms become uncomfortable and occur on a daily basis. With food allergies and small children, the process of elimination is the best way to determine which food is causing the allergic reaction. Allergy testing methods such as skin testing and blood testing are helpful, but some people may respond better to one than the other. Blood testing is particularly helpful in detecting food allergies, but if you know you?re allergic to a certain food, wouldn?t you just not eat it?

Environmental allergies are a little trickier amongst the different types of allergies. There are a number of possible triggers like weeds, trees, pollens, grasses, dust, dust mites, molds, pet dander, chemical fumes, and cigarette smoke that are all popular offenders. Skin allergy testing is a popular method that is used to diagnose different types of allergies that are severe enough to warrant this approach. Allergy treatment can then be prescribed based on the level of reaction to certain irritants. Seeking assistance from a specialist is not required for everyone with allergies. You can find quite a number of over-the-counter medications that are effective in treating symptoms, but for cases where medications don?t work one would need to consult a professional. There are a number of times where allergies are present with other conditions such as eczema and asthma, and should be assessed in conjunction to allergy treatment as they all go simultaneously. As a result of treating allergies, related conditions will either resolve themselves or lessen considerably as allergy treatment progresses.

Prescribed allergy treatment usually consists of immunotherapy which is also known as allergy shots, that expose allergy sufferers to little amounts of the offending allergens in gradually increased doses that over time reduces symptoms. Make sure that substance that triggers severe allergic reactions, for example certain foods like (shellfish, eggs and peanuts) and bee stings is avoided completely. One must remember that avoidance is the only allergy treatment in this case, aside from using an Epi-Pen and/or Benadryl in cases wherein an accidental exposure may take place. People who are afflicted with allergies should try different allergy treatments and combinations in order to experience any significant relief.

Over a period of time allergies decreases and may in due course disappear thus requiring a lesser amount of allergy treatment. There are a number of resources online you can look into about allergy treatments like www.allergies.about.com, www.medicinenet.com, or www.drgreene.com where you will find a world of information about allergy treatments right at your fingertips.

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, fitness, and other related information.

Allergy Treatment Experiences

Many people are afflicted with some type of allergy to all sorts of things, such as environmental allergens, odors, fumes, food, and cigarette smoke just to name a few. If symptoms become uncomfortable and happen on a routine basis, then allergy treatment and testing may be in order. With food allergies and small children, the process of elimination is the best way to determine which food is causing the allergic reaction. Allergy testing methods such as skin testing and blood testing are effective, but some people may respond better to one than the other. Food allergies for instance show up better on blood testing, but if you know you?re allergic to a certain food, wouldn?t you just not eat it?

Environmental allergies are a little trickier. Consider all the possible triggers; weeds, trees, pollens, grasses, dust, dust mites, molds, pet dander, chemical fumes, and cigarette smoke are all popular offenders. Skin allergy testing is the best method to use for diagnosis of these types of allergies if severe enough to warrant this approach. Allergy treatment can then be prescribed based on the level of reaction to certain irritants. Not everyone with allergies has to seek help from a specialist. There are quite a few over-the-counter medications that are very effective in treating symptoms, but if this doesn?t work, then a professional should be consulted. Many times allergies are present with other conditions such as eczema and asthma, and should be evaluated in conjunction to allergy treatment since they all go hand in hand. By treating allergies, related conditions will resolve themselves or lessen significantly as allergy treatment progresses.

Prescribed allergy treatment usually consists of immunotherapy, better known as allergy shots, which expose allergy sufferers to tiny amounts of the offending allergens in gradually increased doses that over time decrease symptoms. Of course, substances that cause severe allergic reactions, such as certain foods (shellfish, eggs, peanuts) and bee stings should be avoided completely. Avoidance is the only allergy treatment in this case, aside from using an Epi-Pen and/or Benadryl in case an accidental exposure occurs. Different allergy treatments and combinations thereof may have to be tried before significant relief occurs. Over time allergies decrease and may eventually disappear requiring less allergy treatment. There are quite a few online resources you can check out about allergy treatments like www.allergies.about.com, www.medicinenet.com, or www.drgreene.com where an abundance of information about allergy treatments is right at your fingertips.

