With Winter well and truly in the rear view mirror, it’s high time to start thinking about enjoyable afternoons in the sunshine with a burger in one hand a cold beer (or squash) in the other. In fact it’s the ideal moment to dust off the charcoal briquettes and your humorous “hot stuff” apron, as it’s officially the start of National Barbecue Month!
It’s that time of year when the sun puts its hat on, warming the cockles and lifting the spirits and the first BBQ is something of a celebration of that fact. However, amongst all the excitement, it’s easy to forget that there are many things that can cause discomfort or reactions in those with particular allergies. So, care must be taken to prevent trouble arising.
So, what allergic triggers exist at barbecues?
Well, you might be quite surprised just how many potential sources there are at this most appealing of social events.
Firstly, there’s pollen and there are at least 30 known types that can be inhaled into the soft membranes of the nose, eyes, throat and lungs, causing all sorts of irritation. This problem is suffered by as many as 10 million people in the UK alone, so if you’re reading this and you’re from Great Britain, there’s a one in six chance that this applies to you!
Then, there is the charcoal that is used in the majority of home barbecues, which produces airborne soot particles mixed in with the smoke that billows out of BBQ units when cooking. This substance can lead to very similar symptoms as a pollen allergy, with shortness of breath, runny nose and sneezing amongst those encountered.
The problem can also be caused by specially treated wood used in barbecues, like oak and cedar, which all carry allergy causing pollen.
Then there’s insects, such as bees, wasps and mosquitos that can often be attracted by the aromas and human activity in the outside environment. Depending on the severity of the allergy, these pesky critters can provide real problems to the people who trying to relax and enjoy the day.
Reducing Irritation
Of course, for long term allergy sufferers, antihistamines and allergy pens are amongst the preventative and reactive measures that can be used to reduced the effects of contact with undesirable elements. That’s great for those who are aware of the problem….
But what if I have an allergy and I don’t know about it?
A common scenario found is one where the sufferer isn’t aware of their intolerance or allergy and they simply pass the symptoms off as something else. If you often have sneezing fits, irritated eyes or problems breathing with no apparent cause…there’s an above average chance you’re allergic to something.
At AllergyTest.co we provide affordable, non-invasive hair tests to identify a wide range of allergic triggers. Obtaining a clearer picture of your biological makeup can quite literally be life changing, as it arms you with the information you need to make the appropriate changes to reduce or even eliminate the effects that intolerances can cause.
So, if you find that barbecues tend to lead to you feeling under par or you’d just like to find out more about what we do, visit our website where you can find everything you need to know and you can even chat with one of our helpful experts via live chat.
Here’s wishing you all a happy, sun-filled and safe National Barbecue Month!
