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How Does A Doctor Diagnose An Allergy?

If you have watery eyes or a stuffy, runny nose, you could have a cold. But if you get these symptoms only when you're outside, near pets, or eat certain foods, you could have an allergy.

Some people with allergies sneeze a lot or get rashes or hives, which may or may not spread to other parts of their body. But others can have severe reactions, such as trouble breathing, and need medical help right away.

Knowing if you have allergies is important so you can avoid the things that trigger them — called allergens — and get medicine if you need it.

If you have an allergy that doesn't get better easily with over-the-counter medications, or if you think you might have a food allergy, see a doctor who specializes in allergies called an allergist. They'll ask questions about your health and any family history of asthma or allergies. They'll also examine you and recommend a few tests to find out for sure.

An allergist can test you for all kinds of allergens, like hay fever, mold, pollen, and pet dander, using a skin test.

A skin test is the most common way to test for allergies . That's because it gives the fastest, most accurate results.

The one doctors use most often is called a scratch test. A doctor or nurse will put a tiny drop of an allergen on your skin, usually on the inside of your arm or on your back. Common allergens include mold, pollen, pet skin and fur, foods, and some medicines.

Next, they'll prick your skin or make a small scratch on the surface to let the allergen get underneath it. The skin prick won't make you bleed. You'll feel it, but it shouldn't hurt. Some doctors use a small needle to put the allergen under the first few layers of your skin.

The doctor will probably test several things at the same time. If one of the areas swells up and reddens like a mosquito bite, it means you're allergic to that allergen. It usually takes about 15 minutes to find out.

When the test is over, the doctor or nurse will clean your skin and put some cream on it to help with any itching. Any swelling from a reaction usually goes away within 30 minutes to a few hours.

Some medicines can get in the way of the tests. Check with your doctor to see if you need to stop taking any medication before the test.

If you take medicine that could affect allergy test results, have sensitive skin, or have had a bad reaction to a skin test, your doctor might do a blood test instead.

A sample of your blood is sent to a lab, and your doctor will get the results within a few days. This is typically costlier than a skin test.

If your doctor thinks you might be allergic to a certain food or foods, they may ask you to stop eating them to see if that helps. This is called an elimination diet.

You'll cut out those foods for two to four weeks and see if you have any allergy symptoms during that time. If you don't, your doctor will ask you to start eating the foods again to see if your symptoms come back. If they do, there's a good chance you're allergic to those foods.

Your doctor also might ask you to do an oral food challenge. This should only be done in a medical office by an allergist.

Your doctor will give you very small amounts of the food you may be allergic to and watch for symptoms. If you don't have any, they'll slowly give you larger doses. If you start to have symptoms, they'll stop the test.

The most common signs are hives or a flushed feeling. If that happens, they'll give you medicine to make you feel better. If you don't have a reaction, you can rule out an allergy to that food.

You can get allergy tests from an allergist. They have special training in allergies, and test you for all types of conditions, including:

Skin allergies

Food allergies

Hay fever

Anaphylaxis

Eye allergies

The cost of allergy testing depends on your health insurance and the type and number of tests you need. To avoid a bill you can't afford, check with your insurance company to see what your plan covers before any tests.

If you don't have health insurance, talk to your doctor to see if they will work with you on a self-pay rate. Allergy tests can be costly without insurance.

Certain allergy tests are also covered by Medicare, but only if you and the tests meet specific criteria. Talk to your doctor to make sure the tests they're giving are usually covered by Medicare.

How do you know if you have allergies?

Allergies cause symptoms similar to a cold, such as a runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and sneezing. But they can also cause rashes or hives, coughing, difficulty breathing, and tightness in your chest. These happen when your immune system overreacts to an allergen, which is something you're allergic to.

Do you need a referral to see an allergist?

You may or may not need a referral to see an allergist, depending on whether your insurance requires one from your regular doctor. Check with your insurance provider to find out.

What's A Nitric Oxide Test?

A fractional exhaled nitric oxide test (often called a FeNO test) measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. It can detect inflammation in your airways.

Nitric oxide is a gas in the atmosphere, but the body also produces it when there's inflammation in the airways.

A higher amount of nitric oxide indicates inflammation or swelling in the airways and can help diagnose conditions that result from sensitivity to allergens.

Here's a look at how nitric oxide tests work and what you can expect.

A nitric oxide test is safe, simple, and typically takes less than 5 minutes to complete.

