Allergy Testing

An environmental allergy is a hypersensitivity to normally benign substances in the environment.  An  allergic reaction is typically characterized by an intense inflammatory reaction that comes on quickly and predictably.  The allergic reaction specifically involves over-activation of white blood cells by an IgE antibody.   

The number of Americans that report to a hospital emergency room each year due to food allergies is approximately 30,000. The number of food allergies among the population under the age of 20 has significantly increased over the last decade.  Millions of people suffer from food allergies without even realizing it. In many cases, the allergies are genetically inherited, so entire families may be allergic to a food and not know it. Symptoms that you may have previously passed off as normal may be the result of an allergy to certain foods. 

But even if the symptoms are mild, it is important to know whether you're allergic to something or not, because allergies can worsen with age and lead to more serious health problems. For example, someone who unknowingly has a gluten (wheat) allergy can very quickly find themselves in the hospital and have no idea why. Or a child with a skin condition may be diagnosed as having eczema, but may actually have a food allergy instead. To avoid situations like this, your best option is to get tested with food allergy blood testing. 

A food allergy arises when the immune system responds to a certain food causing hives, itching, skin rash, asthma, nasal congestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheaded, fainting, swelling of the lips, tongue or other body part. Unlike a food allergy, food intolerance does not involve the immune system. Symptoms of a food intolerance may include abdominal cramps, bloating or diarrhea, but is not life threatening. Recurring gastrointestinal problems after drinking milk is an example of intolerance to a particular food product. An extreme allergic reaction, called an anaphylactic shock, may result in swelling of the throat and nasal passage causing breathing difficulties, shock, rapid irregular pulse and loss of consciousness. In an anaphylaxis reaction the symptoms intensify swiftly. A severe allergic reaction to food is treated with epinephrine or adrenaline. A physician may prescribe an Epipen or Twinject for patients with known severe food allergies, which should be carried at all times. The patient should also wear a medical alert bracelet and seek medical assistance immediately, even if already self-injected with a dose of epinephrine. A bystander should either call 911 or transport the patient to the nearest hospital emergency room. 

If you believe that you or someone in your family may be allergic to foods such as milk, wheat, peanuts, fish or other common foods, then you should strongly consider getting a blood test, such as the Basic Food Allergy Test or Extended Food Allergy Test performed to accurately determine if you have these food allergies.