Understanding Allergy

by Sophie Farooque

Overview

Allergies are one of the major causes of illness in developed countries and more and more of us are seeking treatment for them every year.

We are more allergic than ever before, so why is the term 'allergy' still so misunderstood? Understanding Allergy will be the practical go-to guide for equipping allergy sufferers and their families with the knowledge needed to help them navigate this minefield.

With expert tips from a London-based allergy consultant, this book will be a whistle-stop tour from diagnosis, to treatment and lifestyle changes that will help you understand when, where and how to seek help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780241527887
Publisher:	Penguin Random House UK
Publication date:	01/01/2023
Series:	Penguin Life Experts
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dr. Sophie Farooque is one of the UK's leading allergy experts. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and was elected onto the council of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2018. She is a practicing NHS consultant at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, and has been involved extensively in the UK's response following reports of COVID-19 vaccine allergy. She speaks regularly at medical conferences both nationally and abroad and has been quoted in The Guardian and The Times, among other news outlets. She has appeared on Sky News and the One Show. She is passionate about empowering both healthcare professionals and patients to have confidence in managing allergy. Find her on Twitter: @LondonAllergy.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 What Axe Allergies and Why Do They Matter? 7

2 The Allergy Epidemic 18

3 Runny Nose and Itchy Eyes: Understanding Hay Fever and Rhinitis 27

4 Please Make It Stop: Treating Rhinitis and Hay Fever 47

5 COVID-19 and Allergy 65

6 An Introduction to Food Allergies 73

7 Stranger than Fiction: Food Allergies You May Not Have Heard Of 84

8 Delayed Food Allergies 93

9 How Will I Cope? - Living with a Food Allergy 99

10 Anaphylaxis: Reducing the Fear - What You Should Know 115

11 Taking the Medicine: The Importance of Drug Allergies 139

12 Red Herrings: When You Think You Are Allergic … But You Aren't 157

13 What to Do If You Think You Have an Allergy 164

14 Turning Off the Tap: Eczema and Allergy Prevention 171

Conclusion: Understanding Allergy 187

Appendix 1 Avoiding Individual Food Allergens 191

Appendix 2 Questions to Ask Your Doctor 202

Notes 205

Glossary 219

Further Reading and Resources 221

Acknowledgements 225

Editorial Reviews

"In thisfascinating book, Dr Sophie Farooque separates fact from fiction about the important topic of allergy. Rare, life threatening conditions, common troublesome allergies and common misdiagnoses of allergy are all clearly explained.For the many people affected, here isa source of sound information and practical advice'’ —Professor Roy Taylor, author of Life Without Diabetes 

'In a world hungry for accurate sources of medical information, Dr Sophie Farooque has writtenthe definitive guide to allergy for the lay person and beyond.Dr Farooque's conversational style makes for a wonderfully readable book which isfactually accurate, detailing all the information one will ever need to know about the amazing world of allergic diseases. The book delivers what the title promises'’ —Professor Jon Bennett, NHS Consultant Respiratory Physician and former Chair, British Thoracic Society

From the Publisher