3 allergy tips to consider before you tuck into your next takeaway

30th August 2023

3 allergy tips to consider before you tuck into your next takeaway

The UK loves a good takeaway. That feeling of not having to cook and enjoying a tasty cuisine from halfway across the world. We could spend all day debating which one’s better. Do you like your Chinese food? Or are you more of a curry kind of person?

But around 1 in 10 fatal food reactions are caused by unknown peanut or nut ingredients, typically because of takeaways. And a worrying number of restaurants aren’t taking it seriously. They’re yet another hurdle for those with allergies to jump over. Just because you have this condition doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to enjoy a takeaway. So here are our key tips to staying safe and enjoying your meal.

You have to talk to the restaurant

Delivery apps are a great convenience when it comes to ordering takeaway. Everything you could possibly want is on there. But if you have food allergies, we recommend staying away. Listing allergen details is a responsibility of the restaurant, not the app. So there’s no guarantee it has the information you need.

To solve this problem, you have to talk to the restaurant directly. Either over the phone or by going to pick it up in person. This way, you can get the information from them. They have a duty to list potential allergens on their menus or otherwise highlight it somewhere in their restaurant.

Another tip is to look at their food hygiene rating. They should all have one and while it mainly is a sign of how clean their food preparation is, it can also signal how seriously they take their commitment to avoiding allergen contamination.

Clear communication is a must

Only you know what your allergy is and what will cause a reaction. So you need to be clear in how you communicate your needs. And remember, you may be dealing with people for whom English is their second language.

When talking to them about their order, ask about allergens. Gauge their response. Is it equally clear and well-informed? Or do they seem unsure? Ask about the food preparation process – how do they keep allergy-free orders separate? Do they package allergy-safe meals in a different bag to the other ones?

It might feel like an interrogation, but you can’t be too safe. A takeaway should be no different from a restaurant in how it treats food allergies and you have a right to know how compliant they are.

Be aware of common ingredients

If you’re allergic to one of what the Food Standards Agency calls the “14 major allergens”, you’re likely familiar with keeping your eyes peeled for them. They also happen to be incredibly common in takeaway food. And there’s a chance they’re being prepared in the same area as your food.

Nuts and peanuts are common in Chinese and Indian foods. Milk and dairy are used in a variety of cuisines, especially Italian. Seafood, like shrimp, are on practically every menu in the UK. All this to say that they’re everywhere. So even if something seems safe, double and triple-check that they are not an ingredient in the dish you want to order. And if their answers to the above questions weren’t satisfactory enough, don’t take the risk.

We’re sorry if this blog made you hungry for a takeaway, but it needed to be said. As much as we’d like for you to sit down and tuck in without any worries, that’s not how it goes. But hopefully these few tips give you something to think about next time you want to put in your order. Stay safe and enjoy whatever you eat!

If you need allergy support or think you have an undiagnosed condition, get in touch with our experts today. Simply call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient here.

What you need to know about managing your allergies at university

23rd August 2023

What you need to know about managing your allergies at university

Heading off to university is a huge leap. Whether it’s you yourself going or you’re a parent of a child who’s flying the nest in September, it’s a big moment. It’s time to leave your old life behind and head off into something new. You have to juggle classes, forge new friendships, and have a little fun as you go.

But if you have allergies – especially a food allergy – it’s going to change the experience. You can’t freely do what a lot of your peers can and it adds a whole host of fresh hurdles to avoid. What are some of the key lessons you’re going to have to learn? We have three of the biggest right here.

Note: if you’re a student heading out on your own for the first time, we hope these tips help you manage your allergies. And if you’re a parent, we hope they put your mind at ease – even if just a little bit.

You’re not going to be living alone

This one sounds obvious: in your first year, you’re likely in halls. In future years, you’ll have to share with friends. Either way, it means living with people who don’t have the same concerns as you and sharing an environment that could be rife for cross-contamination.

There’s going to have to be a certain amount of education. You’ll need to let them know what exactly you’re allergic to, how it can affect you, and what you would like from them. It would also be good to find someone in particular you can trust to talk to about your adrenaline auto-injector (AAI). Having someone who knows where it is and how to apply it is going to be critical.

Since you can’t guarantee they’ll always be the most vigilant (even if they’re trying their hardest), you’re going to have to learn to create a safe space where you can. Always thoroughly clean countertops before cooking, only use your kitchen wares, and clearly label all of your things.

