But what exactly are allergies and why can they be so deadly?

Here’s a video that has doctors explaining allergy basics. Just click on the TV screen below to watch:

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Image: iStock

Post from: Blisstree

Video Tuesday: Allergies

An allergist is also called an immunologist and this may be a more appropriate term if they treat more than just allergies. After getting a medical degree and medical training, a doctor who wants to be an immunologist goes on to study for another few years.

What does an allergist/immunologist do?

Allergists are trained to prevent, diagnose, and manage allergies. This includes trying to discover what exactly you’re allergic to, and this isn’t always easy.

Dee, copyright Marijke Durning

Sometimes, the cause of your allergies can be figured out through trial-and-error – such as if you’re allergic to dogs, pollen, or a specific food. Other times, it’s not so easy. So, the first thing an allergist will do is a very thorough medical history.

Some of the questions may seem a little “out there,” but there are reasons for them all. After the medical history, the allergist must decide what – if any – type of testing to do.

Elimination

Elimination testing is done by removing certain things that could be causing your allergies to see if that makes a difference. This can be done one of two ways. You can remove 1 thing at a time for a set amount of time, but never more than 1. What you’re looking for is a difference in how you feel. If you remove more than 1 thing, you won’t know which item was the offending one.

Or, as may be done with food, you remove everything from your diet except the bare minimum. You then start introducing food – one at a time for a set period of time – to see what, if anything, causes you to react.

Skin Testing

Skin testing is the type that involves your doctor making little pin pricks, usually on your arm, and putting a bit of different allergens just under the skin on the arm to see if they react. Then, you wait. Usually if you’re going to react, it’s within less than half an hour.

Skin allergy testing should be done with supervision, in a medical office or facility, just in case your reaction to an allergen is very severe.

Treatment

An allergist will decide, with you, what the best course of treatment is. For some, it’s simply avoiding the allergen, but there are methods that may help for others, such as “allergy shots.” Small, dilute amounts of the allergen are given by injection in the hopes of sensitizing your body so it doesn’t react any more.

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Images: Marijke Durning, iStock, Stock.xchng

Post from: Blisstree

A is also for… Allergist

There are normal headaches caused by stress, eyestrain or allergies this type of headache will fade. If the headaches persist you should see your health care provider. If you experience a headache that feels as if your head will explode and it persists you need to see your health care provider immediately, this could be the sign of bleeding in the brain.

Patients going to an emergency room that are aware of what is going on within their body, can actually help the doctor to diagnose their problem more efficiently.

I found an article that has six serious medical symptoms listed, that would be great to copy and place somewhere so that you could have easy access to it.

To find the article click here Six Serious Medical Symptoms.

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Warnings Of Serious Problems