Diagnosing food allergies with your allergy test specialist in Elgin

Food is a source of vitamins and nutrients. For many, it also provides comfort and pleasure. For some, food is a cause of discomfort. In fact, most people, at some point in time, experience distress after consuming certain foods. Such experiences are often deemed the result of food allergies. Most mild reactions to foods like milk or ice cream are simply bouts of intolerance, mimicking allergic responses but not triggered by the same mechanisms.

Food allergies are very specific to our genetic makeup and immune system, passed down from our ancestors. Allergies to foods occur after certain proteins which are unaffected by cooking processes and stomach acid enter the bloodstream through the gastrointestinal lining, producing an immune response.

An allergic response to food may begin to occur quickly, feeling like a mild itch in the mouth, or slight difficulty breathing. Full allergic reactions occur in about an hour after exposure to an allergen. Common food allergy symptoms affecting the stomach include:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Once the trigger food has been digested, its components are absorbed and allergic symptoms may appear on the skin as a rash. Asthma may develop or worsen if the respiratory tract is affected. Symptoms are somewhat mild in most cases. As an allergen travels into the blood vessels, however, more concerning symptoms may occur, including dizziness, anaphylaxis and shock.

At Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/Food Allergy Center of Illinois, we understand the impact food allergies can have on your life. If you or a loved one shows signs of food allergies, undergoing the appropriate allergy test with your specialist in the Elgin area can make a world of difference in your sense of wellbeing.

The diagnostic services we offer are designed to quickly and accurately determine the triggers to allergic responses. Our aim is to get you back into the full swing of life, with allergies identified and properly handled.

Allergy analysis often begins with simple skin testing. We may also order blood tests. When warranted, we will schedule an oral challenge of particular foods.

Food allergies are often thought to be something else, since symptoms can resemble intolerance, illness, and food poisoning. Your allergy specialist has the training and extensive experience to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment of food and other allergies.

The Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/Food Allergy Center of Illinois has three locations in North Illinois to serve your needs. Contact us today and move towards a life not ruled by allergies.

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