One hundred fifty people in the United States die each year because of
. This certainly is no laughing matter. What’s more, 4 million people are affected by this condition in the United States alone. Apparently, food allergies is a prevalent and alarming condition. When a person suffers from food allergies, they suffer from allergic symptoms. This when they have ingested foods that trigger their hypersensitivity. These foods are their so called allergens. Once eaten, they can cause allergic symptoms to manifest. They can be difficulty breathing, an outbreak of hives, eczema, vomiting, asthma and even death. A severe food allergic reaction can be fatal.
Especially when it leads to suffocation when the tongue or throat swells so much that a person is unable to breathe. Those with food allergies often acquire the condition through inheritance. A person with food allergies is often found to have a family member or members who suffer from asthma, hay fever and eczema. Many people connote
with food intolerance. But these two conditions are actually different. Food intolerance produces another set of symptoms. Usually they are gas, being bloated and other similar types of discomfort. But food allergies is to be distinguished from intolerance in that the former has to do with the immune system.
There seem to be foods which commonly trigger allergies. Children and adults seem to have different sets of foods known to be allergens. Wheat, peanuts, milk, eggs and soy are seen to be the most common causes of food allergies in children. For adults, common triggers of food allergies are shellfish, walnuts, peanuts, eggs, other fish and other nuts that grow in trees. Food allergies can in fact become severe. So severe that an allergic individual can have a reaction even by just smelling the foods. In most cases, though, food allergies become an issue when the allergenic foods are eaten.
Symptoms can arise upon point of entry when the food touches the lips. The lips may then begin to tingle or the tongue will start to itch. Gastrointestinal problems may then follow. Cramping, the need to vomit or diarrhea may result. When the allergenic food is broken down, it will then enter the bloodstream and travel towards the lungs. It is then the allergic symptoms may develop. Often they are asthma, shortness of breath, eczema and low blood pressure. How is it to deal with
? Primarily with vigilance and caution. A person with the condition should be mindful in avoiding the food trigger or triggers.
That may sound so easy, but actually it’s not. Processed foods may have these food triggers buried deep into their ingredients. Such is why legislation has been aimed at improving food labeling. As for parents with children having allergies to food, they have to be vigilant in keeping their children safe. They have to take time in watching what their child puts into their mouth. Parents should also make means to inform neighbors and school officials about their child’s condition. Allergies to food is an issue which has to be given much due. Otherwise, fatality can happen, as indicated by the gravity of statistics.
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