Allergy and Sensitivity
Quite frequently, the words 'allergy,' 'intolerance,' and 'sensitivity' are used interchangeably which may complicate understanding of the various terms. Although sensitivity and intolerance are similar and can be used interchangeably on occasion, allergy is a completely different condition and can not. Different physiological processes are involved which lead to different symptoms and require different testing methods. It must be noted that the difference in symptoms can often be very slight, which may lead to more uncertainty about the present condition. There may also be misinterpretation of how we use the words in our language. For instance, if someone is allergic to an item, they might describe themselves as 'sensitive' to the item, but as a health condition allergy is different from sensitivity or intolerance.
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