Food allergies can damage your quality of life and make the pure joy of sharing a meal with friends perilous. The Asthma Allergy Centre in Tigard, Oregon offers sophisticated food allergy testing that can improve your peace of mind and restore your quality of life.
How Do You Get Food Allergy Testing?
If you suspect that you have food allergies, or you just want to make sure that you don’t, it’s easier than ever to get proper testing. An allergy is essentially your body misreading a type of food, classifying it as dangerous, and over-reacting.
To determine if your body is misfiring signals about what foods are dangerous and what ones are not, the experts at Asthma Allergy Centre need to conduct a series of tests where your body is exposed to everyday foods. We will be able to see if you react by producing antibodies to fight off the food. If so, you have an allergy to that kind of food.
Allergy tests are easy to administer right in our office and usually take less than an hour. Aside from some initial irritation, there’s virtually no pain and little to no recovery time. Allergy tests are simple, minimally invasive, and can be done quickly and effectively.
What Are the Different Allergy Tests Available?
We offer several different types of allergy tests. To discover which one is right for you, consult with a member of our staff. We provide personalized care and will always steer you in the most effective and right direction to get the results that you’re looking for. Our allergy tests are fast, effective, and will empower you with additional knowledge about the way that your body functions.
Blood Test
To get an allergy blood test, you simply need to have your blood drawn and get the results back in a few days. Although this type of analysis is more invasive than a traditional skin test, there are a few benefits. Blood tests are excellent for those who have had very bad allergic reactions in the past. Our team will not want to chance another reaction by applying the allergen directly to your skin, so we will look at your blood instead.
If you have very sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts or rashes, you will want to opt for a blood test instead of a traditional skin test. Let us know about your concerns when you schedule your allergy test, and we will come up with a plan that is right for you.
Food Test
Food tests are often done when specialists can’t pinpoint the cause of your allergy. We will prescribe certain types of food, and the patient will eat them over carefully monitored periods of time. This way, we can see what’s going on in real-time, and if you have an allergic reaction, there will be people to give you medical assistance right away. Food tests are one of the most effective ways to determine where your food allergies lie.
Skin Test
Skin tests are the most popular types of food allergy testing available, and many people prefer them because our team is able to test for many different kinds of allergens at the same time. Additionally, skin tests are minimally invasive and yield very rapid results.
The first type of analysis is the skin prick test, which injects a tiny amount of potential allergens right under the first layer of your skin. Since the injections are so shallow, this test is very painless, and you can get tested for everything within a short period.
Skin injection tests and patch tests are two other common methods of discovering where your allergic reactions lie. Skin injection tests are slightly more invasive and only used to verify results that are unclear. Patch tests take a more extended time but are entirely non-invasive. Patients are required to wear patches with allergens on them for two days. After the waiting period, these patches are removed, and our specialists can see if you exhibited any allergies.
Why Should You Get Tested for Food Allergies?
Food allergies can be more than merely annoying: they can be life-threatening. Certain types of allergens can trigger anaphylactic shock, a serious medical emergency that can impair breathing and cause death if it’s not treated immediately. Those with extreme allergies should carry epi-pens with them to self-administer medicine if a serious allergic reaction is happening. Even if you use your epi-pen, you will still need to seek medical attention.
Many allergens cause unpleasant, but not life-threatening, reactions like nausea or diarrhea. These side-effects can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. If you have a food allergy, you are far from alone. There are millions of people in the United States alone who are living with food allergies and don’t even know it, as many are not severe enough to require medical attention.
If you do have a food allergy, even if it’s not life-threatening, you can make your life more comfortable and avoid any awkward or embarrassing situations when dining out with friends. Since food allergies are so prevalent, it’s a good idea to get tested if you never have.
What Are the Signs of an Allergic Reaction?
Understanding the signs of an allergic reaction could save your life or the life of someone you know. Although many food allergies are mild, some are quite severe and could cause breathing problems if not addressed immediately.
