What Are Food Allergies?
Before discussing food allergies, let us explain what allergies are? Allergy is an over-defensive reaction to any substance. Our immune system usually sees an object harmful and overact to it. Whereas, in reality, it is not as dangerous as our body take it. So the food allergy is the immunity reaction to any food. Food allergy is not uncommon. Every thirteen child in America is affected by it. However, at total, 32 millions of Americans are facing food allergy. Food allergy should not be treated casually.
In some cases, it is even life-threatening. A person who has an allergy is known as allergic. On the other hand, food which causes allergy is an allergen.
Causes Of Food Allergies:
There can be different causes of food allergy. It may be different in children and adult. However, one may carry the same allergy in adulthood. A person eats food; his immune system attacks the food protein. The body then makes its protein that is lgE next time when one eats that food lgE causes an allergic reaction. Any food can cause food allergy but eight including milk, egg peanut causes food allergy. Moreover, the family history of allergy can be the cause too. Exposure through skin and air may cause allergy.
Symptoms Of Food Allergies:
Symptoms of food allergy vary from person to person and from food to food. Sometimes these can be mild, and other times it can be severe.
- Swelling of lips, mouth tongue, throat, feet, or other parts of the body.
- Difficulty in breathing, sneezing, wheezing or nasal congestion.
- The Digestion problem, nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting.
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
- Diarrhea
- Quick high or low blood pressure.
- Itchy skin.
- Large bumps on the skin.
- Rapid heartbeat and breath.
However, we should know that food allergy can overlap other medical conditions. One should confirm his allergy from an allergist.
Treatment Of Food Allergies:
First and foremost treatment of food allergy is to avoid it. COmplete solution of food allergy is not available yet. Be caution to read the label before consuming. Sometimes it can be the ingredient itself or a combination of two ingredients. The allergy can be severe; it may be life-threatening. So if you are affected by such allergy, then you should have EPINEPHRINE injection all the time.
Scientists are finding new treatments. They are working on Anti light therapy or oral immunotherapy.
Types Of Food Allergies:
There can be two main types of reaction to food allergies. It can be mild or severe.
- Mild food allergy
- Severe allergy
Mild food allergy is typical, which not too adverse or life-threatening. Moreover, once mild reaction doesn’t always mean a mild reaction. First and foremost treatment is to stop using food, which causes allergy. Antihistamines are another solution to a mild response. Usually, the mild reaction starts soon after eating and may last up to 2 hours.
On the other hand, severe allergy should not be ignored and should be treated immediately. It is life-threatening. People ask when to contact a doctor or visit an emergency room. Ok, one should visit the emergency room when one feels shortness of breath, lightheadedness or swelling. Epinephrine is the only solution and should not be delayed.
Usually, people think that childhood allergies are evergreen. This is a myth; one may develop an allergy in any stage.
List Of Food Allergies:
Food allergy can be by any food. Children and adults do face allergies by exposure to a different kind of food. Ninety percent of people are allergic to some common sort of food. Below we will enlist a few common foods that cause allergy.
- Wheat
- Soy
- Fish
- Corn
- Shellfish
- Milk
- Nuts and peanuts.
- Garlic
- Fruit
- Egg
Most Common Food Allergies
Different kind of food causes allergy. According to the study, every meal can cause allergy; however, eight are common.
- Milk or specifically cow milk is common. Babies usually develop food allergy with cow milk. For them, the best alternative is formula milk. One has to avoid dairy and its products.
- Egg allergy is another common type of food allergy. The only treatment of such an allergy is to have an egg free diet.
- Nut or tree nut allergy is another allergy which may cause severe illness.
- Wheat allergy is another common allergy. Usually, children are affected by it. The wheat allergy may cause digestive problem and vomiting.
- Soy, fish, shellfish, and peanuts are other types of food allergy.
Blood Test For Food Allergies
There are two ways to test allergy.
- Skin
- Blood
Out of two, blood is the most authentic and common in terms of allergy. In a blood test, blood is taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will check lgE antibiotics in the blood.
However, in some cases, a blood test`s results are not precise. So Oral food challenge technique is used. In this, a patient is given a small but increasing amount of food in order to gradually check the chances of threat.
Conclusion:
Food is the blessing of Allah, which is necessity cum comfort and luxury. One eats to live, and others live to eat. However, the best all-time rule is to moderate. Elimination of the food from our diet, causing allergy, should be done on a priority. Moreover, if one has an allergy then one should avoid it regardless of the fact how much he loves the food. Prevention is indeed better than the solution
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