Allergies, blood and immune system – articles and advice
Features and advice on living with allergies, blood conditions and immune system problems. For trusted reference, see our Patient Information Leaflets on allergies and immune health.
Allergies
Itchy eyes, sneezing, or hives? Allergies can affect your daily life in unexpected ways. Find out what triggers them and how to manage your symptoms.
In this topic: Allergies Other allergies
- What's the difference between a side effect and a drug allergy?
- Are your Christmas decorations triggering your allergies?
- When to worry about an allergic reaction
- How to protect your baby against allergies
- Anaphylactic shock: symptoms, triggers, and what to do
- What is the difference between allergy and intolerance?
- How to travel safely if you have allergies
- What you need to know about allergic reactions
- Are private allergy tests worth it?
Other allergies
- Aquagenic urticaria: living with an allergy to water
- How to get rid of your cat allergy symptoms
- How can you tell if you have a latex allergy?
- Coconut allergy: can coconut oil make your skin itch?
- Could you be allergic to the sun?
Food allergy and intolerance
A food allergy is a harmful immune system response, causing symptoms like swelling, wheezing, or rash to appear quickly, while an intolerance is a digestive issue that does not involve the immune system and typically causes slower-developing symptoms like bloating, gas, or stomach pain.
- Video: How do you know if you're intolerant to gluten?
- How to introduce your baby to allergen foods
- How to cope with a nut allergy at Christmas
- Cow's milk allergy: Which dairy-free milks are suitable for children?
- Cow's milk allergy in babies: What is the milk ladder?
- How to wean a baby with a cow's milk allergy
- What are the signs of a cow's milk allergy in babies?
- Which foods should you avoid if you have a soy allergy?
- What is alcohol intolerance, and what are its symptoms?
- What is gluten intolerance?
- Could you have a nightshade allergy?
- Video: How do you know if you're intolerant to dairy?
- Is it cow's milk allergy or lactose intolerance?
- What can you eat if you're lactose intolerant?
Hay fever
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is a common allergy caused by pollen that results in symptoms like sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
- Hay fever injection: is Kenalog safe?
- Hay fever videos
- How to manage hay fever at home
- Why do some people suddenly develop hay fever?
- When should I start taking hay fever tablets?
- Hay fever: How to cope with a 'pollen bomb'
- Can pregnancy make you more sensitive to hay fever?
- Can babies get hay fever?
- Which type of hay fever nasal spray is right for you?
- Are all hay fever treatments the same?
- Hay fever: how your pharmacist can help
- How to find the right treatment for your hay fever
- When is hay fever season in the UK - and how can you avoid the symptoms?
- What works best for treating hay fever in children?
- Is hay fever linked to depression?
Blood
Your blood keeps every part of your body alive and well. Discover how it works, what common disorders exist, and when to get things checked.
In this topic:BloodBlood tests
- Signs you may have anaemia
- What does the new treatment for sickle cell disease mean for sickle cell patients?
- Does the contraceptive pill increase your risk of blood clots?
- Vitamin B12 deficiency signs you need to know
- What to expect when you give blood
- What are the early warning signs of blood cancer?
- What is blood?
Blood tests
- NHS to roll out world-first blood test for cancer
- What does a full blood count show us?
- Is it easy to have an HIV test?
- What is the COVID-19 antibody blood test and should I get one?
- How to prepare for a blood test
- Can blood tests help to manage menopause and HRT?
- How to get over a fear of blood tests
- New blood test may detect aggressive prostate cancer
- Can a new blood test detect lung cancer early?
- Blood test may detect ovarian cancer two years earlier
- Personalised blood test detects return of breast cancer
- Blood test could predict Alzheimer's 20 years before symptoms
- New blood test could diagnose heart failure earlier
- What is a CA125 blood test?
The immune system
Your immune system is your body’s personal bodyguard. Learn how it protects you, what weakens it, and what to do when it’s not working properly.
- What is stiff person syndrome?
- How to improve your immunity through diet and lifestyle
- How to naturally boost your immune system
- Does my diet really affect my immune system?
- These are the worst things you can do for your immune system
- What it's like to have lupus
- What women need to know about autoimmune conditions