Food Allergy Versus Food Intolerance
Among the allergies rampant in American lives today, food allergy is one of the top three. However, some people misdiagnose food allergy as food intolerance. There are certain similarities but one must be careful in administering medicines to a person with an allergy.
The wrong medicine for the wrong condition can increase the allergic symptom resulting in anaphylaxis and even death. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction where all the symptoms swiftly attack the entire body all at the same time.
Symptoms Of Food Allergy
Food allergy is an allergic reaction to certain types of food. The most common food allergens are: cow’s milk, wheat, peanuts and other tree nuts, eggs, fish, soybeans, shellfish, meat and certain types of drugs. The allergic reaction can vary depending on the type of allergen but they have the same number of symptoms:
- Rashes or hives begins to appear on the skin. In extreme cases, the swelling and hives can spread to the entire body.
- Swelling of the certain areas near the mouth.
- Swelling of the ear
- Redness and itchiness of the eyes.
- Runny nose
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Difficulty in breathing and wheezing, sometime signs of asthma
Food intolerance has much of the same symptoms except the runny nose and watery eyes. Most often, food intolerance results in diarrhea and swelling of certain areas of the body.
Aside for the similarities in symptoms, a food allergy is more severe than food intolerance. Someone with food intolerance can eat small portions of the food he is allergic to. They can still enjoy the food, though in small quantities. But to a person with food allergy, that small portion can immediately trigger an allergic reaction. And if not treated at once, the patients can go into anaphylaxis.
What makes a food allergy more life threatening is because of the immediate threat to the person. Someone with food allergy can have an anaphylactic shock and start to experience the swelling of the throat muscles. This can block the air passage of the person and could result to death.
Another real danger is the sharp drop in the blood pressure of the patient. In this case, the person with food allergy may experience mental confusion and dizziness.
Food Allergy Treatment
A food allergy can be treated as soon as the symptom occurs. For rashes, there are skin creams available to ease the swelling and itchiness. The antihistamines will give relief to symptoms of runny nose, watery eyes and swelling. These medicines can be bought right in the local drugstores and does not require a prescription.
For those who experience the severe food allergy reactions, a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline), either self- injected or given by the doctor can immediately reverse the symptoms. As of now, a shot of epinephrine is the most effective treatment for food allergy and other types of allergies.
Preventing Food Allergy
Although food allergies cannot be prevented, the best way to defeat it is by staying away from the food a person is allergic to. Taking a risk will only cost you more pain in the future. So it is best to see the doctor to get a proper diagnosis and guidelines on what to eat and what not to eat.
Making the right diagnosis on food allergy versus food intolerance can be tricky. It all depends on how severe the allergic reactions are and the number of symptoms that show up on the person when exposed to the food allergen.
By: Charlene J. Nuble
About the Author:
The wrong medicine for the wrong condition can increase the allergic symptom resulting in anaphylaxis and even death. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction where all the symptoms swiftly attack the entire body all at the same time.
Symptoms Of Food Allergy
Food allergy is an allergic reaction to certain types of food. The most common food allergens are: cow’s milk, wheat, peanuts and other tree nuts, eggs, fish, soybeans, shellfish, meat and certain types of drugs. The allergic reaction can vary depending on the type of allergen but they have the same number of symptoms:
- Rashes or hives begins to appear on the skin. In extreme cases, the swelling and hives can spread to the entire body.
- Swelling of the certain areas near the mouth.
- Swelling of the ear
- Redness and itchiness of the eyes.
- Runny nose
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Difficulty in breathing and wheezing, sometime signs of asthma
Food intolerance has much of the same symptoms except the runny nose and watery eyes. Most often, food intolerance results in diarrhea and swelling of certain areas of the body.
Aside for the similarities in symptoms, a food allergy is more severe than food intolerance. Someone with food intolerance can eat small portions of the food he is allergic to. They can still enjoy the food, though in small quantities. But to a person with food allergy, that small portion can immediately trigger an allergic reaction. And if not treated at once, the patients can go into anaphylaxis.
What makes a food allergy more life threatening is because of the immediate threat to the person. Someone with food allergy can have an anaphylactic shock and start to experience the swelling of the throat muscles. This can block the air passage of the person and could result to death.
Another real danger is the sharp drop in the blood pressure of the patient. In this case, the person with food allergy may experience mental confusion and dizziness.
Food Allergy Treatment
A food allergy can be treated as soon as the symptom occurs. For rashes, there are skin creams available to ease the swelling and itchiness. The antihistamines will give relief to symptoms of runny nose, watery eyes and swelling. These medicines can be bought right in the local drugstores and does not require a prescription.
