The Washington D.C. metro area has one of the thickest concentrations of pollen during the Spring and Summer months of anywhere in the United States. It is not uncommon to go outside and find a not so thin layer of pollen covering your car. By Mid-May of every year everyone from Bethesda, Maryland to Reston, Virginia is hacking and coughing and cursing their allergies. But here is the thing, most people – whether they live in Washington D.C. or Chicago, Illinois or Los Angeles, California – do not know if they have allergies. They know that there is a lot of garbage in the air making them sneeze and they blame allergies for those impolite sneezes. For most people this kind of works. They chug a lot of orange juice, irrigate their sinuses with a neti pot, and eat fistfuls antihistamines to get through allergy season. But sometimes self-diagnosis isn't enough. Sometimes allergy testing is needed to confirm the presence of an allergy. Here are a few instances.
When There is No Relief
Let's face it. Most adults skate around allergy testing because self-diagnosis and self-medication tend to work. Whether you pursue a traditional approach to treating allergies (over the counter antihistamines, etc) or a more naturopathic solution (neti pot, homeopathic throat sprays, etc), it works … Most of the times. However, for some people, self-medication simply is not enough.
A key indicator that you need an allergy test is the day self-medicating stops working for your allergies. In these cases, an allergy test can pinpoint which allergens are causing you to sneeze, cough and hack your way through life. Test in hand; a doctor can prescribe an appropriate course of treatment for your allergies. Better treatment means sustained relief from allergies and allergy attacks.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are dangerous and can cause a myriad of health issues. For instance, Celiac's disease (e.g. gluten allergies) can cause weight gain, cramps, bloating and diarrhea. Peanut allergies and shellfish allergies can cause anaphylactic shock and even death. The only way to concretely determine whether you have a food allergy is with an allergy test.
If you are have symptoms like hives, rashes, eye redness, stomach pain, or vomiting after eating certain foods you should consult your physician for an allergy test. You may also want to note what foods tend to spark these reactions before talking to your doctor so he can narrow down the diagnosis.
Children
Nothing is quite as miserable when you are a child as sustained allergy problems. Allergy attacks cause missed days from school, loss of friends, and social ostracization. Also allergies tend to be more serious and lead to greater health complications in children than they do in adults. So, if you are the parent of a child, make sure you have your child tested for allergies on a regular basis. Your pediatrician can advise you on how often your child should be tested.
When? Why Not Now?
Allergy testing is a relatively inexpensive test that can help define better treatments for your chronic seasonal or food allergies. If you suspect you have allergies, just go out and get tested. Your body will thank you for it.
When There is No Relief
Let's face it. Most adults skate around allergy testing because self-diagnosis and self-medication tend to work. Whether you pursue a traditional approach to treating allergies (over the counter antihistamines, etc) or a more naturopathic solution (neti pot, homeopathic throat sprays, etc), it works … Most of the times. However, for some people, self-medication simply is not enough.
A key indicator that you need an allergy test is the day self-medicating stops working for your allergies. In these cases, an allergy test can pinpoint which allergens are causing you to sneeze, cough and hack your way through life. Test in hand; a doctor can prescribe an appropriate course of treatment for your allergies. Better treatment means sustained relief from allergies and allergy attacks.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are dangerous and can cause a myriad of health issues. For instance, Celiac's disease (e.g. gluten allergies) can cause weight gain, cramps, bloating and diarrhea. Peanut allergies and shellfish allergies can cause anaphylactic shock and even death. The only way to concretely determine whether you have a food allergy is with an allergy test.
If you are have symptoms like hives, rashes, eye redness, stomach pain, or vomiting after eating certain foods you should consult your physician for an allergy test. You may also want to note what foods tend to spark these reactions before talking to your doctor so he can narrow down the diagnosis.
Children
Nothing is quite as miserable when you are a child as sustained allergy problems. Allergy attacks cause missed days from school, loss of friends, and social ostracization. Also allergies tend to be more serious and lead to greater health complications in children than they do in adults. So, if you are the parent of a child, make sure you have your child tested for allergies on a regular basis. Your pediatrician can advise you on how often your child should be tested.
When? Why Not Now?
Allergy testing is a relatively inexpensive test that can help define better treatments for your chronic seasonal or food allergies. If you suspect you have allergies, just go out and get tested. Your body will thank you for it.
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