You’ll have to take some personal responsibility

As you’ve been living with your allergy, you’ve likely had to grow up faster than your peers. So you’ll be used to taking care of yourself to a degree. But the odds are you’ll be on your own now – no parents to keep watch. And that comes with a level of responsibility.

You need to look after yourself, even though there will be times at university when you can’t. Yes, you might get a bit inebriated at some point. That’s going to impair your decision-making skills. Whenever you drink, just make sure you can still look after yourself. We all do dumb things when under the influence, but stay safe where you can.

Another aspect is looking after your health. What’s your plan if you need to refill a prescription? Are you regularly checking the expiration date on your AAI? Do you know who your doctor is if you have to talk about your allergy? It’s on you to be proactive now.

Look after your own space

Part of managing your allergy is going to be controlling the environment around you where you can. And there are plenty of steps you can take to keep yourself safe. Number one – and you might not like this truth – is getting good at cleaning. Cleaning your kitchen, your room, and your shared spaces. It’s necessary to remove any allergens before you use a surface.

Another step you could take is to invest in something like a mini fridge. It might seem like an overreaction, but it’s a simple way to separate your food and ensure there’s no cross-contamination. And take your food shopping seriously. You’re going to have to learn how to interrogate ingredient labels if you’re not experienced already.

University is a lot of fun. But so much of it is about learning to take care of yourself. You’ll be surprised how much education takes place outside the classroom. What’s important is looking after yourself, taking your condition seriously, and – most of all – having a great time.

Whether you’re a university student or a parent of a soon-to-be one, make sure you’re ready for what comes next. Talk to our allergy specialists for ongoing advice about how to best manage your allergies. Get in touch on 02031 433 449 or register as a patient with us here.

Back to school with food allergies: how can you prepare?

16th August 2023

Back to school with food allergies: how can you prepare?

It’s a scary time in any parent’s life: when your child goes off to school. Whether they’re just starting primary or are moving up to secondary school, you can’t help but feel this anxiety. Will they be okay? Will they do well? And will they make friends? All completely understandable concerns.

But if your child has an allergy, that’s a whole new level of stress. Not only are you worrying about the above, but now you have to face the prospect of letting your child head into an environment you can’t control. It’s something you can’t avoid. There is a silver lining, though. You can be proactive. Here’s our advice for managing your child’s allergies as they head back to school.

Talk to the school ahead of time

Your best first move is to let the school know that your child has an allergy. Yes, even if they’ve been going there for a few years already, it’s still best to check in every September. The school will have a duty of care to look after your child. The Children and Families Act 2014 makes it a legal requirement for them to make arrangements for pupils with medical conditions – and that includes allergies.

Talking to them allows you to get on the same page. What are your concerns? How do they address them? Ask about their allergy policy and what their response is to an allergic reaction. This conversation may also involve school nurses and catering staff, especially if your child has a food allergy.

Talk to your child

Depending on their age, there’s a good chance your child already knows how to handle their allergy – at least partly. They’re going to have to be responsible for themselves, so the more you can equip them with knowledge, the better.

For younger kids, it’s about making sure they know which foods (or other allergens) make them sick and to avoid them. No trading snacks or accepting food they don’t know. It’s also important you explain why – you don’t have to go into all the worst details, but they should know that “X food = sick”.

Older kids are more likely to be aware of their allergies, but they’re also at that age where identity is important to them. What teenagers want is to feel in control of their lives, especially when they have an allergy that holds them back. So work with them to come up with a plan. Give them some control in how they manage their condition.

What happens to their adrenaline auto-injector (AAI)?

Each school will have its own policy in how it handles any AAI. In fact, they should have a tailored allergy plan for each child with the condition. And that will involve the question of what to do with AAIs.

There are two concerns for you here: location and staff training. Where are the AAIs stored? And how long will it take for them to reach your child in an emergency? Anything longer than 5 minutes is a no go, so make sure it’s closer than that. Older kids may be allowed to carry their own on their person. 

In regards to staff training, you’ll want to know who is capable of administering the AAI in case of an attack. If the school doesn’t have someone, make sure they work on getting a teacher or member of staff qualified before term starts.

Controlling food

It’s hard to talk about allergies without specifically mentioning food allergies. They’re common and can lead to some of the most fatal reactions. This is why you want to talk to the catering staff at the school. They should be required to make reasonable adjustments for certain pupils, so ask what their policy on food allergens is. How do they mitigate risk?

If their answers don’t fill you with confidence, consider packed lunches. It’s much easier to control. Talk to the school about potentially setting up a lunch buddy system so your child can eat at a table with students that have allergy-safe food.

