Allergies sometimes occur as a mild nuisance, but some types can cause potentially life-threatening reactions. Knowing what you’re allergic to through testing can help ensure that you get treatment for allergies. We provide environmental and food allergy testing. Our clinical team also offers advice on avoiding allergens to reduce reactions.
Your body has an allergic reaction to something harmless, such as pet dander, when your immune system designates it as a threat. When this happens, your immune system makes antibodies and releases chemicals, including histamine, into your bloodstream. These chemicals cause the allergic reactions you experience, such as sneezing, hives, or breathing problems.
The exact symptoms you experience with allergies depends on the type of allergen you’ve been exposed to. Some allergens affect your respiratory system, while others mainly affect your skin or digestive system. Some common signs of an allergic reaction include the following:
You might be allergic to one or more of the following allergens:
Allergy testing is a critical first step in determining a treatment plan that meets our patients’ needs. We offer 70 inhalation allergens specific to your area.
This type of allergy testing is the most common and is relatively painless. A very small volume of certain allergens will be placed on your skin by making a small indentation or “prick” on the surface of your skin using a sterile device. Skin prick testing is used for multiple allergens, including:
Food allergies can range from mild to severe and can be caused by any food. The top 8 foods classes that cause an allergy are:
