How do you know if you have an allergic reaction?

Allergic reactions can take the form of allergy, intolerance or sensitivity. With any immune response there will be heightened reactions which can involve swelling such as the face, tongue or indeed throat. This kind reaction is severe and occurs often in cases of angiodema or anaphylaxis which requires immediate medical attention. This type of reaction is usually caused by ‘real allergies’ which requires IgE Allergy Testing.

Other individuals experience less severe but none the less annoying and frustrating reactions such as bloating, flatulence, bowel changes, skin rashes, asthma, eczema, migraines, increase in perspiration, runny nose, palpitations, anxiety, fluid retention, weight gain etc.  These reactions may be caused by food intolerance or food allergy. When such symptoms have been present for long periods of time or simply begin to get gradually worse it may be time to have the ICIM Allergy Assessment to help work out what kind of reaction you have and why ?

‘Real’ Food allergies are likely to cause severe reactions including anaphylaxis, angiodema, asthma, eczema, ear infections (otitis media), sinus infections (bacterial sinusitis) and research has even suggested in some cases can contribute to auto-immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), arthritis and osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease including, ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn’s disease.

If you suspect you might be suffering from a ‘real’ food allergy, the first thing to do is consider the symptoms. Check out the three yes / no questions below, and if you happen to answer “yes” to more than one of them, there’s a good chance you are suffering from a real allergy and therefore require IgE Allergy Testing.

  1. Do you have any signs of skin allergies (rashes, hives, swelling and itchy skin) or have you had such problems in your childhood?
  2. Do any of the allergic symptoms occur at particular times or after particular foods or ever experienced angiodema or anaphylactic shock ?
  3. Do other members of your family suffer from allergies?

For further information on Allergy Testing at ICIM Medics contact telephone +353 (0) 45 844 819 or e-mail: info@icim.ie


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