Headaches, migraines, tiredness, fatigue, weight problems, eczema, psoriasis, asthma, catarrh, sinus congestion, IBS, digestive disorders, anxiety, M.E. and depression.
These, and many other complaints may be due to food intolerance or allergy. If you suffer with any of the above complaints, a simple test can seriously change your life!
Your are not alone:
Around 33% (1 in 3) of the population will at sometime in their life see a doctor because of an allergy and in consequence allergy testing is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
There is no point in having an allergy test if either the patient or the doctor are not prepared to act on the results. At HB Health we truly understand your needs and how to support you though either behavioral and lifestyle change or medication if required. We can provide appropriate allergy medication not only to relieve the symptoms, but not least for appropriate avoidance measures.
What are the tests?
The type of test to be carried out will depend upon your symptoms or the condition of your skin.
Patch Test
Skin Prick Test
Blood Test
Other Tests
But what are Allergies?
The term allergy is used to describe a response, within the body, to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person, which in turn can cause inconvenience, or a great deal of misery.
An allergy is everything from a runny nose, itchy eyes and palate to skin rash. It aggravates the sense of smell, sight, tastes and touch causing irritation, extreme disability and sometimes fatality. It occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances.
Allergy is widespread and affects approximately one in four of the population in the UK at some time in their lives. Each year the numbers are increasing by 5% with as many as half of all those affected being children. Allergic reactions are caused by substances in the environment known as allergens. Almost anything can be an allergen for someone. Allergens contain protein, which is often regarded as a constituent of the food we eat.
Common Causes:
pollen from trees and grasses, house dust mite, moulds, pets such as cats and dogs, insects like wasps and bees, industrial and household chemicals, medicines, and foods such as milk and eggs. Less common allergens include nuts, fruit and latex. There are some non-protein allergens which include drugs such as penicillin. For these to cause an allergic response they need to be bound to a protein once they are in the body. An allergic person's immune system believes allergens to be damaging and so produces a special type of antibody (IgE) to attack the invading material. This leads other blood cells to release further chemicals (including histamine) which together cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Common Symptoms:
Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, severe wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, sinus problems, a sore palate and nettle-like rash.
It should be understood that all the symptoms mentioned can be caused by factors other than allergy. Indeed some of the conditions are diseases in themselves. For further advice ask to make an appointment for allergy testing now.
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