Food allergies may be life threatening

Generally, people are unaware of allergies they have. They are careless about food that can have toxic effect on their body. It is highly important to know which food is allergen to their body so that remedial action can be taken to prevent from health diseases.

Food allergy symptoms are common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. People can even develop an allergy to foods they have eaten for years with no problems.

A food allergy reaction ensues when immune system of humans exaggerates to a food or a substance in a food, recognizing it as a danger and generating a protective response. Food allergies involve two features of the human immune response. One is the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of protein called an antibody that circulates through the blood. The other is the mast cell, a specific cell that occurs in all body tissues but is especially common in areas of the body that are typical sites of allergic reactions, including the nose and throat, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.

Even small amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction that can weaken breathing, cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure and affect heart rate. Anaphylaxis can come on within minutes of exposure to the trigger food. It can be deadly and must be treated quickly with an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline).

Though people may be sensitive to any food and they may develop allergies, but common food that can cause adverse reaction are as under: 

Ø Eggs

Ø Milk

Ø Peanuts

Ø Tree nuts

Ø Fish

Ø Shellfish

Ø Wheat

Ø Soy

Symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Symptoms may involve the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system and the respiratory tract.

Patient may exhibit following reaction when he has allergy to food:

Ø Vomiting and/or stomach cramps

Ø Hives

Ø Shortness of breath

Ø Wheezing

Ø Repetitive cough

Ø Shock or circulatory collapse

Ø Tight, hoarse throat; trouble swallowing

Ø Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk or breathe

Ø Weak pulse

Ø Pale or blue colouring of skin

Ø Dizziness or feeling faint

Ø Anaphylaxis

Peanuts are one of the most common cause of food-related allergy death. They can activate anaphylaxis, a reaction that may be deadly if medical attention is not given immediately. Symptoms usually start within minutes of exposure. But they can also start within seconds or take hours to develop.

In India, reports indicated that people are allergic to Wheat or gluten.  If a person experiences allergies from wheat, they must watch foods. People with wheat allergy should avoid food that contains wheat, semolina, barley based products, broken wheat, burger, wheat bran, durum, cereals, pasta, rotis, chapattis, packaged baked products, and some noodles.

When person must visit to doctor: 

People must visit to doctor or allergist if they have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating.

Risk factors:

Following are the risk factors to develop allergies:

1.   Family history. People are at increased risk of food allergies if asthma, eczema, hives or allergies such as hay fever are common in their family.

2.   A past food allergy. Children may develop a food allergy, but in some cases it returns later in life.

3.   Other allergies. If people have already allergic to one food, they may be at amplified risk of becoming allergic to another.

4.   Age. Food allergies are most common in children, particularly toddlers and infants. As they grow older, digestive system matures and their body is less likely to absorb food or food components that trigger allergies.

5.   Asthma. Asthma and food allergy commonly occur together. When they do, both food allergy and asthma symptoms are more likely to be severe.

Factors that may increase risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction include:

-      Having a history of asthma

-      Being a teenager or younger

-      Waiting longer to use epinephrine to treat food allergy symptoms

-      Not having rashes or other skin symptoms

Regrettably, most doctors do not recognize how food sensitivities and food allergies can affect those who suffer with irritable bowel, celiac, Crohn’s, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, eczema, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, lupus, MS, and heart disease. People who experiences with swelling, gas, indigestion, reflux, and other irritable bowel problems may not understand that the main reason for these conditions are linked with hidden food allergies. These unidentified allergens, if allowed to continue, will cause inflammation and deteriorate the immune system.

Allergic reactions are often minor, but it may sometimes be very serious.

Prevention and treatment:

When person experiences food allergy, best way is to avoid that food. For a severe allergic reaction, people may need an emergency injection of epinephrine and rush to the emergency room.

In briefing note, huge number of people suffer from some types of allergy in world. Food allergies are mainly due to the exaggerated reaction of the immune system to certain foods. It is recommended to closely watch foods that people consume. If they are affected with some typical food, they must stop consuming, otherwise, allergies can be very dangerous and may cost one’s life.