Sneezing, wheezing or have an upset stomach? There’s a chance you could be allergic to certain food, pollen, animals or something else. Valleywise Health offers allergy testing at your primary care provider’s office. All it takes is a simple blood test.
If you think allergies may be the cause of symptoms like itchy eyes, trouble breathing or skin irritation, it’s important to talk to your provider to determine if you need an allergy test.
Allergy testing is helpful to find out what’s causing your symptoms, so your healthcare provider can create a treatment plan to help you live a healthier, happier life. This includes learning what precautions to take and how to decrease your exposure to certain allergic triggers.
Allergy Blood Test
A blood test is a quick and simple way to get answers to your allergy questions. Also called a specific IgE (sIgE) blood test, this powerful tool can accurately diagnose your allergies by measuring the level of specific antibodies in the blood. These antibodies help your healthcare provider determine what you may be allergic to.
How it Works
- A small sample of blood is drawn.
- The blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis.
- The results are returned a few days later for your healthcare provider to interpret.
- This powerful diagnostic tool can reveal whether you’re sensitive to hundreds of possible allergens with one blood sample.
Common Allergy Symptoms
If you come into contact with a substance your immune system views as a threat, such as animal dander, a certain food, or a plant—your immune system releases a chemical called histamine. The release of histamine, along with other substances released by the body, trigger allergy symptoms that can range from mild to severe and can affect your skin, sinuses, airways, and/or digestive track.
Mild and more common allergy symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Stomach pain
- Hives
- Itchy mouth or ears
- Swelling of lips, tongue, or throat
Recognizing the typical symptoms or allergy signs is the first step toward an accurate diagnosis, appropriate management, and optimal symptom relief. However, in most cases, it’s not so easy to trace a symptom back to its cause. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history, current symptoms, and testing options.
Common Types of Allergies
FOOD ALLERGIES
Because an allergic reaction to food can be so serious and severe, it’s important to know if your symptoms are caused by an intolerance, such as a lactose intolerance, or by an allergy to foods, such as eggs, milk, or peanuts. Some common food allergy symptoms can include digestive issues, hives, and intense itching.
ASTHMA
Allergic asthma, also known as allergy-induced asthma, happens when allergens trigger asthmatic responses. Some common symptoms of allergic asthma can include wheezing and shortness of breath. Learn more about allergic asthma and its symptoms.
SEASONAL ALLERGIES
Seasonal allergies are the result of allergens that happen during a specific time of year. Often, seasonal allergies occur during the spring and fall when pollen levels are at their highest, and can cause symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose.
YEAR-ROUND ALLERGIES
Year-round allergies stick around, regardless of the season. Common triggers can actually be found within your home, including things like dust mites, mold, and animals, and can cause coughing, runny nose, and sneezing.
WHEAT ALLERGY
Wheat allergy is most commonly seen in children and is usually outgrown by school-age. Rarely, it can cause severe reactions like anaphylaxis, and more commonly causes symptoms that include hives, nausea, and stomach cramps.
INSECT STING ALLERGY
When a bee, wasp, or hornet stings a person, it injects a small amount of venom into the person’s body. For those who are sensitized to the allergen, it can trigger an allergic response which can include pain, redness, and itching.