For those who experience the severe food allergy reactions, a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline), either self- injected or given by the doctor can immediately reverse the symptoms. As of now, a shot of epinephrine is the most effective treatment for food allergy and other types of allergies.
Preventing Food Allergy
Although food allergies cannot be prevented, the best way to defeat it is by staying away from the food a person is allergic to. Taking a risk will only cost you more pain in the future. So it is best to see the doctor to get a proper diagnosis and guidelines on what to eat and what not to eat.
Making the right diagnosis on food allergy versus food intolerance can be tricky. It all depends on how severe the allergic reactions are and the number of symptoms that show up on the person when exposed to the food allergen.
By: Charlene J. Nuble
About the Author:
Charlene J. Nuble 2006. For answers to All your frequently asked questions about food allergy, please go to: food-allergy.allergyanswers.net or go to: allergyanswers.net blog.
Treatments to Be Considered if You Suffer From IBS
There are several types of treatments that can be used in the relief of irritable bowel syndrome. Not all of them help in each single case and many times it is important to try out a variety of treatments before you find the one that works for you.
Known treatments up to date are the following:
Stress relief
Your diet
Prevention of the condition
Self care measures
Coping with the condition
Medications prescribed
Pure Aloe Vera supplements
Alternative medications available
Complementary treatments
Each of these avenues is something that you should carefully consider if you are to overcome what IBS can do to you. In addition to this, the severity of your condition should be taken into considerations. Those that suffer from more extreme cases are going to need more help than those that do not.
Your treatment should be based on just how extreme your condition is. In effect, the treatment for a mild case of IBS is not going to be enough for those with severe symptoms. Likewise, the treatment for severe IBS is not going to be beneficial to those that are suffering from a mild condition.
Your doctor will work with you in diagnosing and then determining what level of severity your IBS is. For each person, this will mean meeting with and following
up on the diagnosis your doctor gave you.
But you can learn more about your condition by monitoring the levels of your condition on your own. Once you know to what degree you are suffering, there is a simple set of tools available to you to use.
If you have mild IBS, your goal will be to work through management of stress factors and to make changes to the foods that you eat and to your overall lifestyle and consider starting to take a natural supplement to relieve some of the symptoms.
For those that are suffering from more moderate conditions of IBS, there is a need to make the changes noted above for mild conditions as well as to take fiber supplementation, anticholinergic medications (or those similar to them) and a pure and clinically tested aloe vera supplement is recommended in all cases.
If you do have a severe form of IBS, you will need to follow both the mild and moderate conditions, but in addition, you will need to talk to your doctor about further medications. These can include tricyclic or SSRI antidepressants or other types of medication although you will have to discuss with your doctor whether you are willing to accept the side effects those type of medication can cause.
By: Sharon James
About the Author:
Known treatments up to date are the following:
Stress relief
Your diet
Prevention of the condition
Self care measures
Coping with the condition
Medications prescribed
Pure Aloe Vera supplements
Alternative medications available
Complementary treatments
Each of these avenues is something that you should carefully consider if you are to overcome what IBS can do to you. In addition to this, the severity of your condition should be taken into considerations. Those that suffer from more extreme cases are going to need more help than those that do not.
Your treatment should be based on just how extreme your condition is. In effect, the treatment for a mild case of IBS is not going to be enough for those with severe symptoms. Likewise, the treatment for severe IBS is not going to be beneficial to those that are suffering from a mild condition.
Your doctor will work with you in diagnosing and then determining what level of severity your IBS is. For each person, this will mean meeting with and following
up on the diagnosis your doctor gave you.
But you can learn more about your condition by monitoring the levels of your condition on your own. Once you know to what degree you are suffering, there is a simple set of tools available to you to use.
If you have mild IBS, your goal will be to work through management of stress factors and to make changes to the foods that you eat and to your overall lifestyle and consider starting to take a natural supplement to relieve some of the symptoms.
For those that are suffering from more moderate conditions of IBS, there is a need to make the changes noted above for mild conditions as well as to take fiber supplementation, anticholinergic medications (or those similar to them) and a pure and clinically tested aloe vera supplement is recommended in all cases.
If you do have a severe form of IBS, you will need to follow both the mild and moderate conditions, but in addition, you will need to talk to your doctor about further medications. These can include tricyclic or SSRI antidepressants or other types of medication although you will have to discuss with your doctor whether you are willing to accept the side effects those type of medication can cause.
By: Sharon James
About the Author:
Sharon James runs a successful alternative health website offering information on how aloe vera can relieve IBS symptoms and cure other digestive disorders