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Why Should You Get An Allergy Test?

by Kate Young on Dec 05, 2023

Getting an allergy test may not seem necessary until you suffer from a severe food allergy which can sometimes be life-threatening. However, the best way to avoid putting your life at risk like that is to get an allergy test in advance so you'd know which foods you need to avoid and cut them off from your diet. Most people get mild allergy symptoms that can cause them discomfort for periods of time. In such cases, If you get an allergy test will help you pinpoint the exact thing that's wrong with your diet and take it out to swap it for something else that doesn't cause your symptoms. Living with an allergy is hard, but it's even harder living without knowing what your allergies are and instead only suffering the symptoms occasionally.

What is an allergy test?

Professionals use this diagnostic tool to identify allergies. An Allergy Test helps determine allergens in your body that cause you to react. There are different ways to get an allergy test, but a blood test is the most convenient and accurate.

Why do you need to get an allergy test?

Approximately a third of the general population suffers from allergies. It would be best to know your allergies, especially if you've been getting symptoms; then, you can sort them out going forward.

Causes of allergies

Allergens are present in the air, our foods, drinks, and products we use. While you can see most small and airborne things, among them are allergens like pollen which can cause various symptoms, especially during the pollen season. Besides pollen, airborne allergens also include pet dander and dust. These airborne allergies often cause a condition known as allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a group of symptoms similar to a cold, except the symptoms never go away if you're in the presence of an allergen. The more you're exposed, the worse your symptoms are. it's estimated the 1 in 3 of the British population live with allergies. Symptoms often include runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, congestion, and headaches. You can also suffer from symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath. Other common allergens are food allergies. Food allergy symptoms may range from mild ones like itchiness and redness to life-threatening symptoms like anaphylaxis. Often skin symptoms include rashes, hives, swelling, and itchiness. Since you've consumed the allergenic food, you may also experience digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Cardiovascular food allergy symptoms include a weakened pulse, dizziness, and lightheadedness. You can also experience contact dermatitis, a common allergy where your skin reacts after contact with a substance. Skin allergies that cause contact dermatitis include perfumes, nickel, poison ivy, latex, or lotions. When your skin contacts something you're allergic to, it often forms hives and rashes all over the contact area. This may cause blisters to develop, which causes a burning sensation.

Benefits when you get an allergy test

Even though you may assume an allergy test is unnecessary, improving the quality of your life is necessary.

For allergy diagnosis and management.

When you get an allergy test it will help you diagnose your allergies. When you suffer from allergy symptoms, you won't know exactly what's causing your body to react. However, with the help of an allergy test, you can easily know what's causing such a reaction and get to the bottom of it by removing the offending substances from your food or contact with your skin or in your home's atmosphere. Knowledge helps us manage situations. For example, if you have a coffee allergy, you'll know you need to avoid drinking coffee as you frequently do. This means you'll now be able to ditch antihistamines until, in accidental cases, you consume caffeine unawares.

To prevent anaphylaxis

In rare cases, anaphylaxis-related allergy symptoms can be life-threatening if you don't get immediate help. To avoid landing in such a situation, you need to know your allergies beforehand, so you can always carry an EpiPen in case of an accident. As much as you need to avoid allergen-causing substances, sometimes it can be hard, especially if you're overly sensitive to that allergen and contact with it causes various symptoms within seconds. To be prepared for such situations, it's best to be aware of your allergy symptoms.

You may develop or pass this on to the next generation to know about allergies.

Sometimes, allergies develop unexpectedly in adulthood. Awareness of allergies you're most likely to develop is key in the early management of such allergies when caring for newborn children. Also, when you suddenly develop an allergy in adulthood, it's hard to tell whether it's an allergy or confuse it for another disease. However, when you're aware of your allergies, you won't remain ill for long because you already know what the cause could be, which means you'll take action quickly, feeling better.

Where to get an allergy test

At Test Your Intolerance, we have an Allergy Test testing for all the common allergens in your food, environment, and drinks. It's a plus that you can stay home to complete the test. You must order the allergy test online, take the sample and send it back to the lab, and then get the results within a week. When you experience an allergic reaction, you can always take antihistamines, which are available over-the-counter or heartburn medication if need be. On the other hand, if you experience anaphylaxis, it's necessary to always have an EpiPen with you in case of emergencies. With the help of a professional, you can get started on immunotherapy to help you be resistant to allergens that affect your body. However, the best way to manage allergies is by avoiding the allergens that cause symptoms.

Author: Kate Young, BSc, Lab Manager

Kate Young joined Test Your Intolerance in 2020 after working in private laboratories in Japan for 15 years as a Clinical Bio Scientist and embryologist. As Lab Manager, Kate works on IVDR and GLP accreditation.