Will this remove your anxiety? Likely not – nothing ever will. But will it at least make you feel more prepared? Absolutely. These are proactive steps you can take to make sure your child is as safe as can be. It’s a difficult time, but one you can get through together.

If you need more advice and strategies for managing your child’s allergies, get in touch with our experts today. You can register as a new patient or simply call us on 02031 433 449.

Food for thought: 4 foods with hidden allergens

9th August 2023

Food for thought: 4 foods with hidden allergens

Food allergies can feel like you’re navigating a minefield. When you have one, you realise just how common your allergen is, making food shopping, dining out, and even going to a friend’s a more complicated task than it needs to be. But even foods you would never expect to be hazardous can be a danger.

It’s why you should always read the ingredients label and find out what’s in your food. We wanted to do a bit of an experiment: what seemingly innocuous foods actually contain allergens? In our research, we found some surprising examples…

Sauces

There are certain sauces you might expect to contain allergens. Something described as a “creamy” sauce is likely to contain milk or eggs. That’s a given. But what about barbecue sauce? We found a couple of examples that had peanuts in them – including one popular jerk BBQ brand.

It didn’t end there. Many other sauces – be they for barbecue, burgers, or kebabs – frequently contained eggs and soya. Even your run-of-the-mill tomato ketchup can contain celery. So it’s not always the ingredients you expect in such a simple condiment.

Salad dressings

Dressings are similar. Again, you probably expect it from a Caesar dressing, but not necessarily from a vinaigrette. We found dressings that contained celery and mustard, and many vinaigrettes contained sulphur dioxide or sulphites. While these alone might now cause allergies, they have been shown to aggravate people’s asthma symptoms.

The main issue here is when you’re dining out. A simple salad at a restaurant might sound nice, but if you don’t know what dressing they’re using, you can’t be sure what you’re being exposed to.

Hot dogs

For this, we’re referring to the kind you find preserved with something like brine in a glass jar. Classic hot dogs that you can cook up in five minutes. We found one brand that contains celery, soya, and mustard all in one pork package. So it got us thinking about other processed meats.

Allergens can be quite prevalent in canned, tinned, or even sandwich meats. We found ham with wheat in it. Spam with milk. Even normal sausages use eggs as a binding agent. Saying that, we did find sandwich meats that were free from most common allergens, so there are safer options available.

Pet food

This is an odd one, we know. But something you might not consider is what your dog or cat eats and how that can affect you. For example, let’s say you give them a treat that contains peanut butter. If they come over to give you some affection – maybe even a lick – there could now be trace amounts of that peanut butter on your skin, causing a reaction.

We found examples that contained everything from wheat and dairy to more specific fruit and vegetable allergens. Is the amount so low that a reaction is unlikely? Probably. But it’s adding risk into your life that doesn’t need to be there.

There’s no doubt that, if you’re a seasoned pro with your allergies, that you’re used to looking at labels and picking out examples like these. But you still have to be vigilant. If you ever get complacent and don’t think twice about that hot dog you’re eating, it could cause unexpected (and unnecessary) discomfort. So keep these in mind – and keep your eyes open.

Navigating allergies is a constant battle, and we understand how that can beat you down over time. But you don’t have to deal with it alone. Our allergy specialists are experts in guiding you through your allergies and giving you the peace of mind to live your life without compromise. To register as a new patient, click here. Or call us on 02031 433 449.

What NOT to say to people with food allergies

28th June 2023

What NOT to say to people with food allergies

Navigating a food allergy is difficult. For anyone that doesn’t have one, you might not be familiar with the constant anxiety involved with checking every single ingredient in your food. The feeling that something might cause an allergic reaction. And the unending conversations where you have to explain your condition to people who don’t (or simply don’t want to) understand.

Unless you’re living with that constantly over your head, it’s hard to see how deeply it can affect a person. The last thing they need is someone making careless remarks that undermine their condition. And you might be contributing without even realising. So here are some phrases people with food allergies often hear – and how you can be a bit kinder with your words.

“Is it really that bad?”

Sometimes, people can see food allergies as something akin to food preferences. That any reaction can’t be that bad and that some foods are just worth it. But this downplays their condition. Even if it isn’t a life-threatening allergy (which it can be), it still takes a mental and physical toll on a person.

Instead, be more empathetic. Ask them how their allergy affects them. Hearing the struggle they go through will give you some perspective and show you that, yes, it really is that bad.

“Can’t you just eat something normal?”

