• What substances are causing my allergies?
• What allergy symptoms should I be concerned about? When is it necessary to call the doctor?
• What allergy medications or other treatments are available? What are the benefits/side effects of each treatment?
• Will I need allergy shots?
• What guidelines should I follow if I'm prescribed allergy medication?
• Should I take medicine all the time or only when my allergy symptoms become worse?
• Should I stop exercising outside if I have allergies?
• What types of plants are better to put in my yard if I have allergies?
• How can I avoid or reduce exposure to certain allergens?
• What can I do around my house to reduce allergies?
• Should I avoid going outside during certain times of the year? What can I do to decrease allergy symptoms when I do have to go outside?
• How can I tell the difference between allergies and a cold or the flu?
• Will changing my diet improve my symptoms?
• How often should I come in for follow-up appointments?
  

QUESTIONS YOUR PHYSICIAN MAY ASK YOU
TO DIAGNOSE ALLERGIES (back to top)
Your physician will ask you some questions to help determine if your problem is allergy related. They could include:

• What type of symptoms do you have?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• When symptoms occur, how long do they last?
• Are your symptoms seasonal (come and go throughout the year) or do they last year-round?
• Do your symptoms occur when you are outdoors or indoors, such as when you clean your house?
• Do your symptoms get worse when you are around pets? Do you have any pets?
• Do you smoke? Does anyone in your family smoke?
• Are your symptoms interfering with your daily activities or interrupting your sleep?
• What makes your symptoms better? What types of treatments have you tried? What allergy drugs are you taking now? Do these medications provide relief? Do they cause unwanted drowsiness?
• What other medications are you taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements?
• What type of heating system do you have? Do you have central air conditioning?
• Do you have any other health conditions, such as asthma or high blood pressure?
• Are you having difficulty with your sense of smell or taste?
• What makes your symptoms worse?
• How much can you modify your lifestyle to reduce your exposure to these allergens?
  

SKIN TESTING FOR ALLERGIES (back to top)
An allergy skin test is used to identify the substances that are causing your allergy symptoms. It is often performed by applying an extract of an allergen to your skin, scratching or pricking the skin to allow exposure, and then evaluating the skin's reaction. It may also be done by injecting the allergen under the skin, or by applying it to a patch that is worn on the skin for a specified period of time.

• Scratch test (also known as a puncture or prick test). First, a doctor or nurse will examine the skin on your forearm and clean it with alcohol. Sometimes, the skin test is performed on an area of your back. Areas on your skin are then marked with a pen to identify each allergen that will be tested. A drop of extract for each potential allergen -- such as pollen, animal dander, or insect venom -- is placed on the corresponding mark. A small disposable pricking device is then used so the extract can enter into the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis. The skin prick is not a shot and doesn't cause bleeding.
• Intradermal test. After examining and cleaning the skin, a small amount of the allergen is injected just under the skin, similar to a tuberculosis test.
• Patch test. Another method is to apply an allergen to a patch which is then placed on the skin. This may be done to pinpoint a trigger of allergic contact dermatitis. If there are allergic antibodies in your system, your skin will become irritated and may itch, much like a mosquito bite. This reaction means you are allergic to that substance.

BLOOD TESTING FOR ALLERGIES (back to top)
Blood tests for allergies are sometimes performed to find out what triggers an allergic reaction and are often used if a patient has a skin condition or is taking medications, such as antihistamines. Such medications can interfere with an allergy skin test, which is a common test used to identify allergy triggers, but in general do not interfere with allergy blood tests.

MORE FROM NORTH MEDICAL, P.C.
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