Allergies

Overview

If you think you have allergies, don’t wait to see if your symptoms go away. If your symptoms last longer than a week or two or tend to come back during certain times of the year, make an appointment with an allergist.

An allergist is a healthcare provider who specializes in allergies. They can help diagnose your allergies through tests.

How do I test for allergies?

There are different types of allergy tests. The most common allergy tests are skin prick tests and blood tests.

Skin prick (scratch) tests can identify the allergens that cause your allergy symptoms. An allergist will use a thin needle to prick your skin with a tiny amount of different possible allergens. They then check to see if your skin reacts to the allergen.

Blood (IgE) tests can also identify allergies. However, they’re not as sensitive as skin prick tests. Blood tests evaluate IgE antibodies that your immune system produces against a specific protein.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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