Allergic To Food
It is natural for us to eat food. We need food and most of us can eat almost anything but why are some people allergic to food? Food allergies are one of the most common types of allergy and they come in various levels of effect. It is said that up to 12 million Americans suffer from some type of food allergy but many people hardly even notice an allergic reaction to something they have eaten because the effects are minimal.
You get a lot of people who say they get wind, feel bloated or uncomfortable after eating certain foods. These may be minor allergic reactions to those foods. The most common culprits which cause an allergic reactive event are eggs, fish and shellfish, peanuts and other tree nuts. Many people might add spicy foods and onions to that list and there are lots of people who try to avoid milk and other dairy products and wheat products too. Corn and corn products may also cause allergic reactions, most commonly in children.
For the majority of us the allergic symptoms experienced are an irritation and annoyance but for some people they can be life threatening.
Commonly reported symptoms include an itching in the mouth, on the eyes and skin, hives, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes these allergy symptoms will be accompanied by stomach cramps and wheezing, a shortness of breath or difficulty with swallowing. Other severe symptoms can include swelling. This swelling can be dangerous when it affects breathing. The swelling usually tends to focus on the face area causing swelling of the eyelids, lips, ears and tongue but can occur in the throat leading to difficulty breathing.
Some people may experience changing mood swings and depression is another symptom.
The most severe and dangerous allergic reaction symptoms can result in death. Around 200 deaths each year are reported to be caused by initial allergic reactions and secondary complications.
There is no such thing as a cure for food allergies. Allergy shots have been developed which can help with many of the different types of allergies, none have as yet, been successfully made which can prevent the reactions to food allergies.
The best advice for people who suffer with allergies seems to be avoidance of those foods that cause the allergic reaction. Epinephrine can help relieve the symptoms, and is often carried by people diagnosed with food allergies to be used in an emergency. Reading the labels on foods can help if you know what types of foods cause you problems and the most well known is probably peanuts and peanut oil used in many different food products.
