Allergies and intolerances
If you'd like to discuss any worries or symptoms related to an allergy or intolerance, a Livi GP can help.
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What are allergies and intolerances?
An allergy is when your immune system reacts to something that’s normally harmless, like food or pollen. An intolerance is having difficulty digesting certain foods and getting unpleasant physical symptoms when you eat them.
For most people, allergens do no harm, but if you’re allergic, your immune system identifies the substance as a threat and attacks it. This leads to symptoms ranging from minor itchiness to anaphylaxis, which needs immediate care.
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Allergies
Allergies are common and can be mild or very serious. Discover the causes, symptoms and treatments for allergies.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a dangerous reaction to an allergen that can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Learn what to do in case of anaphylaxis.
Coeliac disease
Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks the tissue in your gut when you eat gluten. The reaction can cause a range of stomach problems, like cramps, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. Read more about the symptoms and how to treat them.
Hay fever
Hay fever affects many people in the spring and summertime. Discover the causes, symptoms and treatments for hay fever.
Lactose intolerance
People with lactose intolerance don’t produce enough of the enzyme lactase. This means their body is unable to break down and absorb lactose, a sugar found in dairy-based food. Lactose remains in the digestive system, and is fermented by bacteria. This leads to a build up of gases, which can cause painful bloating and other symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system reacting to a certain substance that's usually harmless to most people. Although it’s not clear why this happens, most people with an allergy will have some family history of related conditions, like eczema or asthma. NHS data shows that the number of people with allergies is increasing every year.
An allergy occurs when a trigger substance (allergen) like dust or pollen comes into contact with the affected person, either by inhaling, swallowing or touching. The immune system will then over react and produce antibodies that attack the allergen. Allergic symptoms like wheezing, itching and a runny nose are caused by the histamine and other chemicals that get released into the blood.
There are hundreds of possible allergies, with some more well known than others. Some of the most unusual allergies include semen, sunlight and water. All allergies can make you feel unwell, either by triggering unpleasant symptoms or a more severe reaction. Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) and food allergies are some of the most common, affecting millions of people in the UK – almost 1 in 12 young children and 1-2% of adults have a known food allergy.
A cough from an allergy like hay fever, can be quite uncomfortable and make your throat feel scratchy and itchy. To help relieve your cough, you can try a cough medicine or decongestant – and a pharmacist can recommend one if you’re not sure. Antihistamines can also help reduce inflammation in your throat. Home remedies like inhaling steam or a hot drink with honey can be helpful for allergy related coughs too.