Food allergies
Food allergies can be a tricky business. Most people don't know they have a food allergy. Wyoming diets generally dont expose women to many exotic and potentially troublesome foods. As a Nurse Practitioner I come across some of the more general types such as peanut and fish allergies. These can be quite dangerous and even lethal and not to be taken lighly due to possible anaphlaxis.
Local Wyoming women need to pay extra attention to locally caught fish (especially from the Flaming Gorge) due to the high pesticide content. Pregnant women are advised to completely abstain from raw fish and limit the amount of ocean fish due to mercury content.
I wish there was a cure for food allergies in women however, they can be treated if not avoided entirely. Please read on and if you believe you may or your child may be suffering from a food allergy there are blood and skin tests available. I can be contacted at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County for a referral.
What are food allergies? With a food allergy, your body’s defense system, called the immune system, reacts to a certain food or ingredient as if it were foreign and harmful.
What foods commonly trigger allergic reactions? The foods that most often cause allergic reactions in adults are the same for women and men. They include:
Shellfish, such as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab
Peanuts
Tree nuts, such as walnuts, cashews, and pecans
Fish, such as salmon
Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Soybeans
What are the symptoms of a food allergy?
The symptoms of an allergic reaction to a food usually develop within a few minutes to an hour after you eat the food. You may first feel itching in your mouth as you start to eat the food. Other symptoms include:
Stuffy, itchy nose
Sneezing
Itchy, watery eyes
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other parts of your body
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Red, itchy skin or a rash
If you have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating, see your healthcare provider. If possible, see your them while the allergic reaction is happening.
Are food allergies life-threatening?
They can be. For some people, an allergic reaction to a food is uncomfortable but not serious. But for others, an allergic food reaction can lead to death. A life-threatening reaction caused by an allergy is called anaphylaxis. For these people, even the smallest amount of exposure — eating a food or even touching someone who is eating the food — can be dangerous. If you have anaphylactic reactions to certain foods, your healthcare provider may give you a prescription for injectable epinephrine. You need to carry this medicine with you at all times so that you or someone you are with can give you an emergency injection if needed. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
Hoarseness, throat tightness, or a lump in your throat
Wheezing, chest tightness, or trouble breathing
Rapid heart rate
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
Tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or scalp
Cold, clammy, grayish, or bluish skin
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms after eating something, call 911 right away.
Are there other health problems that can cause the same symptoms as a food allergy?
Yes, other health problems can have some of the same symptoms as a food allergy. This can make it hard to know for sure whether you have a food allergy. These health problems include:
Lactose intolerance
Irritable bowel syndrome
Reactions to large amounts of some food additives, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG, a flavor enhancer)
Poisoning from contaminated food or foods with poisons, such as certain mushrooms
Should I avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
You do not need to avoid foods such as peanuts, milk, or eggs during pregnancy — unless you are allergic to any of these foods. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Avoiding certain foods in pregnancy does not prevent food allergies in children
Breastfeeding may prevent or delay food allergies
Soy-based infant formula does not appear to prevent food allergy
Delaying the introduction of solid foods beyond 4 to 6 months of age does not prevent food allergies. Some people have also thought that food allergies might be prevented if parents delayed giving their babies certain solid foods (such as fish, eggs, and milk). But current medical research does not support this idea.
Recent research has shown that eating foods containing peanuts early in life may prevent a peanut allergy. If your infant has severe eczema, an egg allergy, or both, you may be able to give peanut-containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months of age to help prevent a peanut allergy. Check with your doctor or nurse before feeding your infant foods containing peanuts.
Can a baby be allergic to breastmilk?
No. But sometimes babies may be allergic to something their mother eats, such as eggs, milk, or cheese. Babies who are highly sensitive usually react to the food within minutes. Babies who are less sensitive may still react to the food within four to 24 hours. Symptoms may include:
Diarrhea, vomiting, and/or green stools with mucus and/or blood
Rash, eczema, dermatitis, hives, or dry skin
Fussiness during and/or after feedings
Inconsolable crying for long periods
Sudden waking with discomfort
Wheezing or coughing
These symptoms do not mean your baby is allergic to your milk, but rather to something you are eating. Talk with your baby’s doctor about any symptoms. If your baby ever has problems breathing, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Did we answer your question about food allergies and sensitivities?
For more information about food allergies, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out the following resources from other organizations:
Facts and Statistics(link is external) — Information from the Food Allergy Research and Education.
Food Allergies: What You Need to Know — Information from the Food and Drug Administration.
Food Allergy — Information from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
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