Do you know the difference between allergies and intolerances?
Posted: 15th March 2023 | Posted by Costa
Do you know the difference between allergies and intolerances?
Peanut allergies. Lactose intolerances. Sometimes food really doesn’t agree with us, does it? And it makes life that much more annoying. Both of these examples will stop you eating something you might genuinely enjoy, and you have to tiptoe around them, trying to avoid ever coming into contact with them.
So it stands to reason that they’re practically the same condition, just to different foods. But allergies and intolerances aren’t the same. There are crucial differences that separate the two, and it can be a case of life and death. Let’s take a look at where allergies and intolerances differ.
Defining them
First, we’ll start by defining what each of them are. An allergy is a response from your immune system. That’s your body saying it doesn’t like a trigger as soon as it comes into contact with you. In more extreme cases, even a food touching someone can cause a reaction. Your immune system will respond to it just like it would a common cold – trying to flush it out in any way necessary or otherwise stopping it from getting further into your body.
An intolerance is a digestive response. It’s why you might not feel the effects until a few hours later. Your digestive system – as opposed to your immune system – is irritated by something you’ve eaten. In some cases, you might be able to stop this from happening. Lactase pills can prevent the bad effects of drinking milk, but there really isn’t a simple way to stop an allergy like that.
Symptoms
While allergies and intolerances will share symptoms, there are some that are more likely to happen with one over the other. With allergies there can be a range of symptoms depending on what it is you’re reacting to. Here are some common examples:
- Sneezing and/or runny nose
- Itchy, red rashes
- Swollen lips, tongue, or face
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Anaphylaxis
That last one is an important one. With intolerances, they are very rarely fatal. But anaphylaxis – where a person can have trouble breathing and lose consciousness – is dangerous.
Intolerance symptoms will be more centred on the digestive system:
- Bloating
- Passing excess gas
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
Though intolerances can also lead to headaches, exhaustion, or joint pain in some circumstances.
Diagnosing
There are a handful of ways to diagnose both an allergy and an intolerance. With allergies, this could be a skin prick test, where a small amount of the allergen is pierced into the skin to monitor your reaction. A patch test is similar, though these are just left on the surface of your skin. Then there are potential blood tests, though they can return false positives.
With intolerances, as this is dietary, you can expect to look more closely at your diet. This may involve cutting out certain foods to see how your body responds. Blood tests are less common, though not impossible depending on the condition. For example, coeliac disease can be tested with a blood test.
The only person you can trust to deliver your diagnosis in either scenario is a doctor. Either your GP or an allergy specialist. They can help you discover what it is that’s been bothering you and whether it is an allergy or an intolerance. Remember, this isn’t something you can do on your own at home. Don’t leave it to chance.
If you want to reveal what’s been affecting you, then get in touch. Our team of allergists are ready to guide you through the process and help you live a happier and healthier life. Register as a new patient or call us on 02031 433 449.