Allergy > Understanding Allergy > Allergy Symptoms > Symptoms of Food Allergy

The Symptoms of Food Allergy

Do you love to eat different kinds of food? Have you ever noticed feeling a little different after eating certain types of food? Or have you observed your body being weird whenever you eat something even for just a small portion? If yes, then maybe, you have food allergy.

So what is food allergy anyway and what causes it? Food allergy is the term used for describing the immune system’s abnormal response to certain substances. The immune system produces a high amount of Immunoglobulin that stimulates more than enough histamine to combat what they perceive as dangerous substances or components of food. In allergic reactions, however, the immune system sees specific substances as harmful for the body even if they are not really bad for the body.

Below is a list of symptoms that may appear minutes or days after being exposed to allergen, in this case after the food has been ingested. Allergic reactions often involve the skin, digestive tract, and respiratory system.

• If your skin experiences any of the following, then it can be an indication of you having an allergic reaction:
• There is rapid and repeated appearance of irregular, round skin lesions that are itchy and often inflamed. These characterize hives, which normally appear on covered areas of the skin.
• All of a sudden, your skin turns red or flushed. This is called erythema.
• Some or most parts of your skin experience swelling or edema. Examples are swelling of your lips, face, and other parts of the body.
• Here are symptoms that will tell you if your respiratory system has been affected:
• You experiencing continuous coughing and sneezing.
• You have runny nose.
• You suffer from wheezing. This is characterized by breathing with difficulty and with audible noise.
• You have asthma attacks. This begins with chest pressure and dry cough and as it progresses, you will experience wheezing and breathing becomes more and more difficult.
• Eyes that turn itchy and watery are also classified under respiratory symptoms.
• Symptoms that will suggest that your digestive system has been affected include:
• You experience diarrhea or frequent passage of abnormally loose, watery stool.
• You vomit frequently.
• You have stomach pain and nausea.
• You have indigestion and heartburn.
• Other symptoms include:
• Headaches
• Abdominal cramping
• You suddenly feel fatigued.
• Unexpected change of mood, emotions, and energy.

In severe allergic reactions, you may experience having anaphylaxis. This occurs seconds to 30 minutes after being exposed to the allergen. Anaphylaxis includes most of the aforementioned symptoms and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. It is a life threatening situation and you should run to the nearest hospital if your symptoms suggest an anaphylactic shock.

So, are you experiencing any of the said symptoms? Do you know what food exactly causes you to experience these symptoms? If yes, you should avoid the food you are allergic to. If not, go visit a doctor and you can choose to have tests to identify what allergen causes you to have reactions. Another thing you can do is to avoid the common types of food that are known to trigger allergic reactions until you are informed what really causes your allergy. Here are the top 7 causes of food allergy: corn, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs, soy, and wheat.

Now, if it is a little too late for prevention and you start experiencing the symptoms and you are very sure that you are having an allergy attack, you could take anti-allergy medications to stop the symptoms from getting worse. If, however, you have anaphylaxis or you feel that your reaction is severe, go to the nearest doctor immediately.