The test is similar to other pulmonary function tests and involves blowing into a handheld device. You'll complete testing in your doctor's office, and you'll likely receive your results on the same visit.

To get started, a healthcare professional places a clip over your nose, and you place your mouth over a mouthpiece. Next, you'll inhale deeply and then exhale into the device until you hear a beep. You'll repeat this process a few times.

Throughout the test, the technician monitors your breathing from a computer.

If you already have a diagnosis and treatment plan for an allergic condition, a doctor may recommend this test to find out how well your treatment is working.

A nitric oxide test doesn't require much preparation. However, a doctor may recommend avoiding things that may affect the test. This can include:

Exhaled nitric oxide is measured in parts per billion. A higher-than-normal level in people not using inhaled corticosteroids is more than 40 or 50 parts per billion for adults and more than 35 parts per billion for children and adolescents.

The results of your test can determine whether there's swelling or inflammation in your airways. Higher than normal results indicate inflammation.

You may need additional testing to determine the cause of the inflammation, but it may be due to:

Your doctor might use other tools to diagnose you in addition to a fractional exhaled nitric oxide test. They may also listen to your breathing with a stethoscope and listen for wheezing when you exhale.

They might ask about other symptoms, too. Symptoms that can commonly happen along with high nitric oxide levels include:

A doctor might also order the following pulmonary function tests:

Spirometry

A spirometry test measures the amount of air you breathe in and out of your lungs. This helps gauge how well your lungs work.

Similarly to a nitric oxide test, you'll inhale and exhale into a mouthpiece connected to a machine.

Challenge test

If certain activities or substances trigger symptoms, the doctor might suggest a challenge test.

You're first exposed to a possible trigger, such as physical activity or an allergen, and then you'll take a spirometry test.

Bronchodilators

It can be difficult to complete lung function tests on children. So, if a young child has signs of asthma, doctors might first prescribe a bronchodilator. These medications open the airways and make it easier to breathe.

If the medication improves their symptoms, asthma is a likely diagnosis.

Pulse oximetry tests

A pulse oximetry test involves wearing a pulse oximeter on your finger to measure the oxygen in your red blood cells.

Normal oxygen levels indicate healthy lung function, but low levels can indicate a respiratory issue.

Imaging tests

Keep in mind that symptoms of allergic conditions can mimic other conditions like:

The doctor might use an X-ray or CT scan of your chest and sinuses to rule out other conditions or order an upper endoscopy or phlegm sample to rule out acid reflux and infections, respectively.

Try These Allergy Hacks And Tips Before The Pollen Count Spikes

If you have allergies, you know just how frustrating March through October (aka allergy season) can be. And you're not alone, considering that the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America says more than 100 million US people deal with various allergies yearly. This can cause symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, sneezing, a scratchy throat and even difficulty sleeping.

Before the pollen count spikes, there are things you can do to prepare yourself for allergy season. Get ready with air purifiers and the following apps and tips so that allergy season doesn't get the best of you this time around.

Keep track of the pollen count with a helpful app

If you're plagued with seasonal allergies, staying inside when the pollen count is high is probably the best idea. You don't need to wait for your local weather report for the information, though: Several apps can provide you with the local pollen count as soon as possible.

The Allergy Plus app by Pollen.Com provides the latest location-based allergy, air quality and weather forecasts. It is a free app available on iPhone and Android devices. You can also receive notifications based on allergy changes in your area, view five-day, side-by-side allergy and weather forecasts and share this information with family and friends.

If you prefer to see your pollen counts on a map, you may prefer My Pollen Forecast, free for iPhone and iPad users. Here, you can also view pollen forecasts that include temperature, wind and humidity, a symptom tracker and receive push notifications for high pollen counts.

The Zyrtec Allergycast app is also free for iPhone and Android users. In addition to features similar to Allergy Plus, it offers an allergy symptom tracker, a personalized allergy profile and coupons for Zyrtec products.

You can also use your iPhone or Android's weather app to check the air quality in your area. If the air quality isn't great, consider wearing a face mask when going outdoors.

Downloading an app that tracks pollen can help you anticipate when the air quality can compromise your health so you know when you might need to take your allergy medication.

Change your HVAC filters for cleaner air and happier sinuses

One of your best defenses against seasonal allergens inside of your home is your HVAC filter. These filters come with a rating system called a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values scale. The MERV scale rates the filter's efficiency from 1 to 20. The higher the number, the better the filter works, meaning cleaner air for you.

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