If you suspect that someone is having trouble breathing, or if you feel your airway constricting after eating a specific type of food, get to a hospital immediately. There are several different types of symptoms of allergic reactions, and everyone is different. The most common signs are as follows:
- Short breaths and problems breathing
- A sudden rash or hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea and stomach cramps
- Glandular swelling around the face
Some people also get headaches, feel dizzy, or become noticeably flushed after eating food that they are allergic to. It’s important to remember that just because you haven’t had a severe allergy in the past doesn’t mean that you won’t have one in the future. Something allergies can change or intensify over time, which is why it’s essential to understand your triggers and stay away from them if at all possible.
What Common Foods Are People Allergic To?
Most food allergy testing focuses on foods that people are most likely to be allergic to. Although you can have allergies to just about anything, these are the common culprits. If you experience any signs of an allergic reaction after consuming these types of foods, it’s time to get an allergy test.
Lactose
Lactose allergies are prevalent and can occur at any point during your life. If you have stomach trouble after eating dairy, you might be experiencing a lactose allergy. Even if you have this common allergy, you can still enjoy soy or coconut-based adaptations of your favorite milk-based foods. Knowing if you have a lactose allergy is good information when dining out because you can eliminate most stomach issues and enjoy your time out with friends more.
Peanuts
Peanut allergies can be very dangerous because they generally cause strong allergic reactions, and peanut residue can be found in plenty of different types of foods. If you suspect that you or your child has a peanut allergy, get an allergy test right away. You will need to alter your lifestyle slightly to make sure that neither of you comes into contact with peanuts.
Gluten
Plenty of people have gluten allergies, and a small segment of them have very severe gluten allergies that can lead to anaphylactic shock or other medical emergencies. For the most part, if you have a gluten allergy, you will feel nauseous after eating gluten-based products. Fortunately, there are plenty of gluten-free foods available in grocery stores, and plenty of restaurants offer gluten-free menu items. If you don’t see them listed on the menu, just ask.
Shellfish
There’s bad news for lobster lovers! Shellfish allergies are exceptionally common and can manifest themselves in all types of different allergic reactions, including swelling of glands and your face and hives. Some people even experience trouble breathing after eating shellfish. Shellfish allergies are not the same as fish allergies, although a smaller subset of the population is allergic to fish.
Other Allergies
Your specialist will test you for other types of allergies during your consultation. The ones listed above are just a few examples of the kinds of things that you might be allergic to. Allergy testing is far more comprehensive.
Your allergy test plan will also be based on your medical history and any troubles that you’ve had with specific foods in the past. Make sure that you disclose all of this to our expert team prior to getting the test. The more information we have, the better we will be able to serve you and help improve your life.
What Happens if You Have Allergies?
If you find out that you are allergic to one or more foods during your allergy test, don’t worry. You can use this information to enhance your life, and there are plenty of ways to avoid offending foods without drastically changing the way that you do things. You will need to sit down with one of our expert staff members to discuss the results and come up with a game plan. In some cases, you might need a little bit more testing.
Our specialists will also review your medical history to see if there are any underlying conditions that could further complicate your allergy diagnosis. If you have a severe allergy or an allergy that could get worse over time, your doctor may prescribe an epi-pen. You will be instructed on how to use the pen properly.
You should also talk to people in your immediate family, or loved ones that you live with and let them know how to operate the pen as well. This tool could very well save your life if you have a severe reaction, so make sure that you take it very seriously. Many people with allergies never need to use their epi-pens, but it’s good to have on hand just in case.
Take Back Your Life Today!
If allergies are compromising your quality of life, there’s a better way. Stop rolling the dice when dining out, or suffering through headaches just to eat a particular food. Food allergy testing can make your life more comfortable and possibly even prevent an emergency situation. Armed with the knowledge of how your body works, you will be able to live a more fulfilling and stress-free life.
If you’ve never had an allergy test, now is the time to get one. A single minimally-invasive, fast test can totally change your life. Contact the Asthma Allergy Centre in Tigard, Oregon, today to get started.