Questions like this often get asked when the topic of dining out comes up. Not every restaurant will put the effort in to accommodate people with food allergies, but that doesn’t matter, right? They can just have the regular spaghetti bolognese and be fine. But that’s not how it works. And they can’t simply eat the vegan option either.

This type of question is rude because there is no “normal”. A person with allergies has every right to feel comfortable no matter where they go. So, as an alternative, ask for their restaurant recommendations. Where do they like? After all, it’s probably easier for you to adjust than them.

“I could never stop eating that!”

Okay, thanks for the input. While you might find the idea of a hypothetical life free from bread or cheese to be ghastly, that’s their actual reality. They’re living it, and they’re probably not happy either. Especially if it’s a condition that came later in life so they know what they’re missing out on.

And they’ll have heard it all before. There’s nothing worse than hearing the same joke over and over. Instead, be supportive. Don’t say something like this and make an effort to match their dietary needs. Eat their food. Make them an allergy-free version they can eat. Something to show you care.

Most of all, never accuse someone with a food allergy of complaining. They’re a challenge to work around and make life harder than it needs to be. No one would do that on purpose. So be more empathetic to people with allergies in your life and ask yourself if there’s anything you could be doing to help them.

If you have allergy concerns of your own, don’t feel like you have to suffer in silence. Get in touch with us to talk to an allergy specialist who can help you diagnose any unknown conditions. Simply reach us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient here.

4 rare food allergies that you should know about

14th June 2023

4 rare food allergies that you should know about

It’s easy to see why some people are foodies. There’s such a rich variety of foods out there to enjoy. A bounty of fruit, vegetables, meats, different cuisines from around the world – we hope we’re not making you too hungry!

But not everyone can enjoy every food. Food allergies prevent people from eating some very common ingredients, making it hard to navigate simple meals. We all know about nut allergies, or something like gluten intolerance. But what are some lesser-known food allergies? Let’s take a look at some of the rarer and more bizarre ones out there.

Meat allergies

A staple in many people’s diets, meat allergies can be incredibly strange. Take red meat allergies, for instance – otherwise known as alpha-gal syndrome. It can suddenly appear in people after a tick bite. It’s a strange reaction that isn’t fully understood. But we do know that the allergy isn’t directly to the meat. It’s actually a reaction to a molecule found in various red meats called alpha-gal.

Another odd allergy is a pork allergy. Through something called “pork-cat syndrome”, people who are allergic to cats may also be allergic to pork. This is because there is a similarity in the structure of cat and pork albumin (a type of protein).

Honey allergy

While a honey allergy might sound a bit strange, it makes sense. Because of how honey is made – by bees taking pollen from plants and trees – it can potentially affect people with pollen sensitivities.

It is considered incredibly rare – estimates put it at 0.001% occurrence rate. But this can change depending on allergies people have. For example, in one study, they found that 65% of participants were sensitive to honey made with dandelion pollen. So, theoretically, a person could be allergic to some honey but not others, depending on the source of the pollen.

Nickel allergy

We know what you’re thinking. This is a blog about food allergies, so why is nickel – a metal – on here? That’s because some foods contain nickel. Usually nickel allergies come up when talking about jewellery, but it’s just as relevant here.

Some flours and grains have been shown to have nickel in them. This includes oats, wheat, multi-grain bread, and brown rice. You can also find it in seafood, legumes like peanuts and lentils, certain vegetables (such as leeks or cabbages), and even chocolate.

Wine allergy

With wine, there are a few components that could be causing the reaction. Chief amongst them is grapes. But then you also have ethanol – which is the type of alcohol present in wine – yeast, sulfites, and firming agents, which can include proteins taken from milk, eggs, and fish.

And though this could technically happen with any wine, the research seems to show that red wine is the more common trigger. 83% of participants developed symptoms after drinking red wine, compared to the second most likely, white wine, at 31%.

All of these allergies are rare, but it just goes to show that anything can cause a reaction. What’s important is that you stay aware of your body and notice any changes after consuming something. That’s the only way you’re going to catch potential conditions before they do any real damage.

If you ever have any allergy concerns and want to talk to someone about them, feel free to reach out to our allergy specialists. They’re always happy to help. You can call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient here.

How to conquer your allergy anxieties before you go on holiday

24th May 2023

How to conquer your allergy anxieties before you go on holiday

It’s around that time of year when many of us are thinking about the summer. In particular, escaping the often dreary British Isles for somewhere much sunnier. Over the coming months, we’re sure many of you will be dusting off the suitcases and getting ready to head abroad. Have an ice cream for us.

