Many people think that if they didn’t develop a food allergy as children, they will probably manage to avoid one for the rest of their lives, but according to a study published in December 2017, nearly half of people with food allergies developed them as adults. This means that food allergies aren’t only developed in childhood, but also in adulthood in people who have had no problem eating anything up till then.
Living with allergies requires dietary and lifestyle adjustments to avoid the ingredients or food that trigger an allergic reaction, but first, it is important to know whether the allergy is present in your body. To do this, it is important that you know the 10 symptoms of food allergies that we tend to diagnose as momentary or disease-related reactions, thus improving the quality of your life and the lives of those closest to you.
Food allergies vary from person to person, and while some may develop symptoms immediately, others may take a long time to develop a response. One of these symptoms is a rash, redness or bumps on the skin that are mainly found on the area of the hands, feet, and joints. These rashes don’t always itch, so people tend to think they may have developed a sensitivity to a particular cosmetic product or have come into contact with a component that has stimulated skin irritation.
Therefore, if you’ve noticed rashes in different areas of the body more than once, there is a reasonable chance that this is an allergy, and it is important to consult your doctor for advice and treatment, especially if the reaction comes immediately after eating a meal.
Changes in blood pressure are another sign of developing allergies to some foods, so if you experience a sudden drop in blood pressure and your heart rate slows down, you may have developed a food allergy to something you’ve eaten. Many people attribute this drop in pulse to a mental or emotional state, but even if it is weak and occurs only "sometimes", it is important not to ignore this symptom and contact your doctor for treatment.
As a result of a sudden drop in blood pressure, another symptom can appear - that is a feeling of dizziness. This unpleasant feeling may even cause some people to feel that they are going to faint. Do not ignore this problematic symptom as it can interrupt daily life and indicates a health problem that requires ongoing treatment.
This symptom, known as dysphagia, indicates a problem in the throat or esophagus. People who experience this symptom feel as if there is a large lump in their throat that constricts the esophagus and interferes with food and fluids passing through it. This symptom is typical of other physical problems, so it should not be ignored whether it is a food allergy or something else.
This is a pretty obvious sign of a food allergy that needs to be checked by a professional to diagnose accurately. When the body comes into contact with allergens, one of the reactions is swelling of the throat and tongue, which can lead to difficulties in speech, swallowing and even breathing. This reaction requires immediate treatment to open the airways, therefore, don’t hesitate to call emergency services.
The difficulty in swallowing discussed in the previous section results from an immune response that sends large amounts of white blood cells into the esophagus, causing it to be inflamed and narrow. The same reaction causes some people to feel a pressure in the chest that is similar to an anxiety attack or emotional stress. This inflammatory response can be prevented by taking anti-allergy drugs, or by avoiding the allergens that cause it. Your doctor should be informed if you experience any chest tightness.
We tend to think about them mainly in the context of colds and flu, but these symptoms may also characterize a food allergy and cause real problems if ignored.
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person, and in many cases, the cough is particularly severe and requires epinephrine. This prescription drug is especially important for people with allergies who suffer from seizures, coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
When the skin starts to become pale or bluish, it is a sign of cyanosis - a condition in which insufficient oxygen-rich blood reaches the skin and mucous membranes. When you notice this sign, do not conclude that you’re just cold and your body is responding accordingly, as it may be an allergic reaction which is preventing the proper transfer of oxygen to the different tissues in your body. If you notice cyanosis occurring in your body again and again even when you are not particularly cold, it is important to consult your doctor to see if it is an allergic reaction or another problem that requires treatment.
As mentioned, there are allergic reactions that are immediate and those that develop after a certain period of time, following contact with an allergenic food. In addition, allergic reactions develop differently in everyone, take for example vomiting, which can occur half an hour or more after eating an allergenic food. This symptom is typical, among other things, of sensitivity to gluten, but as noted, people with different food allergies also suffer from it.
If you find yourself vomiting after a meal, it is important that you contact your doctor. If vomiting is accompanied by some of the above symptoms, it is important to contact emergency services to prevent further deterioration.
