If you have food allergies, it is essential to stay away from foods which trigger symptoms. An emergency kit containing Epinephrine (Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q or EpiPen) should also be kept handy to treat more serious reactions.
Take a simple test to discover your food allergies and talk to your physician for further advice.
What Causes Food Allergies?
Food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly interprets proteins found in certain foods as threats and reacts by attacking it, leading to symptoms ranging from mild to severe reactions. Peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish and wheat are among the most prevalent allergenic triggers, while other triggers may include cherries, melons, soy products, apples or pineapples. Your reaction depends on the size and amount of food that you consume as well as where your symptoms manifest themselves (in your mouth, throat or lungs). Severe symptoms could even prove life-threatening; anaphylaxis is a severe allergic response which causes blocked airways, low blood pressure and decreased heart rate – it’s vital that you track when symptoms arise so you can seek medical treatment immediately. It is therefore crucial that you track symptoms to seek prompt relief immediately.
Notifying those closest to you of your food allergy is important, including caregivers, school staff, friends and parents of your children. Make sure they understand that if an adverse reaction to certain food occurs they must immediately seek medical assistance; carrying an antihistamine such as epinephrine may also prove useful as this medicine treats more serious allergic reactions quickly. As allergy symptoms may often be confused with other health conditions it’s also wise to visit healthcare provider for a diagnosis of any potential allergies or sensitivities.
Symptoms of Food Allergies
Food allergies can cause symptoms that include hives, lips or mouth swelling (oral allergy syndrome), difficulty breathing, stomach pains, diarrhea, itchy skin and hoarse voices. More serious reactions, known as anaphylaxis can result in blood pressure decrease, narrowed airways and shock if untreated immediately using injectable epinephrine injection. Anaphylaxis should always be treated immediately by injecting it immediately into a vein.
People with food allergies are usually advised to avoid foods which trigger their symptoms, whether in restaurants or on their travels. At restaurants, they should request an ingredients list or speak with staff regarding this. When travelling alone, bringing their own food in an airtight cooler could prevent exposure. They could also wear medical alert bracelets or necklaces so others know if they have an allergic reaction and require immediate medical assistance.
Children may outgrow food allergies, but people can have them for life. Therefore, it is crucial that both you and your family become informed of food allergies so you know which items to avoid. It may also be beneficial to inform key individuals such as childcare providers, school personnel, and the parents of friends of your child’s about his/her food allergies in order to keep an eye out.
Treatments for Food Allergies
Food allergies do not have a permanent cure, but treatment can help manage symptoms. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids to decrease allergic reactions; in severe cases an EpiPen auto-injector (also called an Epinephrine auto-injector) may be given in order to treat anaphylaxis reactions which threaten life.
Researchers are conducting trials with experimental drugs designed to desensitize your immune system to food allergens and lessen reactions when exposed. Oral immunotherapy offers gradually increasing doses of an allergen over time to lessen its sensitivity; while biologics, which block key steps in allergy pathways, are an additional area of investigation.
Your care team will ask questions about when and why symptoms appeared, perform a physical exam and potentially order blood tests to measure antibodies against certain foods.
Foods that can trigger symptoms should be avoided at all costs. Read food labels carefully, and avoid products marked “May contain” or “Produced in a facility that…”, since these may have been produced on equipment containing your allergen. Before making significant dietary changes on your own, consult an allergy specialist and dietitian; they can provide safe alternatives and find safer substitutes. Always check ingredient lists as food manufacturers often change ingredients or remove items without notice.
Preventing Food Allergies
At least for now, the best way to manage food allergies is avoiding foods you are sensitive to – although this can be more challenging than expected since even small amounts can trigger reactions. Furthermore, it’s important to realize that many foods contain multiple allergens which could trigger reactions.
Not only should you avoid food that you are allergic to, but you should consult your physician about other strategies to safeguard yourself. For instance, taking an allergy medication with you whenever possible (especially if your allergy causes life-threatening anaphylaxis). A healthcare professional can demonstrate the proper use of an autoinjector.
Make sure that everyone who cares for you and/or your child understands your allergy, including childcare providers, teachers and the parents of his/her peers. This should include childcare providers, teachers and their respective children’s parents.
Consider having your infant tested for allergies while still an infant to identify and prevent potential food allergies before they appear. This is particularly important if he or she already has conditions such as asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis or latex allergies.
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