*This is a collaborative post but all thoughts and words on allergies are my own
Allergies are really commonplace, in fact 1 in 4 adults are affected by some form of allergy. And 1 in 10 children are also affected. Almost half of the people who have allergy symptoms haven’t had official diagnosis’ from a doctor. And many people don’t actually know they’re allergic to anything. But you don’t have to go to the doctor to get an idea of what you may be allergic too as there are home allergy tests you can take.
An allergy is when your immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as a threat to your body. Then it takes excessive defensive action that triggers an allergic reaction. But what types of allergies are there?
Hay fever
Allergic rhintis – most commonly known as hay fever- is an allergy to pollen and is the most common allergy. I’m sure if you don’t suffer from it yourself, you know someone who does. Luke suffers quite badly from hay fever with symptoms that includes sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose. It’s triggered by pollen which is released into the air by grass, trees and weeds and occurs mainly in the Spring and Summer.
House dust mite allergies
A dust mite allergy is a reaction to the waste produced by house dust mites. This can build up on bedding and cause particular problems overnight, and unlike hay fever occurs when you spend more time indoors so it might be worse in the colder months. Symptom wise it’s very similar to hayer with itchy and watery eyes, blocked or running nose and sneezing, but it can also include headaches, tiredness in the morning and coughing.
House dust allergy suffers are more likely to be affected by asthma than people with other allergies. If you suffer, you can do an allergy test to find out if this is something you’re allergic to.
Food allergies
There are quite a few foods which can cause allergic reactions including nuts, fish, eggs, shellfish and cow’s milk. Symptoms range from itching and nausea to anaphylaxis. Being allergic to a food item is different to being intolerant to it. Intolerance means your body is unable to process a certain food.
Allergic reactions to pets
If you have a pet allergy it isn’t caused by the animal hair itself, but by the allergens of animal origins spread by animal hair; dander and feathers. Again symptoms are quite similar to those with hay fever and they usually occur shortly after contact with the allergen so either when you touch an animal, or come in close contact with one.
This is why sometimes people will get hairless cats as pets if they are allergic as the lack of hair makes it harder for the dander and feathers to be spread.
Other allergies:
- Insect venom allergies can be lethal and cause life-threatening anaphylactic shock
- Mould allergies with similar symptoms to hay fever
- Latex allergies with symptoms such as redness and wheals
Why you should get tested for allergies
If you suffer from symptoms then allergy testing can help you to find out what triggers are causing them. And it may help to rule out things you;’re not allergic too. You won’t get an exact diagnosis but it can help you know what to avoid and give you a starting point if you do consult a doctor.
The home allergy test works with just a blood sample. It takes just two weeks to get reliable and comprehensive results back.