The following problems are just a few of the ways in which allergy can disguise itself as other illness, but they give you a pretty good idea of the scope of allergy-related conditions.
Alcoholism may actually result from sensitivity to the grains and fruit from which spirits, beer
and wine are made.
Arthritis in some people may simply be an allergic reaction in the joints to common foods such
as beef or wheat.
Bedwetting may be caused by spasms of a bladder irritated by allergy to milk or citrus fruit.
Criminal behavior may result when people become depressed or hostile after eating sugary
foods to which they are allergically addicted.
Headaches – especially migraines – in many cases seem to be a direct result of sensitivity to
certain foods or household chemicals.
Heart problems such as chest pains or irregular heartbeats (and even some forms of heart
disease) may be triggered by chemicals and air pollution.
Hyperactivity, learning disabilities and autism in many children may be caused by a problem
in the diet or environment, not a problem child.
Menopause troubles, such as hot flushes, can be exaggerated by allergy to foods or chemicals.
Vaginitis may actually be an allergy to such diverse items as nylon stockings, milk or pollen.
Writing as co-author of the landmark text, Food Allergy (CharlesThomas), Dr Albert Rowe summed up the situation: ‘Allergy cannot be ruled out because there is no history of hay fever, asthma or eczema.’
Furthermore, age is no defence. Young and old alike can and do have allergies. The belief that an allergic child will ‘grow out of it’ is largely a myth. That may hold true in some cases, but in the majority, the child hasn’t so much grown out of it as the allergy has instead gone underground, so to speak, only to manifest itself in less obvious ways. Allergic children tend to grow into allergic adults – unless the allergy is properly diagnosed and dealt with. And many adults are surprised to discover that they’re suddenly allergic to something they’ve previously tolerated all through life.
Some experts estimate that 60 per cent of the people in doctors’ surgeries have symptoms that are either caused or complicated by allergies. Sometimes the problems have been a part of life for so long that they’re easily overlooked or ignored. Other symptoms are written off with the throwaway diagnosis of ‘stress’ or ‘emotional tension’. Or even attributed to imagination and hypochondria. Many allergic reactions, in fact, are exactly the kinds of problems that send so many people from one doctor to another, only to hear ‘There’s nothing wrong with you’ or ‘Learn to live with it’. Unless you’re wheezing to beat the band or your skin looks like it’s been attacked by Brazilian fire ants, your doctor is not apt to suspect allergy.
So if you’re tired of feeling miserable for no discernible reason, it might be time to consider factors in your diet, home or workplace – especially if you’ve been diagnosed as allergic but go through periods when nothing seems to help. Formaldehyde fumes seeping from the woodwork or carpets in your newly renovated office may be at the root of your annoying and persistent headaches and itchy eyes. Gas fumes from the pilot light on your stove or home heating system may be causing your out-of-character moodiness and irritability at home. Perfectly healthy and nutritious foods like wheat or corn – safe, it seems, for everyone else – may be causing that sour stomach or abdominal bloating.
After you begin to look at allergies outside of the allergy stereotypes, you can learn to walk away from needless suffering. Once the culprit or culprits are properly identified – and then eliminated – you’ll be well on your way to relief.

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