Food Allergies

Fact 1

Eight ingredients are responsible for more than 90% of food allergies, including shellfish, fish, soy, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, and milk.

Fact 2

Every three minutes, someone ends up in a hospital due to an allergic reaction. The symptoms appear within a few minutes to two hours.

Fact 3

Some people are allergic to water; which is an awful condition to combat. Fortunately, it’s only triggered by rain, pools, or a shower.

about food allergies

What are food allergies?

When your immune system reacts to the food you eat, causing a diverse range of symptoms, it’s commonly known as food allergy. This is a widespread condition, ranging from very mild to severe. Some people are allergic to more than one type of food.

While this condition usually starts in childhood, adults are not spared also. All food allergies have one thing in common; they are potentially life-threatening. It’s crucial to notice that allergic reactions can be very unpredictable, from harmless to serious ones, in a matter of minutes.

When it comes to mild reactions, they might involve a minor abdominal pain or a couple of hives, while more severe cases might lead to loss of consciousness and lower blood pressure. At the moment, we can’t cure allergies, but we can minimize the symptoms. It is believed that family history plays a crucial role when someone develops a food allergy.

IMMUNE SYSTEM REACTION

Food allergies symptoms

Symptoms might come suddenly or develop over several hours. The immune system reacts to a small amount of allergen; therefore, food allergies might be life-threatening, especially if not treated immediately.
Mild symptoms include rash, swelling, watery eyes, runny and stuffy nose, and sneezing. On the other hand, severe symptoms involve difficulty breathing, vomiting, dizziness, swelling of the throat or tongue, and hives.

FOOD ALLERGIES TYPES

Common food allergies

We can divide them into three types:
IgE-mediated food allergy: the most common type triggered by the immune system that produces the antibody immunoglobulin E. The first symptoms happen right after eating.
non-IgE-mediated food allergy: the allergic reactions aren’t linked to immunoglobulin E, but other cells are responsible for allergic symptoms. Usually difficult to detect.
Mixed: some people may experience a mixture of both types.

ALLEVIATE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

Treatment

Avoidance is the best remedy. Therefore, anyone suffering from food allergies should be extra careful when buying groceries at the supermarket or dining out at a restaurant. It’s necessary to ensure that food doesn’t contain traces of allergens.
While you can’t cure allergies, over-the-counter antihistamine drugs may alleviate symptoms, making you feel better. Some doctors may prescribe steroid drugs to fight off severe allergic reactions.

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