MYTH: If a type of food doesn’t agree with you, you must be allergic to it.
TRUTH: Some foods might cause adverse reactions – for example, you might have an intolerance to foods that contain substances such as lactose – but that doesn’t mean you are allergic. A food allergy is a specific reaction involving the body’s immune system, and it is important to know the difference between that and an intolerance. While food intolerances are fairly common, allergies are rare. Intolerances can result in an uncomfortable, feeling, for example you may get very bloated after eating foods containing lactose, while allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening.
MYTH: Short-haired pets don’t cause allergies.
TRUTH: This is not the case because if you’re allergic to animals, it is not the fur that is the problem. The culprit is a protein produced by glands in the animal’s skin or in their saliva. Cats often cause more allergy problems than dogs because they tend to lick their fur a lot, spreading the protein on to their coats.
MYTH: If you didn’t have allergies as a child you won’t get them when you are older.
TRUTH: While many people with allergies first notice symptoms when they are children, it is possible to develop them when you are an adult. Allergic reactions can appear at any time, even if you have never been sensitive before. They may develop out of the blue – even to items you’ve previously tolerated – or it could be a result of being exposed to allergens such as certain foods or types of plants for the first time. Patients who develop allergies later in life tend to then suffer from them for the rest of their life and they also risk developing asthma.
MYTH: Allergies are psychosomatic.
TRUTH: They’re not all in your head, they are very real. An allergy is a medical condition caused by your immune system being hypersensitive to a foreign substance. Being
stressed doesn’t cause allergies either, although it can make symptoms worse.
MYTH: Most kids grow out of allergies.
TRUTH: Some children find they are able to tolerate foods that have previously caused allergic reactions, particularly milk, eggs and wheat. They may find the severity of their reactions decreases by the time they get to pre-adolescence. This doesn’t mean the allergy may be completely gone, however, and sometimes they may notice increased reactions again in their late teens.
