DETECTING YOUR ALLERGIES: SYMPTOMS AS A GUIDE
Symptoms are only partly helpful as an indicator of the cause of reactions. It used to be thought that the site where your symptoms occurred was the route or the place where the substance causing the reactions had entered the body. On this basis, only things you inhaled could cause nasal and breathing symptoms; only things you swallowed could cause gut symptoms; only things you touched could cause skin symptoms, and so on. Many doctors no longer accept this, since there is evidence that molecules travel in the bloodstream and can trigger allergic and other reactions at sites in the body other than those where the substance entered. Some doctors, however, still hold firmly to the original belief that symptom = site of reaction = cause of reaction.
Nonetheless, it is true to say that certain symptoms do have prime suspects as causes, and they are a good place to start. Nasal and breathing symptoms are most likely to be caused by things you breathe in, especially house dust mites, pollens, moulds, fibres, feathers, animal hair and chemicals. Start with these, perhaps, but remember that other things, such as foods, do cause such symptoms. Gut and digestive symptoms are most commonly caused by things you eat or swallow, such as foods, drinks and drugs, but they are also very often caused by chemicals you inhale. Mental symptoms are most likely to be caused by inhaling chemicals, but are often caused by intolerance of foods, drinks or drugs.
Skin symptoms are commonly caused by things you touch, such as chemicals, but they are equally likely to be caused by things you eat or swallow, such as foods, drinks and drugs; or by things you inhale, such as house dust mites, pollens, moulds, fibres, feathers, animal hair or chemicals. Itchy eyes, headaches, joint pain, nettle rash and water retention have no real prime suspects as cause.
So use the nature of your symptoms as a partial guide only. The Pattern of your symptoms – when and where they occur – is a much better guide.
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