Food allergies: Understanding when you may need testing
There are food intolerance and food allergy; they’re not the same. A food allergy can cause digestive problems, hives, swollen airways – or even anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Allergic reactions begin in the immune system. Food intolerance can cause bothersome, but less serious reactions and isn’t life-threatening.
Symptoms
Symptoms of food allergies usually occur within a few minutes to two hours after eating. They may include:
- Itching or tingling in your mouth
- Eczema, itching or hives
- Swelling in your lips, tongue, face, throat or other parts of your body
- Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea or stomach pain
- Trouble breathing, wheezing or nasal congestion
- Fainting, feeling light-headed or dizzy
- Anaphylaxis – constricted airways, swollen throat, drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse and loss of consciousness. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should get immediate emergency treatment.
Symptoms of food intolerance may cause cramping, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Common food allergies
The most common food allergies are:
- Shellfish (shrimp, lobster and crab) and fish
- Peanuts, walnuts and pecans
- Eggs (from chickens)
- Milk (from cows)
- Wheat and soy
Risk factors
You may be more at risk to develop food allergies if asthma, eczema, hives or allergies like hay fever run in your family; if you have other allergies; or if you have asthma. Children may be more prone to food allergies when they’re young, but often outgrow them.
When testing is recommended
If you have food allergy symptoms soon after you eat, you may want to see an allergy specialist or your primary care doctor. Seeing a doctor while an allergic reaction is occurring can help with diagnosis but is not always possible.
Understanding allergies can be complicated. Some people have reactions to certain foods after exercise or when there are plants or allergens in the environment that also affect them. Lactose intolerance, food poisoning, and celiac disease are only a few things that can cause symptoms like food allergies.
How we can help
Goshen Physicians Sleep & Allergy Medicine offers diagnosis and treatment for food and other allergies. Undiagnosed allergies can cause problems with breathing and sleep quality. Ask about an allergy assessment at your next primary care appointment.
