Are you wondering whether your runny and stuffy nose are symptoms of a cold or an allergy? What about the skin ointment that is causing an itchy or burning sensation? It's easy to confuse allergies with other non-allergic conditions that have similar symptoms. However, distinguishing between the two will enable you to get the right treatment and fast relief.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, approximately 50 million Americans are affected by allergies. But how will you determine if you actually have an allergy? If you suspect that you have an allergy, the first step is to visit an allergist. Here are some signs that you should get allergen testing.
1. You exhibit all allergy symptoms
For some people, the cause of their allergic reactions is clear. For example, after eating certain foods like tree nuts or peanuts, the body's immunity overreacts and causes swollen lips, a skin rash, and bloating. In other cases, some allergens like pollen can cause an itchy throat, runny nose, watery eyes, and sinus infections. If your symptoms show that you're allergic to something, allergen testing will help you determine the cause of the problem.
2. You show less common allergy symptoms
While there are common symptoms associated with allergies, some allergies will have different and less common symptoms. Some of these symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, and headaches.
3. Your symptoms appear almost instantly
If your allergy symptoms occur almost suddenly after being exposed to the trigger, you should highly consider visiting an allergist for allergy testing services. Depending on the allergy, the symptoms may appear within the first 15 minutes or even after a few hours.
4. Your symptoms occur at certain times of the year
If your nasal allergy symptoms only appear during spring or fall when pollen levels are high outside, then you're most likely allergic to pollen. However, if they occur irregularly or all the time, you will have to establish if your allergy is year-round. This can be caused by indoor allergens like pets, dust, mold, mildew, or cockroaches.
5. You don't show all the symptoms
Most common allergies share similar symptoms with other conditions. For instance, allergies and colds share some symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. However, there are some symptoms that they don't share, such as weakness, fatigue, severe headache, aches and pain, and a sore throat, which are symptoms of a cold.
If your allergy symptoms don't go away even after trying to avoid the triggers, you should consult an allergist to discuss your symptoms and allergen testing.
Reach out to an allergy testing service to learn more.
Share6 April 2021
After watching my mother navigate treatment for breast cancer in my early teens, I knew pretty much what to expect from my dad's diagnosis with prostate cancer. What I didn't know was how different chemotherapy and radiation can affect different people. My mother became very ill while my dad seemed to weather the treatments with few ill effects. I spent a long time researching the differences in treatments, types of chemotherapy, and how each one can react differently with the body. I created this blog to help others understand the same things, because I knew I couldn't be the only one unfamiliar with it. I hope it helps you if someone you love is facing treatment for any type of cancer.
