3 Things You Need To Know About Food Allergies

Allergies are very common. When most people of think of allergies they think of anaphylaxis, which causes troubled breathing, immediately breaking out in hives, swelling, and other severe problems. However, not all allergies cause this immediate reaction. Instead, some allergies cause delayed reactions but can still harm the person. Here are some of the lesser-known symptoms of allergies that you may not know about.

1. Digestive Problems

One of the most common problems that can accompany an allergy is a digestive problem. For instance, the individual might experience diarrhea or constipation when they eat certain foods. In addition, a stomachache can accompany eating the food, or even vomiting.

The problem is that in some cases the reaction will be delayed so it may be hard to know what is actually causing the digestive problems. You could drink milk on Monday morning, and then eat a lot of other foods, and on Tuesday morning you end up getting very sick with a stomachache. Keeping a food journal will help you to determine what foods seem to show a pattern of causing you to get sick, even days later.

2. Feeling Panicked

In some cases an allergy can cause you to feel jittery. A racing heart, and even irritability can be caused from eating foods that you are allergic to. Since the immune system is triggered with an allergy, it will jump your body into hyper drive and you might feel like you are having a panic attack for no apparent reason.

If you are dealing with children this can be hard to determine. A child may not be able to articulate their complex emotions and tell you that they are feeling anxious. So look for grouchiness, tantrums, excessive crying, and an overall irritability.

3. Eczema

Eczema is a condition of the skin. Some people have reoccurring problems with eczema that they can only control with medication. However, in many cases eczema is caused by food allergies. You might notice the eczema flares up when you eat certain foods. If you completely take the food out of your diet you might notice that your skin clears up and you no longer have problems with eczema. Even if the eczema is related to the food allergies, you should continue to put creams on it to relieve the burning, itching, and pain.

If you suspect you or your child suffer from food allergies, you should talk to a professional like The Regional Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center, PC about getting a blood test. This will help you to know what foods are causing your problems. 


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