Food Allergy and Its Medications
With a food allergy, the body reacts as though that particular food product is harmful. As a result, the body’s immune system (which fights infection and disease) creates antibodies to fight the food allergen, the substance in the food that triggers the allergy. The next time a person comes in contact with that food by touching or eating it or inhaling its particles, the body releases chemicals, including one called histamine, to “protect” itself. These chemicals trigger allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.
What Is Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance is a digestive system response rather than an immune system response. It occurs when something in a food irritates a person’s digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or breakdown, the food. Intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products, is the most common food intolerance.
Common Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to Food
· Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
· Tingling sensation in the mouth
· Swelling of the tongue and throat
· Difficulty breathing
· Hives
· Vomiting
· Abdominal cramps
· Diarrhea
· Drop in blood pressure
· Loss of consciousness, and death.
Who’s at risk?
A lot of people avoid eating certain foods because they mistakenly believe they are allergic to them.
Actual food allergy is very rare and tends to run in families. Only 3 in 100 infants and 1 in 100 adults have a food allergy.
You are more at risk if you or any family members have other allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma and hay fever.
If you suspect that you are allergic to a type of food, you should get a diagnosis from your doctor or a qualified specialist in allergic diseases before making substantial changes to your diet.
Diagnosis
An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified professional to diagnose food allergy. Diagnosis requires a carefully organized and detailed assessment of the problem. First, the allergist/immunologist will take a thorough medical history, followed by a physical examination. The allergist will inquire about detailed contents of the foods, the frequency, seasonality, severity and nature of the symptoms, and will ask about the amount of time that elapses between eating a food and any reaction.
Medications for Treating Food Allergies
Antihistamines can treat isolated symptoms such as hives, runny nose, or abdominal pain associated with an allergic reaction.
If you have wheezing or asthma flares (also called attacks) as the result of a food allergy, a doctor will probably recommend that you take a bronchodilator such as albuterol right away. This medication is inhaled from a handheld pump device.
Food Allergies: Just the Facts
Myth Number 1: Food allergy is very common.
Myth Number 2: Most people who have food allergies are allergic to strawberries and tomatoes.
Myth Number 3: Some people are allergic to sugar.
Myth Number 4: Milk allergy is very common in adults.
Myth Number 5: People who have food allergies are allergic to many foods.
Myth Number 6: Food allergy makes people hyperactive.
By: james sameul
About the Author:
What Is Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance is a digestive system response rather than an immune system response. It occurs when something in a food irritates a person’s digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or breakdown, the food. Intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products, is the most common food intolerance.
Common Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to Food
· Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
· Tingling sensation in the mouth
· Swelling of the tongue and throat
· Difficulty breathing
· Hives
· Vomiting
· Abdominal cramps
· Diarrhea
· Drop in blood pressure
· Loss of consciousness, and death.
Who’s at risk?
A lot of people avoid eating certain foods because they mistakenly believe they are allergic to them.
Actual food allergy is very rare and tends to run in families. Only 3 in 100 infants and 1 in 100 adults have a food allergy.
You are more at risk if you or any family members have other allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma and hay fever.
If you suspect that you are allergic to a type of food, you should get a diagnosis from your doctor or a qualified specialist in allergic diseases before making substantial changes to your diet.
Diagnosis
An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified professional to diagnose food allergy. Diagnosis requires a carefully organized and detailed assessment of the problem. First, the allergist/immunologist will take a thorough medical history, followed by a physical examination. The allergist will inquire about detailed contents of the foods, the frequency, seasonality, severity and nature of the symptoms, and will ask about the amount of time that elapses between eating a food and any reaction.
Medications for Treating Food Allergies
Antihistamines can treat isolated symptoms such as hives, runny nose, or abdominal pain associated with an allergic reaction.
If you have wheezing or asthma flares (also called attacks) as the result of a food allergy, a doctor will probably recommend that you take a bronchodilator such as albuterol right away. This medication is inhaled from a handheld pump device.
Food Allergies: Just the Facts
Myth Number 1: Food allergy is very common.
Myth Number 2: Most people who have food allergies are allergic to strawberries and tomatoes.
Myth Number 3: Some people are allergic to sugar.
Myth Number 4: Milk allergy is very common in adults.
Myth Number 5: People who have food allergies are allergic to many foods.
Myth Number 6: Food allergy makes people hyperactive.
By: james sameul
About the Author:
Read about home remedies Also Read about 300 guides and Home Remedies for Acne
Determine The Difference Between A Food Allergy And A Food Intolerance
You will need to find out if you are having a food intolerance versus a food allergy, if eating a specific food causes you to suffer from some symptoms. It is easy to confuse the two together. However, if there is confusion, you may not be aware about the severity of your ailment and what appropriate action can best help you reduce your symptoms. Finding out the difference between the two can help you determine the best treatment option.
With a food allergy, your immune system response is triggered, leading to an allergic response. Only 2 percent of adults and 6 percent of children have a true food allergy that can be dangerous to their health. Mostly food allergens include peanuts, shellfish, soy and wheat. You do not need to consume a whole plateful of your food allergen for it to be fatal. Just a small amount can endanger your life.
