Methods of allergy and food intolerance testing

Allergies and food intolerances are more and more common in today’s society. There are several different methods for allergy and food intolerance testing, including blood and skin tests.  There is no fix-all cure for allergies and food intolerances. Therefore, it is important for allergy sufferers to take an allergy test to determine the allergens that … Continued

US pollen season start and regional variability

Pollen allergy is one of the most common forms of allergy in the US. It affects approximately 19.2 million adults as well as 5.2 million children. Typically, symptoms of hay fever include nasal congestion and obstruction, sneezing fits, conjunctivitis, ear infections as well as allergic asthma.    It is a regionally variable disease and heavily … Continued

What is allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT)?

What is allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT)? Also known as desensitization or hypo-sensitization, it is a form of medical therapy that involves exposing patients to larger and larger amounts of a specific allergen over a selected time-period to change the immune system’s response.  The main goal for every allergy sufferer is keeping their symptoms in check and maintaining … Continued

What is a true food allergy?

A true food allergy is caused by the body’s immune system identifying a usually harmless protein as dangerous. As a reaction, the immune system produces antibodies to fight this protein. This causes immediate bodily reactions such as:  Hives, swelling, itching  Digestive symptoms   Anaphylaxis (incl. shortness of breath, wheezing, and dizziness) In very severe cases, the state … Continued

Climate change and allergies

More than 24 million people in the US struggle with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by pollen allergies. This number is set to increase drastically in future years. The culprit? Climate change.   Influence of climate change Climate change is not simply an environmental issue, it is also a threat to the global public health, as it dramatically impacts the severity … Continued