Most allergies are not life threatening but reactions to a few, can be. If you have had severe reactions to certain foods or objects or chemicals, getting tested can save you a lot of grief. Allergies can produce the common itchy eyes and runny noses and coughing up of mucous, but reactions to chemicals and food can cause other reactions as well. Sitting on unwashed fabric (as in clothes or a bench or seat) can produce an immediate rash with blisters. Touching bamboo can cause a rash. Eating shrimp or peanuts can make your throat swell up.
An allergy is the term used when our bodies overreact to foreign substances or elements called allergens. The latter can come in many forms, such as food, chemicals, cosmetics and even natural materials. Most common allergy producers are medications, pollens, foods, dust and topical cosmetics. Have you ever walked down the laundry detergent aisle in the supermarket and begun sneezing? Some perfumes and particles that they give off are also big allergy producers.
These allergens can trigger an attack in various ways. Skin contact, breathing in the substance, ingestion (eating or drinking), or even touching an object that's touched the offending substance, can cause a reaction. Some can be severe and immediate. Hypersensitive people could suffer the most. If you have never been able to get a tan, then it's likely that your skin will be sensitive to contact allergens in particular, like certain plants or chemicals. Some symptoms of an allergic reaction are: Skin redness and swelling (including blisters), eyes that get very itchy, sneezing and a runny nose, breathing or hearing problems (including swelling of the throat). There are other reactions but these are the most common.
Until you identify the source of a reaction, you won't be able to control or eliminate it. Allergy testing is an effective way to try and nail down what's causing the allergies, and it does speed things up over the "eliminating one possible source at a time" method. These tests may include skin, blood, food, muscle or breathing ones. After finding that you could be allergic to your favorite whole wheat bread (as an instance), do not despair. There are many substitutes out there so there is absolutely no reason to feel deprived. As always, stay healthy and happy.
Author Resource:-
Fay Porinsky is an expert in the alternative health field with more than 20 years of experience. She has particular knowledge and experience with herbal vaporizers, including the 2003 Dr. Rudolf-Eberle-Prize innovation award winning Volcano Vaporizer. http://www.vapeworld.com/
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