Category Archives: Allergy Tests
What Is the Allergy Test?
You may have heard about the allergy test and wondered if it is right for you or your children. When you ask people about the allergy test, you can hear all kinds of answers, some true and many false. Let’s discard the myths and look at the reality of allergy testing and how it can help you.
Why Allergies Cannot Be Ignored
Some people think allergies should just be endured or ignored. These people will tell you allergy testing is a waste of time. If you suffer from allergic symptoms, you know how allergies can take over your life. The more you ignore them or try to endure, the more miserable you feel.
Even worse, if left undiagnosed and untreated, allergies can cause severe reactions and put extra stress on your body. Allergies are not something to ignore. On the positive side, if you can pinpoint your specific allergies, you can start a treatment plan that improves your health and your daily life.
So let’s ignore the naysayers. Don’t let them hinder your decisions for a healthy life. Let’s look instead at what the allergy test is and why it’s beneficial.
What is the Allergy Blood Test?
One way to test for an allergy is through blood tests. When your body targets a certain allergen (for example, pollen, pet dander, or dust mites) as “bad,” you build up antibodies toward that substance. The antibodies are like an alarm system that informs your body when an intruder is present. Antibodies signal your immune system: Pollen is here! Bad! Attack! Then the whole chain reaction begins that causes your allergic symptoms.
By looking at what is in your blood, the allergy test identifies the presence of antibodies. These antibodies show which allergens your body has targeted as “bad.” Blood tests screen for antibodies to the most common allergens that might be causing your symptoms.
What Is the Allergy Skin Test?
Another way of testing for allergies is through the skin test. People often dread the thought of having their skin poked with a needle and exposed to allergens. But skin testing can be a very effective way to determine specific allergies, to help you start getting the right treatments.
When our allergist does a skin test, he injects a trace amount of suspected allergens into the skin and watches how the skin reacts. He uses these reactions to determine which substances are causing the patient’s allergies.
While allergies are very common, allergic reactions and their effects on overall health are specific to each individual. Before any testing is done, our allergist will take a medical history and provide a medical exam. This will help him determine the best method of testing for your particular situation.
Benefits of the Allergy Test
When our allergist can pinpoint your specific allergy triggers, he can create the most effective treatment plan for you.
Many allergy sufferers avoid “everything” because they are so worried they will come across a trigger. With allergy testing, you can learn specifically what causes your allergies and focus on the most effective treatments. You can stop avoiding harmless things and spend more time enjoying life. You can also learn what medications you need and which ones you don’t. Our allergist will help you with all of this when he analyzes the results of your allergy test.
The allergy test will also help you discover – under your allergist’s care – any potentially severe allergies. You won’t have to discover these by accident when you are not prepared. You will be aware of your allergies and be prepared with an effective response.
It’s Time for Answers
Are you ready to stop suffering the misery of not knowing what you are allergic to? Are you ready to get specific answers and the most effective treatment plan? Dr. Hadjiev, New York City’s own allergist, is here to help you. Call today for an appointment and ask him about the allergy test. It’s time to get some answers.
For More Information, Visit Our Main Website: DrSneeze.com
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/allergy-tests/about/pac-20392895
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioallergosorbent_test
https://www.webmd.com/allergies/blood-test#1
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_allergy_test
What Am I Allergic to? How Do I Find out and Treat it?
You start sneezing or coughing for no apparent reason. Your skin itches or breaks out in a rash, and you don’t know why. Your eyes water and your throat become irritated, just out of the blue. Sometimes you experience headaches or stomach cramps too. While all of these symptoms may point to any number of diseases, they are also common to allergies.
Why Allergic Reactions Make You Feel Sick
When you have an allergic reaction, your body responds in a hostile way to something called an “allergen.” An allergen can be any common substance found in nature, such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold, or food. While these natural substances are usually harmless, sometimes your body may get confused and decide this allergen is a threat that must be eliminated quickly. Your immune system starts attacking the pollen you breathed in, or the dust mite residue where it touched your skin, or the food you ate. The result is that you start feeling those allergic symptoms that make you so uncomfortable.
