Are you really allergic?

According to a study1 published in the JAMA New Open last January, nearly half of all adults who think they have allergies actually don’t.

In their study involving 40 000 Americans, these researchers found that of the 19% who stated they had allergies, only 10.8% really did. So before you start overhauling your diet, it might be a good idea to get tested by an allergy specialist.

These tests are typically completely painless and could mean you avoid some serious restrictions in life. A positive result is sometimes accompanied by localised itching, though this goes away quickly.

The same study also reported that the most common allergy is to shellfish, followed by milk, peanuts, and fish. What about you? Are you allergic to anything, and are you sure?

1) JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(1):e185630. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630