Allergy Oak Fluorescence Assay Blood

Oaks, making up the genus Quercus, are abundant hardy trees of deciduous forests in North America, Europe, and Asia. Oaks are generally classified into 1 of 2 types, White or Red. Among species, the White oak (Quercus alba) is the most common. Oak pollen is a major cause of allergic rhinitis and asthma. This IgE antibody blood allergy test will determine if you are allergic to White Oak trees and their pollen. Traditional allergy tests utilize the Skin Prick method (also known as a Puncture or Scratch test) to determine whether an allergic reaction will occur by inserting possible triggers into your skin using a needle prick. If you are allergic to the substance, you are forced to suffer through your body's reaction to the allergen. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is the term used to describe the typical mild but annoying allergic reaction to oak pollen. Hay fever symptoms include sneezing, watery, swollen and itchy eyes, runny nose and cough. The throat and nose may itch, and nosebleeds may occur. Some allergy sufferers develop dark circles under their eyes called allergic shiners. Treatments for hay fever symptoms include antihistamines, eye drops and decongestants. Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, helps desensitize an allergic person to the substance, which reduces symptoms. Staying indoors when oak pollen counts are high, using a HEPA air filter inside to remove particles from the air, keeping the windows closed and changing clothes immediately after spending time outside when the oak pollen count rises all help reduce symptoms. Oak pollen allergies can cause asthma symptoms in susceptible people. Asthma causes constriction or narrowing of the bronchial tubes that carry air into the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness or pain in the chest, rapid heart rate, coughing, wheezing and difficulty sleeping. Serious asthma attacks can be life-threatening if the airways narrow so much that enough air does not enter the lungs. People with asthma from oak pollen allergy, even if it occurs only seasonally, need medical evaluation and treatment with bronchodilators and possibly corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the airways. Allergy to oak pollen can also cause fatigue, headache or feelings of pain or pressure in the sinuses or a decrease in the ability to taste or smell. Some people suffer a temporary partial hearing loss when symptoms are severe.