For more information and articles on weight lifting and how to stay fit please take the time to visit our website at Allergy Resources. http://www.allergiesoverview.com

Anti Allergy Products by Nutricology

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Nutricology/Allergy Research Group products have set the standard for hypoallergenic nutritional supplements since our inception in 1979. These products are the purest and highest quality obtainable and are generally made without yeast, corn, wheat, soy, dairy products, flavorings, colors, salt, sugar, starch, common preservatives, binders and excipients. The only ingredients are those listed on the label, except where refined micro-crystalline cellulose is used as filler and silicon dioxide is used as a flow agent. To ensure optimal stability, our products are stored in humidity and temperature controlled environment. Although Nutricology/Allergy Research Group supplements were designed with the allergic individual in mind, they may be used by anyone since they are generally the cleanest and purest available.

Nutricology/Allergy Research Group endeavor to explore, develop and access new and innovative health products to improve the quality of life for all of us. Nutricology rely on scientific research and collaboration with other experts in the biomedical field to insure state of the art, hypoallergenic, when possible, formulations containing the purest, highest quality ingredients.

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Nutricology Research Group introduced artemisinin to the U.S. market more than a decade ago. ARG does independent potency assays on every batch (using HPLC), and independent tests verify its effectiveness. ARG artemisinin is minimum 98.5% pure, and does not contain thujone.

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How to Arrange Food Allergy Testing

If you have a food allergy it is essential that you identify it as soon as possible so that you can avoid problem foods.

Food allergy testing is the only way to identify a food allergy. Once you are aware of your food allergies, you can ensure that you do not eat the foods which are harmful to your body.

If you are allergic to certain foods your immune system releases large doses of chemicals when they are eaten to protect your body from them. The problem is that these chemicals produce a variety of symptoms that can be severe and sometimes, life threatening.

Food allergies can be identified by carrying out food allergy testing. However, there are only 90 NHS allergy clinics in the UK. This means that if you want food allergy testing on the NHS , you might have to wait a long time. Therefore, you might want to arrange food allergy testing privately. If so, you have two main options:

Food Allergy Skin Prick Test

A food allergy skin prick test uses a small needle to gently prick the skin through fluid containing a known allergen to see how it reacts to it. If you have a food allergy, your skin will go red and itchy and a small white swelling will develop. This will fade within a matter of hours.

The food allergy skin prick test provides a clear "yes or no" result as to whether or not you have a food allergy. It is not painful and the results are generally available very quickly.

Food Allergy Blood Test

The food allergy blood test allows you to analysis your reaction to over 400 different allergens.

It involves a sample of your blood being taken and sent to a laboratory where it is tested for levels of IgE. IgE triggers the release of histamines into the bloodstream when the body is exposed to a food or substance which it is allergic to.

You can find places where you can have food allergy testing by searching on the internet or alternatively by asking your doctor for a recommendation.

Elizabeth Harfleet is a Manchester nutritionist specialising in food allergy testing

Living With A Food Allergy

 

Living with a food allergy can be a daunting experience. Many people have a food allergy which ranges from mild to severe. There are people who experience a light red rash after eating something they are allergic to while others can face death if they even touch the food that causes their allergy.

A very common type of food allergy is to eggs. Many children develop this food allergy when they are infants. The parents have to be conscious of each and everything the child consumes. This means reading all the labels of the foods that you serve the child and informing the child care provider and school of the allergy. Egg substitute can be used when baking cakes or breads so the child doesn?t feel left out.

A food allergy to eggs is usually outgrown. The child may experience the symptoms for several years and once they have matured the parent in consultation with a physician can reintroduce egg products into the child?s diet.

Another food allergy that is common in infants is an allergy to wheat. This again, is an allergy that children tend to outgrow but until that time every product they consume has to be checked to see if it contains wheat. The obvious offenders are things like bread and muffin but there can be wheat in other products including breakfast cereals and even some types of candy.

A food allergy that can be very severe is an allergy to peanuts. When a child or an adult has a peanut allergy there is a chance that they can go into food anaphylaxis and die. Although peanut allergies are one of the most common types of food allergy there are still people dying each year from unintended exposure to peanuts.

It?s vitally important for parents to warn their child about the dangers of peanuts if they do have this particular type of food allergy. The child might not be old enough to fully grasp the consequences but as they mature it?s very important to constantly remind them that they can become very ill if they eat anything that has peanuts in it.

Many schools now have a no peanut policy. They have enforced this because of the children that suffer from a peanut food allergy. Children are not permitted to bring certain food items to school including peanut butter sandwiches or chocolate bars that contain peanuts. Although some parents complain about this restriction it should be viewed as more of a life saving measure.

