Food allergies affect around four percent of adults and five percent of children in the US. Many more people suffer from food intolerances, which might not be as severe but can still disrupt day-to-day activities. Here at Balanced Bodies Anti-Aging Clinic in Sandy Springs, GA, we offer food allergy testing to anyone who believes they suffer from this condition. While some patients come to the clinic for their test, others book a telehealth consultation.
This type of appointment is virtual, and you won’t have to spend time driving to the clinic and waiting for your appointment. Once your doctor has spoken to you about your symptoms, they can determine whether an allergy test is a good idea. Many tests can be performed at home, but if the allergy is severe, it could be sensible to visit the clinic. Let’s have a closer look at how allergy testing works and whether a telehealth session is a good option for you.
Can You Do Food Allergy Testing at Home?
It is indeed possible to do a food allergy test at home, but there are many kits out there that are not based on science. For instance, some people might advise you to do a grip strength test or to send in hair samples, but there is no evidence that allergies can be discovered with these methods. The best way to find a reliable test is to book a telehealth consultation with your local clinic and ask the specialist.
Your doctor can tell you whether you might be suffering from an allergy or intolerance, and they can recommend the best at-home test kits. By working with an expert, you can get the most accurate result possible and then figure out ways to live with your allergy or intolerance. While avoiding certain foods can be enough for some people, others need medication to control their condition.
Testing for Allergies
Most allergy tests involve pricking your skin and taking a small blood sample to test for immunoglobulin E (IgE). The kit you receive from your doctor contains everything you’ll need to perform the test. To get started, you will prick your finger with the lancet and squeeze your blood onto the card or into the tube provided. The sample you provide will be used to test for allergies at a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified lab.
In some cases, the entire process can be completed at home, but other test kits partner with local labs, so you’ll have to visit a clinic to have your blood drawn. During your telehealth appointment, your doctor can evaluate your situation and decide on the test that best suits your needs. If you have severe allergies, you might need to take a blood test at the clinic instead of taking your sample at home.
Testing for Intolerances
An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the body’s immune system, and it occurs almost immediately after you eat certain foods. Intolerances are different because they are caused by a digestive problem. You won’t feel bad right away, but several hours after you eat foods your body can’t tolerate, you might experience bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Intolerance tests work in the same way as allergy tests, but the experts at the lab will look for different markers in your blood. Because intolerances aren’t usually life-threatening and the symptoms can easily be avoided by not eating certain foods, a telehealth consultation is usually enough, and patients don’t have to come to the clinic in-person.
Elimination Diet
Normally, food allergy testing involves examining the patient’s blood or skin, but you could also get started with an elimination diet. This diagnostic test is performed by removing all suspected foods from your diet and only eating things you know your body can handle. Then, you’ll slowly reintroduce the eliminated foods one by one. Each time you try a new one, you monitor how you feel and whether your symptoms reappear.
Elimination diets usually only last for 5-6 weeks, so they won’t disrupt your routine long-term. They are a great way of identifying the foods that cause you problems. While you don’t need to come to the clinic during this test, working with a qualified health professional is always a good idea. Your doctor can help you safely eliminate foods without reducing the quality of your diet or putting yourself at risk due to malnutrition.
When To Get an Allergy Test
As discussed, allergies occur immediately after you eat certain foods, and they are therefore quite easy to identify. You might know that you suffer from a food allergy even before you do your test, but it’s important to confirm the diagnosis. That way, your doctor can address your condition by telling you what foods to avoid and administering medication.
Discovering intolerances can be a lot harder because the symptoms develop more slowly. If you regularly experience issues like bloating or stomach pain, you should book an appointment at the local clinic. Cutting certain foods from your diet could help you get rid of your symptoms and feel better every day.
When To Go to the Doctor’s Office
Sometimes, doing a home test isn’t enough. If you believe that you have a severe allergy, you should always speak to your doctor in-person because your health and even your life could be at risk. An allergy specialist can do a thorough physical examination and a blood test. They can also work with you in the long term to manage your condition and keep you safe.
What Are the Advantages of a Telehealth Consultation?
If you’ve never had a virtual appointment with your doctor, you might wonder why you should choose this option. Can a physician make an accurate diagnosis without seeing you in person? The answer is often yes. An online meeting with your doctor allows them to determine whether you need further testing and assistance. It is not only faster, but it is also less time-consuming and allows you to avoid the lengthy wait times you might otherwise encounter.
Reduced Costs
Many doctor’s office appointments, especially ones that are routine and don’t require significant intervention, could be replaced by telehealth sessions. By choosing an online consultation, you can reduce the cost of your appointment. Not only is the meeting itself cheaper, but you also save money on gas, parking fees, or public transportation, since you can stay at home or in the office.
Less Time-Consuming
Going to the clinic for food allergy testing can severely disrupt your routine. You’ll need to take several hours off to drive yourself to the clinic, wait for your appointment, and then drive yourself back home. In contrast, an online appointment is much faster.
You might only need to speak to your doctor for 15-30 minutes, and you can resume your normal activities straight away. If your specialist determines that you need allergy testing, they can either send you the test kit, or you can pick it up at a local pharmacy.
Limited Wait Times
If you believe that you have a food allergy or intolerance, it’s best to get this problem addressed quickly. Depending on the severity of your condition, you might be putting your health at risk. But when you get in touch with the clinic, they might not have in-person appointments available immediately. Doctors are often booked up for several weeks or months at a time.
Since telehealth meetings save so much time, it’s much easier for your physician to see you within a few days or even hours. After you fill in our contact form, we will get back to you as soon as we can. Often, we can book you in the same week or the next week, so you don’t have to wait around for your appointment. As a result, you could find out more about your allergy within a few days.
Find Out if You Have an Allergy Now
Allergies can be very disruptive, and in severe cases, they can even cause medical emergencies and death. For this reason, it’s vital that you get tested if you suspect you’re suffering from an allergy or intolerance. During your telehealth consultation, your doctor at the local clinic can determine whether it’s likely that you have a food allergy, and if so, ask you to perform a home test.
Depending on your individual situation, the test might involve pricking your skin and sending the sample to a lab or eliminating certain foods from your diet to see if your symptoms subside. Get in touch with us now at Balanced Bodies Anti-Aging Clinic in Sandy Springs, GA to find out more about food allergy testing and to book your initial appointment with one of our specialists.
