Test Your Allergic Reaction

An allergy is actually a disease that most people have that manifests only at certain times when their body interacts with allergens. There are several times when you would be surprised that you react negatively to what seemed to be a simple occurrence or an object that has been around you for a while already.

Medical experts agree that allergies can actually be managed well if you are informed of what causes it. You may be able to undergo different tests to check which of the objects around you would create an allergic reaction from your body. There are three main tests you could go through: skin testing, blood testing, and elimination testing.

Skin testing is also called as prick or puncture testing. It involves the skin on your arms or the back, where most allergic reactions are very visible. When you undergo this test, the health personnel would look for possible allergens and puncture the skin with it. Sometimes, and especially when the test is done with the skin on your back, there would be like tables with grids. If the object is an allergen, your skin would exhibit reddish spots or swollen bites.

Blood testing, meanwhile, looks for antibodies called immunoglobulin and how its presence would affect your reaction to specific objects. In general, when the amount of the antibodies is very high, there is a greater probability that your body would exhibit allergic reactions. This is more of a predictive type of test because while an allergen may not cause reactions at the time you are tested, the amount of antibodies measured may indicate the likelihood of the same allergen doing so in the future.

Lastly, you may also undergo a more extensive test that is elimination. In this type of test, your diet is at the most of concern. You will be asked to consume foods that are probable allergens and then slowly removing these in time. The aim is to re-introduce the foods eliminated to check if they indeed cause the allergic reaction.

All of these tests are highly suggested to be done with the aid of medical professionals (nurses, doctors, etc.) to ensure that the results your body has posed are interpreted correctly and that the procedures are of course carried out with the appropriate tools. In the end, your cooperation is a great key for the success of these tests. If you have any general questions about allergic reactions or how to manage your general health, it's recommended that you consult your general practitioner, a trusted osteopath or nutritionist.