5 Benefits of Getting Allergy Tested this Spring

More than 50 million people in the United States are affected by allergies, which hold the dubious distinction of being the sixth leading cause of chronic illness. The problem with allergies is that they can present themselves in myriad ways — from watery eyes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. The best way to get to the bottom of any unexplained symptoms you may be experiencing is to undergo simple and easy allergy testing.

At I & R Medical Services, under the expert leadership of Drs. Roza and Igor Israel, our team partners with our patients in Forest Hills, New York, to help them best navigate their health care. With an emphasis on preventive care, our team provides you with the tools you need to take action and safeguard your health. And with the prevalence of allergies, comprehensive testing is one of the most effective ways to monitor your health.

Here are five benefits of allergy testing to get you started.

As we mentioned, reactions to allergens are incredibly varied, depending upon the allergen. For example, hay fever can bring on flu-like symptoms, including congestion and fatigue, while food allergies can cause hives and respiratory distress.

You know your body best, so if you find that you greet each spring with less exuberance or every time you eat shellfish you feel sick, allergies may be at play and testing can help you get the answers you need.

If you test positive for allergies, this allows us to come up with a plan for your unique situation that meets your healthcare needs and your lifestyle. Whether it’s through medications or lifestyle changes, there are many ways we can manage your allergies, restoring your quality of life.

This is especially important if you’re experiencing severe reactions that put your life in danger. If we know of a threat through allergy testing, we can take the necessary precautionary steps, such as arming you with an epinephrine injector.

Another often overlooked benefit of allergy testing is that it’s effective at ruling out a diagnosis. For example, if you’re plagued by gastrointestinal upset, we can run some tests to find out whether your symptoms may be tied to an allergic reaction. If we find that your body isn’t responding to an allergen, this allows us to look elsewhere for answers, narrowing down our field considerably so we that we can get you the right care.

We test for allergies in two ways: skin testing and blood testing. Both of these diagnostic tools are effective at rooting out your body’s immune response, and they’re fairly simple to administer. Granted, there is some discomfort with skin prick tests and drawing blood, but it’s short lived and well worth the effort as we can get results quickly.

One of the top benefits of allergy testing is that it provides us with the information we need to come up with a preventive plan, which is the best kind of medical treatment. Through trigger avoidance, as well as other proactive steps like installing air filters, we can help you avoid an allergic reaction in the first place.

To get started on your allergy testing, please give us a call or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.