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.

What’s the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?

10th March 2021

What’s the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?

There are plenty of people who don’t know the difference between allergies and intolerances. You might be one of them, but don’t worry, you aren’t alone. It’s not necessarily common knowledge, and if you don’t have an allergy or intolerance, it may never have even crossed your mind. 

Sometimes, people use the two terms interchangeably. But when food allergies can be life or death, we can’t afford to not take it seriously. Especially when 5% of people have some form of a food allergy. That’s 1 in 20 – in a standard classroom, that means at least one child is likely to have one.

So we put together this quick guide to highlight how the two are different, the causes of each, and the symptoms.

What is a food allergy?

Our immune systems create antibodies as a response to infection to help defend us. That’s how the human body works. But for people with allergies, their immune system sees certain harmless triggers, such as peanuts, as a threat and responds in much the same way. 

The immune system’s reaction can affect your skin, sinuses, eyes, airways, and digestive system, as well as causing other symptoms, such as nausea. Unlike a food intolerance, an allergy can be triggered just by touching the allergen. In rare cases, allergies can cause severe reactions known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. 

What is a food intolerance? 

Food intolerance is the difficulty of digesting certain foods and having bad physical reactions to them. Lactose intolerance is one such common food intolerance. The symptoms of food intolerance include bloating, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhoea, which typically start a few hours after eating the food. 

Other symptoms can occur like skin rashes and itching. It’s not entirely clear what causes intolerances, but some are caused by the lack of an enzyme that is needed to digest the food. In the case of lactose intolerance, the enzyme that people lack is lactase.

Intolerances and allergies are often confused or seen as the same thing, but the causes and the severity of the two are completely different. Symptoms may seem similar, and so the only way to know for certain is to get a test. If you want to test what you’ve learned, why not take our allergies vs intolerance quiz?

If you think you may have an allergy or intolerance, put your mind at ease and get a test. Call Allergy Clinic London today on 02031 433 449 to book an allergy test.

Remote testing – Allergy testing from the comfort of your own home

20th July 2018

Remote testing – Allergy testing from the comfort of your own home

When something is wrong with your body, finding out what it is can be stressful. Some people have iatrophobia: a legitimate fear of doctors. Some people are frightened of what they might find out if they visit the doctor. But something that seems disproportionately true to British culture is that we don’t want to be a bother. Which is bad since allergies are seemingly on the rise in the UK.

However, what may seem like a trivial matter now can develop into something dangerous if left without medical intervention. The fact remains that medical professionals could save more than 11,500 lives every year if people were more willing to seek help when they first experienced symptoms of an illness.

When it comes to allergies, finding out what you are allergic to is essential to keep you safe. But, testing may also reveal whether the symptoms you are experiencing are a result of an allergy, or whether they point to another illness. This could save your life. To make these test accessible to as many people as possible, and answer any questions you have, you can now apply for remote allergy testing.

What is remote testing?

Remote testing refers to an allergy test which you carry out in the comfort of your home. The process is fast, effective, and practical, and you don’t have to leave the house. This is an excellent option for those who live far from a reputable allergy centre.

You collect a blood sample, using the detailed instructions provided, and send it to the laboratory for testing. These allergy tests can identify 112 different allergies, including food allergies, which are a common concern for those experiencing symptoms of a food allergy or intolerance.

How does it work?

The first step is requesting an allergy test. Once you pay for your test, it takes about 10 minutes to complete a symptoms questionnaire online. The inquiry aims to find out what symptoms you are experiencing. That way our consultants have all the information needed to create accurate judgements.

Your allergy testing kit is sent to your house using the information you provide to us online. You will receive an email which contains detailed instructions on how to use the testing kit, how to collect the small blood sample required, and how to get your sample back to us. You mail it back to us using a prepaid envelope, and our lab technicians take it from there.

What are your options?

Remote testing is a safe, straightforward way to take the first steps towards bettering your health. Gaining control over your allergies means you’ll be able to live your life stress-free because you’ll know what allergens to avoid and you learn the best ways to do so. It also allows you to start effective treatments to reduce or rid you of your symptoms and get your life back.

If you are uncomfortable taking a blood sample yourself, you can still book an appointment to have an allergy test in person. Or you can fill out the symptoms questionnaire online. Then you take your remote testing kit to one of our qualified nurses in specified locations who will take the sample for you. Then you post your sample to the lab as usual. These two options are the only ones available for children who must have their blood sample taken by a medical professional. All that is left to do after this is wait for us to contact you with your results in approximately one week.

Remote testing helps save lives. Even if you are only experiencing mild symptoms, you still need an allergy test to ensure you live a safe, stress-free life, and check your symptoms aren’t due to another illness. To request a remote allergy test with the London Allergy and Immunology Centre, click here. Or, book an appointment with one of our consultants.

Allergies and intolerances: what’s the difference?

26th February 2018

Allergies and intolerances: what’s the difference?

Have you ever eaten food even though you know that after you will suffer? Even if you are unsure why your body reacts that way? It may not seem important at that moment, but chances are you’re either suffering from a food allergy or food intolerance. Once the symptoms go away it’s worth finding out for the benefit of your long-term health which one it is.

What’s the difference?

Allergies and intolerances are similar on the surface, but couldn’t be more different. Food allergies cause an immune system reaction that usually affects multiple organs. It can cause a range of symptoms that can often be life-threatening and trigger anaphylaxis shock.

Food intolerance symptoms are mostly limited to digestive problems. They are usually less severe and are often caused by the lack, or insufficient level, of enzymes in the body. We need these enzymes to digest foods and they are important for keeping a healthy and regular body.

An example is the enzyme lactase, which we use to break down lactose, found in milk products. Without it you could be lactose intolerant, causing an upset stomach, bloating, gas, flatulence, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

Long and short-term health effects

If left alone, food intolerances can lead to chronic health problems. Both food allergies and intolerances can affect your quality of life and influence gut health negatively. Good gut health is important, which, in turn, can avoid other health conditions.   

Testing testing

A useful test for food allergies is a patch test. This involves exposing the cells of the immune system to possible allergens and measuring the immune response.

There are genetic blood tests that can help to predict the likelihood of lactose and gluten-related problems. Also, by watching your daily intake and introducing a process of elimination to your diet, we can get to the root of what you are intolerant to by slowly reintroducing foods.

Why do we keep doing it?

Worryingly, as a food intolerance is not immediately life-threatening, many of us keep eating food that we know threatens our wellbeing. Sometimes we are unaware that we are intolerant to certain foods and keep eating food that can cause bloating, indigestion, tiredness, migraines, headaches, persistent runny nose and coughing, inability to work or pay attention, depression and general irritability.

What can we do to stay healthy?

Nutritional measures can help. Here’s where the difference between allergies and intolerances becomes important. It might seem obvious but first and foremost avoid eating foods that you know you are allergic to! With some a vast amount of ‘free-from’ products available on the market, it is increasingly easier to replace your favourite treats.

If you are unsure whether or not a particular food is disagreeing with your body and you would like to know more, book an appointment with one of our consultants today.