The Dangers of Food Allergies

Food allergies are very common and can change throughout your lifetime. Food allergies can also become a very dangerous situation. Knowing the signs and symptoms of the onset of a food allergy attack can save your life.

Some symptoms of food allergies include tingling or itching sensation in the mouth and throat, swelling of lips or tongue, hives and finally abdominal pain and nausea. These symptoms are rarely severe and can easily be treated by taking an antihistamine. To make sure that the reaction to the food allergy doesn’t happen again, be sure to figure out which food caused the attack. This may become difficult because symptoms can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to arise.

In some cases, you may have a severe food allergy reaction. This is when someone has a strong sensitivity to the food. The severe symptoms can include airway blockage, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, dizziness and shock. If you have an onset of one or more of these symptoms then you need to seek medical attention immediately. Severe food allergies can lead to other serious health issues including coma and death.

Some food are very common causes of food allergies.This includes milk, peanuts, nuts from trees, soy, wheat and shellfish. Many pediatricians will tell you to avoid giving babies any type of these foods before a certain age due to the high allergy threat. If you have a slight sensitivity to the the food you may be able to control the food allergy by working small amounts of the food into your diet. However, if your sensitivity is high you should avoid the food at all costs. If you consume even the smallest amount of the harmful food, it can lead to serious health problems.

If you have any indication that you have a certain food allergy be sure to avoid the food until you are able to get a food allergies test. The test will conclude whether or not you have the allergy. So speak with your doctor about any symptoms you may have and you both should come up with the best solution for your health and safe-being.