Did you know that hay fever affects 5.2 million children and 19.2 million adults in the United States? Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, can leave the patient feeling fatigued and sick the majority of the time.
Those with hay fever need to catch the diagnosis quickly if they want to get treatment as soon as possible. Without a formal diagnosis, many patients are left without any help.
The best way to get a definitive diagnosis is through a hay fever allergy test. By looking at specific biomarkers, your healthcare provider can figure out whether or not you have hay fever.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Are Hay Fever Allergies?
Hay fever allergies cause cold-like signs and symptoms. However, a virus doesn't cause this condition like it causes a cold. Rather, hay fever is a bodily response to outdoor and indoor allergens.
Hay fever can make people miserable as they battle cold-like symptoms more common than the average person. Some people with hay fever may experience cold-like signs and symptoms the majority of the time.
Over time, hay fever can affect one's performance at work and school. It may also create problems with those around them, especially if they work in a healthcare setting.
It's hard to explain why you're sneezing and sniffling while people are avoiding you so that they don't get sick. They don't understand that it's not contagious.
Risk Factors for Hay Fever Allergies
There are a few common risk factors for hay fever:
- Allergies
- Being around allergens consistently
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Family history of allergies
- Family history of asthma
- Having a mother who smoked during the first year of your life
If you have any of these risk factors, you should talk to your doctor about what you can do to minimize your risk of developing hay fever.
Causes of Hay Fever Allergies
Those with hay fever have overactive immune systems. Their immune cells detect a harmless substance as harmful. Therefore, your body sets off an immune response.
Specifically, your body is releasing histamine into your bloodstream, which causes all of the signs and symptoms that someone with hay fever may experience.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hay Fever Allergies?
The signs and symptoms of hay fever are consistent with those of a cold. A patient with hay fever may experience congestion, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, postnasal drip, and fatigue.
If you're experiencing these signs and symptoms regularly, it's likely that you may have hay fever. You should talk to your doctor about how you can find relief from this condition.
How Are Hay Fever Allergies Diagnosed?
A hay fever diagnosis can come from a skin prick test or an allergy blood test.
Skin prick testing involves putting an allergen on the skin and looking at how the body reacts. An allergy blood test allows a healthcare provider to test your allergies without testing them on your skin. Rather, they'll just test your blood for an immune response.
The Lab Tests to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Hay Fever Allergies
There is a wide variety of allergy lab tests available to help you identify the specific allergens that are causing your hay fever. Most of them look at how your body reacts to the different allergens.
At Ulta Lab Tests, our hay fever allergy tests include the individual tests noted below and regional allergy panels:
With allergy testing, you can identify the allergens and take the necessary steps to get relief from your symptoms.
Get Your Hay Fever Allergy Test With Ulta Lab Tests
If you think that you may have hay fever, you need to get testing as soon as possible. The sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner your healthcare provider can develop a plan for your treatment.
Luckily, Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Order your hay fever allergy test today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests.
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
