You know that you sometimes have the sniffles in the spring or first thing in the morning and every once in a while you have trouble breathing. Maybe a little wheezing? What if it’s gotten pretty bad? Are you trying to manage with OTC medications to control the allergic reaction? There are good reasons beyond just your discomfort to take the next step and really do something about your allergies.
New advances in allergy testing include the Spectrum Allergy Test or the ALCAT test that can identify reactions to many regional inhalants and foods. No more nasty skin pricks and skin scraping. With one simple blood test, if you have been exposed to something and are allergic to it, the test will give you a clear answer on your specific allergies. The Spectrum Allergy test will provide information on how sensitive you are to an allergen: Negative, Low, Mild, Moderate, High or Very High. With the ALCAT test, even if you haven’t been exposed to the allergen, the test will be able to identify an intolerance or allergy. For foods and hives, unfortunately, avoiding the offending food is about all you can do, but some people with severe allergies that last more than 3 months out of the year, there are immunotherapy options that can reduce or eliminate the allergic reaction over time.
Because there are so many options for treating only the symptoms of allergies, most people have turned to those rather than going for a long-term solution. It’s been quite a while since I’ve heard about anyone getting allergy shots. They seemed much more common 40 years ago. If you have allergic-asthma or allergy induced asthma and the culprit is pollen, dust mites, dander, your exposure can trigger not only an allergic reaction with swollen, itchy eyes and sneezing but also an asthma attack with shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. These symptoms can be not only uncomfortable, but dangerous.
Immunotherapy in the United States refers primarily to allergy shots. The science behind how they work is that a person is injected with the allergen every 2 to 4 weeks over a period of 2 to 5 years. This won’t cure your allergy, but it will increase your tolerance for these allergens and over time reduce your sensitivity to these substances. After several years of treatment, your doctor may want to have you retested to determine if you are less sensitive to the allergens. If your allergic reactions are reduced, your asthma symptoms will decrease as well, possibly averting a severe asthmatic attack.
Many people firmly believe that eating local honey will perform the same function for your immune system as allergy shots or vaccinations for seasonal allergies. Honey from local bees contains pollen that the bees have collected. The theory is that eating two teaspoons or so a day will subject your body to small amounts of the allergens without enough to cause an allergic response. The immune system will get used to the allergen and become less sensitive so that when exposed to larger amounts of it the allergic response won’t be triggered. Although this theory isn’t supported by research studies, the anecdotal evidence prompts many allergy sufferers to try it with success. Some people in an unfunded study conducted at Xavier University in New Orleans that was never published showed that the local honey was very effective and participants wanted to continue with the “honey treatments” after the study was completed. Most people say it’s an inexpensive option so go for it! But be careful and consult your doctor first. There may be contaminants in the honey and those with very severe allergies could experience a strong allergic reaction to the pollen in honey. Remember that you are introducing a known allergen into your system.
The ALCAT test, available at many ANY LAB TEST NOW® locations, can reveal sensitivities to food additives, food colorings and other substances. Sometimes a sensitivity to a substance is not a full-blown allergy, but an intolerance. Why would that matter? An intolerance causes your body’s innate immune system to activate, and in fact to be chronically activated. This can cause inflammation, migraines, fatigue, aching joints, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and many other symptoms. The constant reaction can make it difficult to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight.
Identifying and managing allergies or food and environmental intolerances isn’t just about itchy eyes and sneezing. It could finally help clear up that nagging headache or stomachache, and get you on the road to a leaner, healthier you.
