Sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes are common complaints during allergy season. But when symptoms linger, worsen, or occur no matter the season, you may want to consider allergy testing. While you may think your symptoms are part of your usual seasonal allergies, if they persist, it may mean you have year-round allergies.
Allergy testing is the most effective way to identify what’s causing your symptoms. When you know the cause, you can reduce exposure to the culprit and find treatments that provide better relief.
At Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey, our allergy specialists, Dr. Nehal Mehta and Dr. Prashant Patel, offer comprehensive allergy testing to help patients understand and manage their allergies.
Here’s what we want you to know:
Allergy testing uncovers specific substances responsible for allergic reactions. We do skin allergy testing by placing tiny amounts of common allergens on the skin using a small prick and monitoring for a reaction.
Testing can identify allergies to a variety of substances, including:
We provide allergy testing at the office, and results are available quickly. Once we identify your triggers, we create a personalized treatment plan to reduce your exposure and get your symptoms under control.
Sneezing and nasal congestion are common symptoms of colds and other respiratory infections. However, when sneezing or congestion lasts for weeks or keeps coming back, you may have allergies.
Your nose acts as your body’s first line of defense by trapping airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and mold. Continued exposure can cause ongoing inflammation, leading to persistent congestion, sneezing, and nasal irritation.
Allergy testing can identify the specific substance causing your symptoms so you can take action sooner.
Frequent itchy, watering, or red eyes are another hallmark symptom of allergies. Airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, and pet dander commonly irritate the eyes, especially during allergy season.
If eye irritation keeps returning or doesn’t improve, allergy testing can help determine whether allergies are the cause.
Do you seem to catch a cold every spring or fall? Your cold may actually mean seasonal allergies.
Sneezing, coughing, or throat irritation that occurs during certain times of the year are common with seasonal allergies like grass and mold spores.
Seasonal allergies won’t improve with cold medicine. Allergy treatments, however, can help relieve symptoms and prevent them from disrupting your daily life.
Untreated allergies can cause persistent inflammation of the sinuses, leading to headaches, facial pressure, and recurrent sinus infections.
Because airborne allergies continuously irritate the nasal passages and increase mucus production, treating the underlying allergy may help reduce chronic sinus symptoms and lower your risk of future infections.
Allergies affect more than your nose and eyes; they may also affect your lungs.
Breathing problems like wheezing or shortness of breath may also occur when your allergies trigger asthma symptoms. Many people with asthma also have seasonal allergies. It’s also possible to have allergy-induced asthma, in which contact with specific allergens causes breathing difficulties.
Identifying allergy triggers is important for improving asthma control and minimizing flare-ups.
Itchy skin, hives, and rashes from unknown causes also warrant allergy testing. Food allergies often cause skin symptoms, but reactions may also occur from latex, medications, or plants like poison ivy.
While allergy symptoms can vary, they may worsen over time or cause a severe life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Allergy testing helps uncover the cause of your symptoms so you can avoid triggers and reduce your risk of future reactions.
If you suspect you have seasonal, environmental, or food allergies, testing can provide the answers you need. Our team at Respacare offers comprehensive allergy testing and treatment options, including allergy injections and sublingual immunotherapy that gradually desensitize your body to the allergen to reduce symptoms over time.
Contact us today by phone or book an appointment online to learn more about allergy testing and how it can help you get relief from your symptoms.
