Mumbai:
With the change of season, or on contact with dust and dirt, many people start sneezing non-stop, with a runny nose, burning eyes or a rash that brings severe itching. These complaints are often ignored as "weather change" or "just a cold". Antihistamine tablets bought from a medical store provide temporary relief, but the trouble returns once the medicine wears off. Health experts say this is not a normal problem and can be a sign of a serious allergic reaction in the body, which needs timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment.
What is an allergy? The body's immune system protects us from viruses and bacteria. In some people, however, the system treats harmless substances as threats and reacts hypersensitively to them. This condition is called an allergy. Dust, airborne pollen, pet hair, certain foods in the daily diet or some medicines can trigger this reaction suddenly.
Do not ignore these common but serious symptoms: Respiratory: repeated sneezing in quick succession, a runny or blocked nose, a persistent sore throat, a cough that lasts a long time, wheezing in the chest and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
Eyes: redness, itching and constant watering.
Skin: red welts (urticaria or hives), rashes, dry and itchy skin, or swelling.
Digestive: stomach ache, nausea or diarrhoea after eating certain foods.
Avoid self-medication! If allergies keep recurring, taking medicines on your own can be risky. Tablets suppress the symptoms for a while but do not reveal the root cause. Until the exact trigger is identified, lasting or effective treatment is not possible. Expert medical advice and allergy testing are therefore essential.
ByHeart PathLabs' full package: 214-plus allergens checked in a single test
To help patients pinpoint the source of their allergy, ByHeart PathLabs has introduced a special test package called the ByHeart Advance Allergens Panel. It screens more than 214 allergens that can affect the body:
Vegetarian foods (101 allergens): Fruits, vegetables, pulses, seeds, spices, dry fruits, chocolate, mushrooms and dairy products commonly eaten in the daily diet, among others.
Non-vegetarian foods (11 allergens): Chicken, mutton, various fish, prawns, crab and other seafood, among others.
Drug allergies (28 allergens): Commonly used medicines such as paracetamol, amoxicillin, ibuprofen, lidocaine and norfloxacin, among others.
Inhaled allergens (74 allergens): Airborne dust and microscopic mites, pollen from trees and grass, fungi and moulds, insects and pet hair, among others.
Key features of the test: No fasting required: the blood sample can be given at any time of day. Accurate and reliable results: a detailed, precise report is available in just 7 working days.
Cities where the service is available: The test is available in Panvel, Kamothe, Kharghar, Kalamboli, Taloja, Nerul, Ulwe, Vashi, Thane and across the greater Mumbai region.
For more information and contact: Helpline number: 7400294199 (7400 29 41 99) Official website: www.byheartpathlabs.com