Food allergy is an abnormal response or an allergic reaction of the body’s immune system to the food or an ingredient in a food, usually a protein. Most of the time food allergies are mild but at times it can result into very serious illness even life threatening emergencies. Tree nuts and peanuts are the most dreadful food allergens.

The Big 8 food allergens are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, soy, and wheat. One should understand the allergy symptoms each allergens creates, how to avoid, and its management. Food allergies affect lives of millions of people around the world. Kids are mostly affected. Air borne allergies can be avoided to some extent but the food allergies are really difficult. It might be possible that you take peanuts unknowingly along with other food items. In fact, even a small trace of peanut can result into very serious implication if you have peanut allergy. A huge number of American populations have peanut allergies. Only knowledge about food allergies and timely medical help can help save a life.

Apart from the eight most common food allergen as I have mentioned earlier, there are many other foods that have been identified as allergic to some people such as certain seeds, fruits or vegetables. Symptoms of food allergy differ greatly among individuals. It can also differ in the same person during different exposures. The severity of the food allergies vary from individual to individual, depending upon the time and amount of allergens intake.

Some food allergy reactions can be very mild and it may involve only one system of the body. Mostly food allergies can be seen on the skin in the form of hives or rashes. However, some serious implications may affect more than one body part or organs. Usually the reactions last lesser than a day but it all depends on its severity. It mostly affects one of the following four body systems:

Skin: Skin allergy is one of the most common types of food allergy reactions. It appears in the form of hives or bumpy rashes, redness of skin, skin eczema, itchiness, and redness or swelling of mouth or face.

Gastrointestinal system: Food allergies that affect the gastrointestinal system can have the symptoms like belly cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Cardiovascular system: The symptoms are fainting or a person may feel lightheaded.

Respiratory system: Food allergies also affect the respiratory system and the symptoms can be sneezing, coughing, and wheezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes. It can also trigger asthma sometimes.

Most of these reactions happens very soon after you eat particular food containing allergens. However, the symptoms may vary in two different individual who is having same type of food allergies. Even the symptoms may vary with same person at different instances. Because it basically depends on the factors like how much he or she is exposed to the allergens.

One of the most life threatening food allergic reactions is anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition which affects a person in several parts of the body. It results in the skin hives, itching, airway, throat, difficult breathing, intestines problem followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart related problems and unconsciousness. These symptoms appear as soon as person is exposed to the allergens and it can be life threatening. One should seek immediate medical attention when anaphylaxis occurs.

Most importantly, make habit of reading the food labels for all foods you buy. It is not only important but it is a necessity which can not be avoided at any cost. As food allergy can be life threatening, the allergy-producing food must be completely stopped.

Most of the life-threatening allergic reactions to foods occur when you dine out with your family or friends. It is very important that you clearly state the host or chef about your medical condition. Also, you must let your friends and families know about your food allergy reactions.

You primary health care provider or an allergists will surely help you out. But it is also very important if you are able to find out what food or food ingredients are causing problem. You can do it yourself, you just need to track down the food you take each day and time and note down various ingredients.  If you are a smoker, make a note of every cigarette and the timings you smoke. Also make entry of various uncomfortable symptoms as a result of the allergic reactions including date and time. These log entries will help your doctor to understand your situation much better.

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