Pollen Trouble? Your Blood Tells Your Story.

A Blood test for pollen allergies? Doesn't your nose have something to do with allergies? I thought I had to get scratches on my back to test for allergies?

Allergies are a result of the body's increased sensitivity to common substances in the environment (allergens). Allergens cause reactions when entering the body through the skin, by inhalation or by ingestion. Wind-blown pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, mold, animal hair, house dust and foods are all examples of allergens.

When an allergic person is exposed to an allergen, the immune system produces an antibody, called immunoglobulin E (IgE). It is the production of this antibody that eventually causes allergy symptoms; sneezing, runny nose, headaches, stomach cramps, joint pain and others.  There is an easy blood test that measures the level of IgE antibody in your blood that is reacting to specific allergens. The level of antibody reacting to each specific allergen is expressed in numbers ranging from 0 to 5, with 0 being the least amount of antibody and 5 being the highest.

No more painful back scratches.  No fear of an allergic reaction during testing. No need for a Doctor's order.  Just a simple blood draw in an office like LabTest Select.  There are 5 Allergy panels from which to choose, with all of them describing exactly which food, weed or pollen is to be tested.  You can find the list at LabTestSelect.com . Take control of your own health, choose which is right for you.

Once you have a list of foods, weeds or pollen that bothers you, now what?  We always recommend you visit your physician with your results in hand - the physician will be better able to offer medical advice with these results available. 

In our own case, my son was showing mild sensitively to cantaloupe and other melons. Peanuts and gardenias( plant) were a bit more severe. Once we had the results, we were prescribed the following: don't eat cantaloupe or other melons that bother you.  Stay away from peanuts and cut down your gardenia bush.

Tom Senyitko LabTestSelect.com  500 N. Milledge Ave, Athens Ga

Call anytime with your health care questions. Our CMAs are always happy to help.

706-389-0880