But while travelling is stressful for practically everyone, there is a certain group for whom it is anxiety-inducing. You may be one of them. Yes, you might have an allergy, and stepping outside of your comfort zone means having to navigate any potential reactions. It can be scary – especially with life-threatening food allergies – but we don’t want you to worry. Here’s how you can handle your holiday allergy anxieties every step of the way.

Before your flight

The more prepared you are, the more you can put your mind at ease. You can always look up allergy information before you leave. There are two main places to look for this: on the airport website and on your airline’s website. Both may have different policies.

If you have any questions, you could even reach out to them ahead of time to make them aware of your allergies and ask how best to navigate them. The airline in particular might be one to look into more, as you will be stuck in the air for hours and you don’t want an allergic reaction thousands of feet in the sky.

Other than that, prepare yourself in any way you can. Make sure you have all the medication you need and the appropriate paperwork to get it through customs. Build up an allergy kit if you don’t already have one. When you have it all ready in front of you, it can help calm you down.

At the airport

This is where you can put some of your pre-flight research into action. You should know how the airport handles allergies and navigate them as you can. For example, by looking at their website ahead of time, you can see what food options are available while you wait for your flight. Choose something you know you’ll be okay with. Preferably from a chain because they should have similar food preparation procedures.

While you’re at the airport, let staff know about your allergies. Key people to tell would be the airline representative at check-in and the person checking your boarding pass as you board the plane. These will be as close to direct contact as you can get before you set off. If you can prepare them, they can hopefully prepare themselves.

In the air

You should also let cabin crew know when you’re in the air so they can retrieve any allergy advice, if they have any. To avoid any mistakes, bring your own snacks on the plane. You likely won’t be able to get them through customs, so buy them while you’re at the airport. There should be plenty of time to do your due diligence and check ingredients before you set off.

In the case of emergencies, have someone familiar with the medication. If you have an anaphylactic shock, you want someone who can administer your epinephrine shot in the case you can’t do it yourself. If you’re flying with someone you know, it can be them. But if you’re flying solo, ask the cabin crew if they have anyone trained to do it. In the event they don’t, you can always teach them.

None of this should be a burden on your shoulder, but it’s part of living with a food allergy. But that doesn’t mean your allergy anxieties have to control you and stop you from having a holiday. Be prepared, do your research, and go enjoy the sun for a week or two!

For all of your allergy concerns – including advice on how to handle your allergies abroad – reach out to our team. Our allergists are always more than happy to help. Register as a new patient today or call us on 02031 433 449.

Adult-onset allergies: what are they and where do they come from?

12th April 2023

Adult-onset allergies: what are they and where do they come from?

We’re sure many of you know what it’s like to get older. The years go by and your knees get a bit creakier, your back starts to hurt that little bit more, and you frequently forget where you put your keys. It’s part and parcel of ageing up. But amongst the health quirks that can pop up, one stands out as particularly strange.

Yes, you can develop allergies after years of never having a problem. Seemingly out of nowhere, you might suddenly become sensitive to shellfish or nuts. The same goes for intolerances, with some people developing lactose or gluten intolerances over time. But what do adult-onset allergies entail and where do they even come from?

What we mean by “adult-onset allergies”

Let’s start by defining what they actually are. Because there can be a couple of ways in which they present themselves. As we mentioned, they are allergies you develop later in life – by which we mean as an adult. So anything you get in your 20s and beyond. It’s not something that only happens over a certain age; we’re just referring to conditions not present when you were a child.

The most peculiar aspect of them is they can develop out of nowhere. While some might occur because it’s literally your first time coming into contact with the allergen in question, others can happen seemingly overnight. You might have interacted with it every day of your life and suddenly it causes a reaction in your one day.

But why does this happen?

Where adult-onset allergies come from

Sorry to disappoint, but there’s no one answer to that question. Much like allergies at large, we don’t fully have a grasp on why they appear in some people and not in others, and adult-onset ones are no different. Though there are some interesting theories.

One is what is called the “atopic march”. This describes an adult-onset allergy as something that develops over the course of someone’s life. It may start as a barely noticeable condition before evolving into a full-blown allergy. In this theory, it was a sensitivity you always had, but never bothered you before growing into a much bigger problem.

Then there’s the effects of the changing environment. Climate change has led to a shift in plant pollen, with it occurring earlier in the year and lasting longer. This increase in exposure could play its role, as could aspects such as air pollution. You also have changes in your lifestyle, such as moving to a new place or a greater amount of stress, which could contribute.