With this, having a food allergy is considered more severe than having a food intolerance alone. Some of the most common symptoms of a food allergy include hives, eczema, wheezing, swelling of the throat, abdominal pain, and headaches. However, if your allergic reactions are severe, you can also suffer from shock, airway constriction, loss of consciousness and rapid pulse. This can mean death if you are not given the required treatment in a timely manner.
On the other hand, if you experience a tummy ache or diarrhea due to eating certain foods, you may be having a food intolerance. You still can eat these foods and yet suffer no symptoms if these are taken in small portions. This factor also distinguishes it from a true food allergy.
Obviously, for a food allergy, you would have to avoid eating that specific food. Severe food allergy symptoms require serious medical treatment. To keep you from going into anaphylectic shock, your doctor may give you a shot of epinephrine. You may also need to be warded in a hopsital for emergency treatment and observation.
To know for sure if you are having a true food allergy, some medical testings can help. Your doctor may also recommend that you keep a food diary so that you can note down the symptoms that you suffer from in response to the food that you just ate. With a better understanding, it is possible to reduce your symptoms whether allergic or otherwise.
By: Evelyn Lim
About the Author:
With a food allergy, your immune system response is triggered, leading to an allergic response. Only 2 percent of adults and 6 percent of children have a true food allergy that can be dangerous to their health. Mostly food allergens include peanuts, shellfish, soy and wheat. You do not need to consume a whole plateful of your food allergen for it to be fatal. Just a small amount can endanger your life.
With this, having a food allergy is considered more severe than having a food intolerance alone. Some of the most common symptoms of a food allergy include hives, eczema, wheezing, swelling of the throat, abdominal pain, and headaches. However, if your allergic reactions are severe, you can also suffer from shock, airway constriction, loss of consciousness and rapid pulse. This can mean death if you are not given the required treatment in a timely manner.
On the other hand, if you experience a tummy ache or diarrhea due to eating certain foods, you may be having a food intolerance. You still can eat these foods and yet suffer no symptoms if these are taken in small portions. This factor also distinguishes it from a true food allergy.
Obviously, for a food allergy, you would have to avoid eating that specific food. Severe food allergy symptoms require serious medical treatment. To keep you from going into anaphylectic shock, your doctor may give you a shot of epinephrine. You may also need to be warded in a hopsital for emergency treatment and observation.
To know for sure if you are having a true food allergy, some medical testings can help. Your doctor may also recommend that you keep a food diary so that you can note down the symptoms that you suffer from in response to the food that you just ate. With a better understanding, it is possible to reduce your symptoms whether allergic or otherwise.
By: Evelyn Lim
About the Author:
Evelyn Lim has been an allergy sufferer for many years. She now publishes tips on food allergy, something that she has to keep a watch on. For more information, please visit http://www.Allergy-Attacks.com.
The Difference Between Allergic Reaction / Food Intolerance?
What is the difference between an allergic reaction and food intolerance? How do I avoid it?
I thought that an allergic reaction or an intolerance reaction to food meant the same thing, but they are very different. An allergic reaction is an immune system response to the food. This happens very quickly, often within a couple of hours of eating the food. That is why, when starting solids, it is recommended to start with only one type of food, and to introduce a new
food after 3 or 4 days. It is also important to start with a teaspoon of the food once a day, and then increase the amount and frequency slowly to twice a day. A food intolerance reaction is due to an accumulation of the chemical present in the
food. This occurs over time, but can also manifest very quickly. I think of it as a bucket that fills up slowly over time and then overflows. Your baby will ingest the food gradually over a few days, until there is a build up of that chemical reaching a critical mass, and the intolerance reaction occurs. The response to an allergic or an intolerance reaction is the same. Your baby may suffer from vomiting, sudden loose poo or diarrhea, hives, swelling, redness or a rash. If you think there is a problem, stop the food, even if you are not sure, and see your
doctor or the childhood centre nurse. We better be sure with our little precious babies!
Kasha Dubinska
Major in Chemistry (Honors) The University of Sydney. A mother and the producer of Yummy Beginnings DVD for more information
see www.yummybeginnings.com
By: kasha dubinska
About the Author:
I thought that an allergic reaction or an intolerance reaction to food meant the same thing, but they are very different. An allergic reaction is an immune system response to the food. This happens very quickly, often within a couple of hours of eating the food. That is why, when starting solids, it is recommended to start with only one type of food, and to introduce a new
food after 3 or 4 days. It is also important to start with a teaspoon of the food once a day, and then increase the amount and frequency slowly to twice a day. A food intolerance reaction is due to an accumulation of the chemical present in the
food. This occurs over time, but can also manifest very quickly. I think of it as a bucket that fills up slowly over time and then overflows. Your baby will ingest the food gradually over a few days, until there is a build up of that chemical reaching a critical mass, and the intolerance reaction occurs. The response to an allergic or an intolerance reaction is the same. Your baby may suffer from vomiting, sudden loose poo or diarrhea, hives, swelling, redness or a rash. If you think there is a problem, stop the food, even if you are not sure, and see your
doctor or the childhood centre nurse. We better be sure with our little precious babies!
Kasha Dubinska
Major in Chemistry (Honors) The University of Sydney. A mother and the producer of Yummy Beginnings DVD for more information
see www.yummybeginnings.com
By: kasha dubinska
About the Author: