What Are the Tests for Nut Allergies?

A health article fromYour Health Online the A to Z directory of dealing with Health Problems & nutritional Self Care Strategies

If you seem to have a problem with allergies whenever you are eating, it may be more than a simple problem that you are experiencing. As a matter of fact, if you are having a nut allergy, the problem may be mild today but tomorrow it could take your life.

That is because our body reacts to things that it is allergic to in different ways, on different days. One day we may just have a slight rash or perhaps a little bit of extra mucus as a result of eating nuts. The next day, however, it can throw us into an anaphylactic shock and kill us.

If we feel that we may have a nut allergy, it is important that we speak to our doctor as soon as we figure this out in order to find out if something can be done about it. The doctor is going to run a series of tests that will determine if we are dealing with a nut allergy or not.

You might be surprised to find out that it is possible that we have an intolerance for this type of food but are not actually dealing with an allergy. If that is the case, what we are experiencing is more or less and inconvenience and will never be life-threatening.

There are two different ways that you may be tested to find out if you have nut allergies. The first way is known as a prick test and it is the easiest of the two to perform. Basically, your skin is going to be scratched with a needle that contains a little bit of the proteins that exist in the nuts. Your doctor is going to watch this area for a reaction that will occur within moments after this test takes place.

Another test for nut allergies is a blood test. Because our body releases antibodies whenever it is having a reaction to the proteins that exist in nuts, it is easy to determine if we have an allergy.

By extracting a sample of our blood and checking in to see if these specific antibodies are present, the doctor is able to tell accurately if we have an allergy or not. If he finds out that we do, we will need to become educated on what we need to do in order to make sure that we never come in contact with nuts again.

Take A Blood Test to Determine Nut Allergies

It doesn't matter if you are having a problem with eating food or if it seems that your young child is having a problem, it needs to be addressed. The reason why this is the case is because there are certain types of foods which can cause a reaction that is that is so severe that it can be life-threatening.

A good example of this is a nut allergy, something that is more common than many people realize. Although reactions to this type of food can be mild, there is no rhyme or reason that let you know whenever you can have a severe reaction. At that point, it is typically referred to as being anaphylaxis and your airways can swell shut and your blood pressure drop to the point where you could die.

That is why it is important for you to speak to your doctor if you are having a difficulty with food allergies. They will be able to tell through a series of allergy tests whether you are having a problem or not.

Although the most common type of allergy test is known as a prick test, there are also other types of tests which are available which may be a little bit more accurate. A good example of this is a blood test that can help to determine if you are dealing with a nut allergy or not.

The way that the blood test works is relatively easy to understand. There are certain proteins that are contained within different types of nuts. If we have an allergy, our body will produce antibodies in order to combat those proteins because they will see them as being a foreign body that is dangerous to our system.

Unfortunately, our body will also release a massive amount of histamine anytime it recognizes that these proteins are present. This is what causes the reaction that we feel, and the reaction can be deadly without warning.

That is how a blood test to determine nut allergies actually works. After the blood is taken from you, the lab will look for the presence of those various types of antibodies. If they are present, that means that you have a nut allergy and you need to start avoiding nuts consistently. The reason why this is the case is because a mild allergy can turn severe without warning. That is why it is good to know if you are dealing with this problem and you can take steps to avoid eating nuts in the future.

The Skin Prick Test for Nut Allergies

You would be surprised at the number of people who have to deal with food allergies and in particular, nut allergies. This is not only the case with tree nuts but it is especially the case with peanuts, as these are two totally different things. Although it certainly is possible for somebody to have an allergy to both, it is more likely that they will have an allergy to one or the other.

This is because there are specific proteins that are in nuts which invoke a response in our body as if they were harming us in some way. It is not really a reaction to the nuts that we are having, it is a reaction because our body is releasing histamine in such large quantities that it becomes damaging to our health.

Of course, a nut allergy does not always come about in such a severe form whenever it first starts out. As a matter of fact, many parents who have children with severe nut allergies don't even recognize the fact that it is taking place, sometimes until a severe reaction occurs.

That is why it is necessary, if you see any of these reactions that are occurring whenever nuts are eaten that you inform your doctor immediately so that they are able to test and see if there is actually a problem there. Although there are several different type of test for allergies, one of the most common than is given is known as the skin prick test.

The skin prick test is relatively easy to take and it only takes moments in order for the doctor to determine if you have a nut allergy or not. Basically, they are going to prick you with a needle which has a little bit of the nut protein on it in order to see if you have a reaction on your skin.

It is very rare that you also have a larger reaction to this type of test but your doctor will be prepared in case such a thing occurs. It is really just a little scratch and is not something that you need to worry about, as if it were a shot.

Knowing for sure whether you have a nut allergy or not can save your life. Once you realize that you have one of these problems, then you can go about avoiding them and living your life normally, although nut free.

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