Food Allergies

occurs when the bodys immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by
causing symptoms. This is an allergic reaction. Foods that cause allergic reactions
are allergens.
Food allergies are estimated to affect 4 to 6 percent of children and 4 percent of adults,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear
at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no
problems.

Common food allergies

Tree Nut

Milk

Egg

Wheat

Soy

Fish

Shellfish

Signs and symptoms

Vomiting and/or stomach cramps

Hives

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Repetitive cough

Shock or circulatory collapse

Tight, hoarse throat; trouble swallowing

Swelling of the tongue, affecting the ability to talk or breathe

Weak pulse

Pale or blue coloring of skin

Dizziness or feeling faint

Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that can impair breathing and

send the body into shock; reactions may simultaneously affect different parts of
the body (for example, a stomachache accompanied by a rash)

Triggers
Once a food allergy is diagnosed, the most effective treatment is to avoid the food. The
foods most associated with food allergy in children are:

Milk

Eggs

Peanuts

Children may outgrow their allergic reactions to milk and to eggs. Peanut and tree nut
allergies are likely to persist.
The most common food allergens in adults are:

Fruit and vegetable pollen (oral allergy syndrome)

Peanuts and tree nuts

Fish and shellfish

How to prevent Food Allergies

The primary way to manage a food allergy is to avoid consuming the food that causes
you problems. Carefully check ingredient labels of food products, and learn whether
what you need to avoid is known by other names.

The FDA food allergen label law requires foods to state if they contain a top 8 food
allergen (milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy, fish, crustacean shellfish). Foods that
contain these allergens must say so in plain English. But, there are many foods and
products that are not covered by the law, so it is still important to know how to read a
label for allergens. Items that may use "hidden" names:

Foods that are not regulated by the FDA

Cosmetics and personal care products

Prescription and over-the-counter medications

Pet food, toys and crafts

Since there is not yet a medication that can prevent food allergies, strict avoidance of
the allergy-causing food is the only way to prevent a reaction.

If a reaction does occur, medications are administered to control symptoms. If your

doctor has prescribed medication such as epinephrine (Auvi-Q, EpiPen or
Adrenaclick)and Antihistamines

Antihistamines - these will come in the form of gels or tablets. They are usually
effective for patients with mild or moderate allergies. Histamines are proteins which
cause most allergy symptoms, antihistamines block their effects.
Epinephrine (adrenaline) - this is used for more severe cases, such as anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine keeps your blood pressure up by constricting the blood vessels, as well as
easing the airways. The patient will probably be given an auto-injector pen.

People who have had severe allergic reactions should carry an epinephrine autoinjector
with them, which may include the EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Twinject, or Anapen.

Pollen Allergies
known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Hay fever is an immune reaction to pollen that
typically manifests as cold-like symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, and runny
nose. Some people suffer from hay fever year-around, while for others, symptoms get

worse at certain times of the year. For example, someone with sensitivities to birch
pollen will usually have increased symptoms during the spring when trees are in bloom.
Likewise, those with grass allergies will have a tougher time during the summer, while
autumn will hit ragweed allergy sufferers the hardest.
For those with milder symptoms, hay fever may be no more than an annoyance.
However, for others, allergies to pollen can erode a person's quality of life, affecting
everything from their ability to participate in outdoor activities to their performance at
work and school. Hay fever symptoms typically begin in childhood and diminish slowly
over a person's lifetime.
Symptoms
Hay fever symptoms usually begin immediately following an allergy sufferer's exposure
to the offending pollen and most often include:

congestion

sinus pressure (which may cause facial pain)

runny or itchy nose

watery, itchy eyes

scratchy throat

cough

swollen, bluish-colored skin beneath the eyes

decreased sense of taste or smell

Treatment
As with other allergies, the best treatment is to avoid the allergen. However, in the case
of pollen allergies, this tactic often fails miserably as its nearly impossible to avoid in the
environment. There are a few things hay fever sufferers can do to their minimize
exposure, including:

staying indoors on dry, windy days

having others take care of any yard work and gardening chores during peak
seasons

removing and wash any clothing that has been worn outside

showering when coming in from outside

wearing a dust mask when pollen counts are high (check local reports on the TV,
radio, newspaper or Internet)

closing doors and windows when pollen counts are high

taking allergy medications before symptoms start if high pollen counts are in the
forecast
If prevention doesn't relieve all of the symptoms of a pollen allergy, there are several
over-the-counter medications that may help, including:

antihistamines (such as Zyrtec or Benadryl)

decongestants (such as Sudafed or Afrin)

combination medications (antihistamine and decongestant) such as Actifed or

Claritin-D
Home Remedies
In addition to medications, a number of home remedies may help to relieve hay fever
symptoms. These include:

nasal irrigation: using a squeeze bottle or neti pot can flush pollen from the nose

extracts: such as butterbur or spirulina

Certain extracts react with medications. You should consult your doctor before taking
any alternative therapies. An allergist should be consulted if symptoms are severe or
medications are causing unwanted side-effects. People with year-around hay fever may
want to consider immunotherapy (allergy shots) to control their symptoms.

Nasal Irrigation procedure:

Step 1: Start with one to two cups of warm water. Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of noniodized salt and a pinch of baking soda to soften the effect of the salt. Use distilled,
sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water to make the solution to help prevent
infection.
Step 2: Get in position.
If you are using a squeeze bottle, neti pot, or syringe, lean forward over the sink, at
about a 45-degree angle. Tilt your head so that one nostril is pointed down toward the
sink. Don't tilt your head back.
Step 3: Pour in the Saline Solution
Place the spout of a neti pot or the tip of a syringe or squeeze bottle just inside your
nose. The tip should go in no further than a finger's width. Keeping your mouth open,
squeeze the bulb syringe or bottle, or tilt the pot to pour the water into your nostril.
Remember to breathe through your mouth, not your nose.
Step 4: Let it drain
The salt water will run through your nasal passages and drain out of your other nostril
and maybe your mouth. You should spit it out and not swallow it. But if some does go
down your throat it won't hurt you.
Step 5: Clear your nose and Repeat
Gently blow your nose to clear out the remaining solution. Repeat the procedure with
your other nostril. When you're done, throw away any leftover solution and thoroughly
clean the items you used. Let them air dry. Store them in a clean, dry place.

How fast does Nasal Wash work?

You may see results after just one or two times. The benefits grow as you continue to do
it. One study showed that long-term nasal irrigation helped people feel in control of their
sinus symptoms and really improved their quality of life.