Allergies come in different forms and levels of symptoms, but they are almost always a nuisance, causing itchy eyes, rashes, swollen throat and more.

Occurring in three forms -- inhaled, ingested, or contact allergens -- allergies affect over 50 million people in the U.S, per the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. If you are experiencing sneezing, wheezing, redness or other signs of an allergic reaction, it's time to get tested at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee.

What type of allergies might I have?

Allergies most commonly fall under the inhaled category. This type includes seasonal and pollen allergies. Ingested allergens come from foods, with peanuts, seafood and soy some of the top food allergies in Americans. The last type of allergies, contact allergies, result in reactions when an allergen touches your skin. This can cause swelling, itching or redness at the point of contact.

How can I benefit from allergy testing?

Allergy testing at our office can allow you to pinpoint the cause of your allergies and find the most effective treatment. Relief from allergies can help you feel more energetic, take away discomfort, allow for better sleep and make breathing easier.

Some allergies can be dangerous, and testing is crucial in finding and enacting a solution before it affects your health. Asthma can be deadly, and some allergic reactions can cause the throat to swell up, blocking your airways.

What types of allergy testing are there?

Depending on your symptoms, your specialist may use a skin test, blood test or have you try an elimination diet.

A skin test involves the application of an allergen to the skin using a gentle puncturing tool. When the allergen penetrates the skin, your specialist will watch for the reaction. Signs of swelling, itching or redness indicate you are allergic to the tested substance. Other skin tests include intradermal, which uses an injection of an allergen, or a patch test. The latter requires you to wear an allergen infused patch for two to four days, with incremental inspection at our office.

Allergy testing can also be done with a blood test, which looks for antibodies of major allergens in the blood. If your allergies seem to stem from the consumption of foods, an elimination test can help your doctor pinpoint the offending foods. Your specialist at our office will have you remove specific foods from your diet, one at a time, to see if symptoms subside, and then have you add them back. If symptoms return, you are allergic to that food and should remove it from your diet.

Allergy testing at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Okeechobee can help you feel great, breathe easy and stay healthy. Call Port St. Lucie, at (772) 398-9911, and in Fort Pierce, call (772) 464-6055. Reach the Okeechobee office at (863) 357-7791.