*I am not a medical professional, information in this article should not be taken as medical advice*
Allergies are a right pain. I am very lucky that I don't suffer too badly with allergies, but the rest of my household are incredibly allergic (to seemingly everything) so I am well versed in how horrible the symptoms can be and how it can actually stop you from living a full life. But while so many people experience allergies the majority don't know what triggers their symptoms. So let's take a look at how you can identify your allergies to help reduce your chances of experiencing symptoms.
What are allergies?
What is an allergic reation?
Other reactions to airbourne allergens include sneezing, coughing, skin reactions and headaches. Ingested allergens from foods can cause bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, itching and in extreme cases anaphylactic shock. An allergy to insect venom such as a bee sting can also cause anaphylactic shock.
How to identify what you are allergic to
Different kinds of allergy tests
Skin tests involve a scratch test, patch test or intradermal test where where a small amount of allergen is placed against or underneath the skin and monitored for a reaction.
Allergy blood tests are very effective in helping to identify allergies because a small amount of your blood is sent to a lab for analysis. The blood is tested for the presence of IgE antibodies and because they are different depending on what they are reacting to the allergy blood test can pinpoint what allergens you are sensitised to.
Home allergy tests
How to manage your allergy
There will still be some trial and error and you may find it impossible to completely avoid your allergen (dust will always be present in varying amounts in our house!) but it'll be much easier to identify what you need to avoid and hopefully you'll minimise your symptoms.
*This is a sponsored post. All opinions and experiences are my own.*
*I am not a medical professional, information in this article should not be taken as medical advice.*