But, as noted, there is no one answer and, in the grand scheme of things, where it came from doesn’t really matter. What does is how you handle your adult-onset allergy.

Can you stop adult-onset allergies?

We don’t currently know how to prevent or cure allergies. Though we do have a better grasp on how to treat them. So if you find yourself reacting badly to something that you never noticed before, the first thing you should do is seek medical advice.

Book an appointment with your doctor – or, if you want to be more targeted, an allergy specialist – to talk through your reactions. This can put you on the path to a proper diagnosis, which will allow you to manage your new condition. You shouldn’t ignore it – this can go badly. There’s no knowing how severe your allergy could be, and a mild reaction today could be a fatal reaction tomorrow.

Arming yourself with more knowledge about your condition is the best way to fight it. There’s no reason your adult-onset allergy should reduce your quality of life. It just means being a bit more on the ball about it. So get yourself an appointment, schedule yourself for an allergy test, and start living your new, healthier life.

If you ever have an undiagnosed condition that you want to get to the bottom of, our team of allergists can help. We can test for a number of allergens and help you understand what you’re up against. Register as a new patient or simply give us a call on 02031 433 449 to find out more.

Do you know the difference between allergies and intolerances?

15th March 2023

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.

3 allergy pet peeves – and what you can do about them

15th February 2023

3 allergy pet peeves – and what you can do about them

Allergies are already annoying enough, right? At their worst, they’re life-threatening. And even at their best, they can ruin your day, leaving you with constantly itchy eyes, a runny nose, or a scratchy throat. Your whole life has to adapt around them. To make matters worse, we all have those allergy pet peeves that make them that much harder.

It’s usually people around us who do them too. People not taking your condition seriously. People acting dumb when you tell them for the hundredth time that no, you can’t have gluten. They can really grind your gears. But we can’t help what other people do. We can only change what we do.

So here are three allergy pet peeve examples – and what you can do about them.

Hidden allergens in food and drink

Does this sound familiar: you go to a lovely restaurant and peruse the menu. Each dish has its ingredients listed underneath and they all sound amazing. You choose one that, based on what it says, you know you can eat. Then it arrives and – surprise – it actually has dairy in it. Or nuts. Or gluten. Despite not mentioning that.

With new legislation coming in all the time, this should become a thing of the past. But it doesn’t stop every instance of it happening. Then there are also those cases where it does list the ingredients, but not what those ingredients are actually made from. Like pesto, which is made with pine nuts. If you didn’t know, what could you do?

Our best advice is to get good at asking questions. You can learn a lot about how seriously a restaurant takes allergies by seeing how they respond. If your server is unsure – and definitely if the manager is unsure – then you know that they might not be the most trustworthy. Do this ahead of time to save yourself the effort and pick somewhere better.

People don’t take you seriously

What’s potentially worse than that situation? When your own family does it for you. It can be more dangerous, too. Your aunt isn’t going to have a menu with ingredients on it. And no matter how many times you tell her you can’t eat something with egg in it, she uses it anyway. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

Or so she says. Yes, having people not take you seriously can have devastating consequences. Though, thankfully, public discourse on allergies is changing slowly.

What can you do in the meantime? All you can do is educate others and make sure you’re prepared. If you’re going to someone else’s for food, bring your own dish. And if the host feels insulted, calmly explain that this is for your own safety and not a reflection of their efforts. If they don’t accept that, it’s on them. What’s important is that you look out for your own health.

Constant symptoms

This one isn’t related to other people. It’s about your own body. Anyone with hay fever will know the feeling. You can’t enjoy a nice summer’s day because your eyes are constantly itching and your nose is bunged up, with no sign of relief. This can happen to anyone with environmental allergies, be it a reaction to dust, dander, or pollen.

Your best bet is to be proactive. Do what you can to prevent symptoms in the first place. In summer, get into a routine of taking antihistamines. Make sure you clean your house thoroughly and often. You’ll probably find yourself cleaning more than your friends and family, but that’s good if it stops you from suffering all day, every day.

Should we have to deal with these allergy pet peeves? No, but this is our lot in life, unfortunately. All we can do is react, be proactive, and stand up for ourselves. Whatever we can to ensure we’re safe, happy, and healthy. And if everyone else has a problem with that, well, that can be their pet peeve too.

Don’t let allergies bring you down. Ensure you have all the know-how you need to fight back and show them they don’t own you. To talk to one of our allergy specialists and receive helpful advice for your condition, register as a new patient or call us on 02031 433 449.