When a person grows up with a food allergy they quickly become aware of what foods they can and cannot eat. Part of this stems from the repeated reminders of the parents but it also comes from the child and later adult?s desire to remain healthy.

If someone in your home does suffer from a food allergy it?s wise to keep that food out of the home completely. One of the reasons is obvious and that?s the person with the allergy will be safer without the offending item in their presence. Another good reason to refrain from purchasing the product is that the person with the allergy won?t feel left out if no one in their family is consuming the thing they cannot have. Think of it as a wonderful way to support them.Allergy Resources and Information around it

Air purifiers and air filters can help the health of Allergy and Asthma sufferers.

A. Smith Indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particulate matter can be a real irritant for suffers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. In addition to removal of all direct irritant sources and minimizing the irritant containment materials in your house, you should also consider the indoor ventilation and filtration system of home.

Environmental control is the key to reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens. Keeping a clean house free of dust, dander, smoke, pollen, and other airborne particulate matters will help to reduce the irritation and effect on family members with respiratory difficulties. Air cleaners, filters and hepa filters can play a role in helping to control or reduce the exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens.

Several health authorities have recognized that certain types of air filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing the amount of airborne particulates in a room. The American lung association recommends using a hepa air filter purifier for the bedrooms of asthma suffers.
The Mayo clinic recommends an air particle filter for household ventilation systems. Ionic filters and hepa filters have been endorsed or recognized by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America (AAFA) and the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

Selecting the wrong type of filtration system could exacerbate the problem by agitating and circulating the existing particulate matter throughout your house, so it is important to do your research thoroughly. Ionic air filters do not create high airflow patterns to clean the air and simply rely on negative ion attraction to collect the airborne particulate matter. They have demonstrates to have decent capture rate of airborne allergens and irritants like pollen, dander, tobacco smoke and dust and can help improve the quality of your indoor air environment. You can read more the ionic air filtration process at:http://www.air-purifiers-review.com/ionic-air-cleaner.htm

Air filtration systems should not be considered as a solution for any respiratory condition, nor as a reason to ignore sound medical advice and guidance about the removal of irritant sources and allergen habitats from your household. They are also not a substitute for thorough and regular cleaning of your household environment. Selecting the right air purifier system can help complement and enhance your efforts to reducing airborne particulate matters, as well as maintain a healthier indoor breathing environment.

Indoor air pollution in the form of dander, dust and pollen particulate matter can be a real irritant for suffers of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. In addition to removal of all direct irritant sources and minimizing the irritant containment materials in your house, you should also consider the indoor ventilation and filtration system of home.

Environmental control is the key to reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens. Keeping a clean house free of dust, dander, smoke, pollen, and other airborne particulate matters will help to reduce the irritation and effect on family members with respiratory difficulties. Air cleaners, filters and hepa filters can play a role in helping to control or reduce the exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens.

Several health authorities have recognized that certain types of air filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing the amount of airborne particulates in a room. The American lung association recommends using a hepa air filter purifier for the bedrooms of asthma suffers.
The Mayo clinic recommends an air particle filter for household ventilation systems. Ionic filters and hepa filters have been endorsed or recognized by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America (AAFA) and the British Allergy Foundation seal of approval.

Selecting the wrong type of filtration system could exacerbate the problem by agitating and circulating the existing particulate matter throughout your house, so it is important to do your research thoroughly. Ionic air filters do not create high airflow patterns to clean the air and simply rely on negative ion attraction to collect the airborne particulate matter. They have demonstrates to have decent capture rate of airborne allergens and irritants like pollen, dander, tobacco smoke and dust and can help improve the quality of your indoor air environment. You can read more the ionic air filtration process at:http://www.air-purifiers-review.com/ionic-air-cleaner.htm

Air filtration systems should not be considered as a solution for any respiratory condition, nor as a reason to ignore sound medical advice and guidance about the removal of irritant sources and allergen habitats from your household. They are also not a substitute for thorough and regular cleaning of your household environment. Selecting the right air purifier system can help complement and enhance your efforts to reducing airborne particulate matters, as well as maintain a healthier indoor breathing environment.

S.A. Smith is a freelance editor, writer, and contributor to the Air Purifiers Review resource site, and can be reached at http://www.air-purifiers-review.com