Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly recognizes certain foods as potentially dangerous and reacts by producing symptoms such as hives, swelling or anaphylaxis – leading to narrowed airways and difficulty breathing, or shock with sudden drops in blood pressure – soon after eating the trigger food(s). Food allergies typically manifest themselves within minutes after indulging in food that triggers them.
Symptoms
Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly perceives proteins found in certain foods as being dangerous, sending out antibodies (proteins known as immunoglobulin E or IgE antibodies) against them in response. Your body then releases chemicals which produce allergy symptoms such as hives, swelling or shortness of breath – anaphylaxis may even strike and can be deadly unless treated quickly with injectable epinephrine.
Food allergies typically manifest themselves within hours after eating the allergenic food and can affect various parts of your body – from an itchy rash to life-threatening reactions.
Food allergies to dairy, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish are more likely to cause serious respiratory or cardiovascular reactions than any other. Other food allergies can also be serious if someone already suffers from an asthmatic or eczema condition.
People suffering from hay fever can have allergic reactions to certain fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts or spices due to cross-reactivity between proteins present in these foods and allergy-causing pollens, known as pollen-food allergy syndrome. Food allergies may also trigger gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting and diarrhea that leads to dehydration in young children – known as Friesen Progesterone Insulin Resistent Syndrome or FPIES and typically seen when babies first introduce solid food or transition from breastfeeding.
Diagnosis
Food allergies are diagnosed through a combination of factors including patient history, physical examination, and testing. Patients suffering from food allergy will likely be asked for details of their symptoms including which foods trigger reactions as well as severity. They will also be quizzed on any previous history of allergies or asthma in their family medical history.
Food allergens cause reactions that affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and cardiovascular system. Reactions range from mild and relatively harmless hives or stomach pain to life-threatening anaphylaxis requiring immediate medical intervention with an injection of epinephrine.
Some individuals with food allergies also tend to develop other allergic conditions, like asthma and eczema, so they may require help managing these other allergies that often appear alongside food allergy symptoms. An allergist can provide expert assistance in managing them, which may often resemble symptoms associated with food allergy.
An allergist typically utilizes a skin test to ascertain your allergies to certain foods. To do so, a small amount of liquid containing the suspect food is applied on either arm or back and pricked for maximum contact with protein molecules under your skin – should this cause a reaction, the skin becomes red and itchy and possibly develop blisters. Furthermore, blood testing for food allergies can also be performed, which measures levels of IgE antibodies specific for particular foods.
Treatment
Food allergies can have potentially severe repercussions that range from mild to life-threatening, with symptoms typically appearing within minutes to hours after eating an allergen and can include skin reactions, nose, throat or digestive symptoms that impact skin, nose throat gastrointestinal tract cardiovascular systems or even death if left untreated immediately with adrenaline treatment (epinephrine).
Epinephrine auto-injectors are recommended to all patients with food allergies and should always be carried. An allergist will teach you how to use the device safely so you’re prepared in case of emergency situations. Antihistamines or possibly bronchodilators may also be prescribed in order to control symptoms effectively.
Avoiding food that causes an allergy is often the best treatment, though this can be challenging in restaurants and when living with other people. Reading labels, consulting with dietitians or joining support groups may all help in creating a diet plan suitable for you.
Immunotherapy treatments have recently emerged that may offer hope to some individuals. These are called oral or sublingual immunotherapy, and involve gradually introducing small doses of allergen into your system over time to build tolerance to it; for instance, peanut allergen immunotherapy involves taking a pill containing small quantities of peanut powder.
Precautions
Food allergies can be frightening, but with proper knowledge and preparation you can mitigate your worries. An allergist may suggest avoiding foods that exacerbate your symptoms and always carrying an epinephrine auto-injector for emergency purposes. Speak to your physician if any other health problems may mimic food allergy symptoms – lactose intolerance (inability to tolerate milk) and celiac disease (inability to tolerate gluten).
Reduce the risk of allergic reactions by reading labels and selecting foods without your allergen. When shopping, look for the “Contains” statement on labels to identify which allergens might be present – these include milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts tree nuts wheat and soybeans.
Make sure to review the ingredients, too. Allergens may be hidden as flavorings, thickeners, stabilizers or processing aids; consult your physician on how best to read labels; also inquire about highly refined peanut, tree nut and soy oils as these usually remove allergen proteins through refining processes.
Be especially wary when dining at restaurants, which present a higher risk of cross-contamination. Before ordering anything, speak to either the chef or manager and explain your allergy, asking that they use clean pans and utensils and ask that they use fresh pans and utensils from home if possible or find another spot to dine in.
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