Allergic Reactions Are Complex
The problem with allergic reactions is that it’s hard to guess what the trigger was. Your body is complex, and so is the environment. Was it the cat, or the peanut butter sandwich, or the pollen coming in through the open window? Was it more than one trigger? If so, which one was the worst? Which one caused your runny nose, and which one made your skin itch? Are your allergies seasonal? And most importantly, what can you do to get rid of your symptoms and minimize the triggers?
It is hard to answer these questions on your own, and you may be feeling overwhelmed. All you know is the symptoms are making you miserable. No matter what you try, it just doesn’t seem to get better.
Allergy Answers and Treatments
That’s where allergy tests, diagnosis, and a treatment plan can make a huge difference for you. Our allergist, Dr. Hadjiev, is here to lift the confusion and find accurate answers.
When you come to see Dr. Hadjiev, he will take a medical history and provide a medical exam. This will help him determine how to test for and treat your allergies. With allergy tests, he can pinpoint what you are allergic to and how those allergens affect your body.
Find out Exactly What You Are Allergic to
With the help of our allergist, you can stop guessing and start discovering exactly what you are allergic to. Instead of feeling miserable all the time and trying to avoid every possible trigger, you will know exactly what is causing your allergic reactions and how to treat it. Imagine the freedom this will give you to start enjoying your life.
Our allergist will be able to treat your current allergic symptoms so you can start to feel better. He will also design a treatment plan to help minimize your allergic reactions in the future.
In the case of severe allergies, he can also help you create a crisis plan. You will know exactly what to do if you have a sudden severe reaction, whether it’s to a certain food or a bee sting. You will have the medicine you need on hand, as well as the know-how to stay calm and get the help you need.
Allergy Help Is Here for You
Allergies can seem so complicated and overwhelming when you try to go through it alone. Allergens are everywhere, and it’s exhausting trying to fight them all the time. What a relief to find an allergist who can come alongside you and help you find answers, freedom, and a better life.
You don’t need to guess what is causing your allergic reaction. You don’t need to figure this out alone. Call our office today, and Dr. Hadjiev will start working with you to find what you are allergic to and treat it.
What Are The Tests For Allergies?
If you have a true allergy, you need to see a professional allergist. He or she can perform a number of tests to see if you actually suffer from an allergy. This is an essential part of the diagnosis process. Since the symptoms you exhibit may not directly indicate a specific allergen and can vary with individuals, this visit is essential. Your allergist or doctor cannot treat your allergy if they cannot pin point the trigger.
Diagnosing Food Allergies
A visit to an allergist is similar in many ways to that of any other doctor. While the focus of the allergist is on your allergy, his or her approach adopts a common approach. In the beginning, he or she will first talk to you about your medical history. This may include previous reactions or health issues.
The allergist will ask questions about your current health and ask you to show any physical signs of the perceived allergy. He or she will ask about such things as:
- When the symptoms developed
- How long they lasted
- What forms they took e.g. hives, stomach discomfort,
It is only after a thorough physical examination that the allergy doctor will arrange for you to undergo a series of tests.
Common Tests for Allergies
Tests can vary. The three most common ones are:
- Skin tests – also called “Prick” tests
- Blood tests
- Food Challenges – if a food allergy is suspected
Skin tests are the most basic and popular for to discover what allergens are causing the problem. They involve placing a small amount of the most common allergens on the skin. A sterile probe pricks the skin to allow the material to enter the upper layers. The allergist may arrange for your skin to receive several different potential allergens or restrict to those he, she or you suspect are the culprits. The doctor will also include controls – materials that will not cause a reaction.
The entire test lasts about 20 minutes. It is rarely painful. If your skin presents a bump on the spot of the prick, you are allergic to this substance. Your doctor can then arrive at a potential treatment. You will also know what substances you need to avoid in the future.
Prick tests are more common and reliable than blood tests are. Results may take a week to confirm an allergen. Food challenges only apply to a suspected allergy. They involve you sampling suspected food items in small amounts. Food challenges should only be done under the watchful eye of a specialist.
Tests for Allergies
If you think you have an allergy, the only way to safely and successfully determine the specific cause or causes, is to consult an allergist. This specialist will run test, including the prick test to confirm the causal factors. He can then work with you to arrange for the appropriate treatment program.
Call our offices at 212-319-5282 to schedule an appointment.
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