It's possible you may not be allergic at all and the medicines you take only drain your pocketbook and put you at risk of added discomfort from potential drug side effects. A recent study says that millions of Americans may suffer from suspected allergies that may actually be caused by another problem entirely.

Advertisement

Patients and doctors alike often make a presumptive diagnosis of allergies based on the symptoms, even though other conditions can cause similar sniffles, sneezes and congestion. These include sinus infections, cold air, sensitivity to chemicals such as perfume, and plain old dust.

Pharmacy professor Sheryl Szeinbach studied 246 patients who were being treated for allergies. She used a test that measures levels of an antibody known as immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which should be elevated in people with allergies.

The results revealed that nearly two-out-of-three patients being treated for allergies weren't suffering from allergic reactions, Ohio State University reports. People who suffer from allergy-like symptoms that resist treatment might ask their physician to order an IgE test to make sure an allergy is causing the problem.

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Operations Manager R20,000-25,000 Per Month Cost To Company Incl Benefits Gauteng - East Rand Financial Accountant: CA(SA) R400,000-500,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Gauteng - Johannesburg Key Account Manager Gauteng Java Developer-CT Western Cape - Cape Town Java Developer-Jozi Gauteng Account Manager R460,000-540,000 Per Annum Cost To Company Plus Benefits Gauteng Account Manager R460,000-540,000 Per Annum Market Related Plus Benefits South Africa Case Manager R210,000-220,000 Per Annum Negotiable Gauteng - Pretoria Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job