To your surprise, you might find one day that you can’t stop sneezing after mowing the lawn. Or maybe your skin breaks out in a rash after you apply a new lotion. Worst of all, you might notice that your mouth and throat feel itchy or swollen after snacking on a handful of peanuts. Unfortunately, allergies are quite common. You can develop allergies as a child or an adult, and you may or may not outgrow them. What’s alarming is that they can come on suddenly, even if you’ve never had problems before. If you think that you might have an allergy, here’s what to do.
Visit An Allergist
Going to an allergy doctor is essential for an accurate allergy diagnosis. An allergist can perform allergy testing, either through a skin test or a blood test, to find out what exactly you are allergic to. While you might have some idea of what might be causing problems based on your history of reactions, a test will confirm your suspicions. Another advantage of allergy testing is that your allergist can test you for allergies to multiple substances within the same family, such as different kinds of nuts, shellfish, and pollen. An allergy test doesn’t take long, but it can give you tremendous relief to find out what you’re allergic to and what you need to avoid.
Evaluate Your Symptoms
If you think you might be reacting to a certain food, you may be able to tell whether you have a true food allergy instead of a food intolerance based on symptoms. A food intolerance produces uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, gas, bloating, and vomiting. It can also cause headaches. Symptoms may not develop for awhile after you eat the food, even up to several days. A food allergy, on the other hand, will produce an immediate reaction. You may also get gastrointestinal problems from a food allergy, but only a food allergy will cause hives, itching, or difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with an allergist right away! You may need to get medication called epinephrine to protect yourself against a dangerous reaction in the future.
From nuts and flowers to fur, metal, and food, there are hundreds of possible allergens that you are exposed to every day. Therefore, it’s not out of the question that you have an adverse reaction to one of them. If you think that you have an allergy, it’s important to visit an allergist for an accurate diagnosis. Your allergist will ask questions about your symptoms, any patterns that you notice, and whether or not you have a family history of allergies. Learning what you’re allergic to, how to avoid exposure in the future, and how to reduce the severity of symptoms can make you feel more confident and in control.
For allergy testing in the Las Vegas area, contact Tottori Allergy & Asthma Associates 702-240-4233 or visit: tottoriallergy.com to make an appointment with Dr. David H. Tottori, who is the best allergist in Las Vegas and sees patients of all ages.
