Knowing When An Allergy Is An Emergency
In some people, exposure to certain allergens such as foods, mediations, insect stings and latex can trigger a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. It is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment, including prompt administration of intramuscular epinephrine, and it can be fatal if not treated properly.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis typically start within a few minutes of encountering the allergen, so its important to call 911 or your local emergency number and get to an emergency department as quickly as possible. Serious allergy symptoms that should not be ignored include:
- Trouble breathing
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness.
- Hives Itching flushed, pale or blue skin
- Swelling of the face, eyes, lips or throat
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
The best way to avoid having an allergic reaction is to avoid the allergen thats causing the allergy, if possible.
Your doctor will work with you to create a game plan to deal with your allergy, Dr. Ravell says. This could include taking steps to avoid certain foods or exposures, carrying an EpiPen, taking medication or getting injections.
What Happens In Allergies
In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to that allergen. Those antibodies then cause certain cells in the body to release chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which is histamine .
The histamine then acts on the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract and causes the symptoms of the allergic reaction. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this antibody response again. This means that every time you come into contact with that allergen, you’ll have some form of allergy symptoms.
Are Allergies Worse In Childhood Or Adulthood
Per the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and 2013 data, 28 million kids across the United States have allergies. As many as 50 million adults may get reactions to allergens as well.
While more adults have allergies in the United States than children, is there an age group that has it worse? Research that appeared in a 2012 article at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Massachusetts suggests that adults may be the most at risk for intense, serious symptoms. Adult behaviors such as taking certain medications and drinking alcohol may increase risk for severe anaphylaxis. Exercise and having asthma can also increase reaction severity. Of course, young children who cannot communicate symptoms can also have severe reactions which go unnoticed and progress to dangerous levels.
A severe allergic reaction, which can be triggered by foods or venom , is called anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening emergency condition in which the patient goes into shock, cannot breathe, and may have vomiting, nausea, and skin rashes. Anaphylaxis symptoms can occur instantaneously or sometimes minutes after eating an allergen or being stung. Epinephrine can control cases of anaphylaxis that are caught immediately. The longer the patient goes without treatment, the greater the likelihood that death can occur. For this reason patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis are encouraged to always have an in date epinephrine injector available.
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When Gluten Intolerance Causes Weight Gain
With my disclaimer regarding how the gluten-free diet is not a weight-loss solution out of the way, there are real and seemingly counter-intuitive situations where weight gain and gluten intolerance appear to be related.
While it is less common, some people who suffer from unexplained weight gain, or who are overweight and having difficulty losing weight, may be suffering from some kind of gluten sensitivity. Gluten intolerance and weight gain can be closely related because a gluten sensitivity or intolerance has a direct impact on the digestive system. Although weight loss is usually the first thing that doctors will look for when diagnosing gluten intolerance, the opposite can also be an indicator.
Lets look at the gluten intolerance and weight gain connection. With the right information, you may be able to shed those unwanted pounds and treat an undiagnosed illness at the same time.
Food Allergy Vs Food Sensitivity
Food allergies and food sensitivities are often lumped together when it comes to the symptoms experienced after eating certain foods. However, there are critical differences between the two.
If youve felt discomfort, bloating or lethargy after eating a particular food, then you may be experiencing sensitivity to a certain food.
Food sensitivities occur when the body is unable to digest certain compounds, especially proteins found in items like milk, eggs, wheat or soy. Once your body ingests these foods, you experience those uncomfortable symptoms.
A food allergy, on the other hand, is an immunologic response. When you eat something to which you are allergic, your immune system negatively responds to the allergen. Since its your immune systems job to protect the body, your immune system tries to fight the allergen by unleashing natural biochemicals that cause the allergic reaction you experience.
These reactions vary, but may include hives, rash, swelling or anaphylactic shock.
Food sensitivities tend to show symptoms later than food allergies. For example, if you eat or drink something to which you have a food sensitivity, you may not notice symptoms for up to 24-72 hours. With a food allergy, a reaction may be immediate.
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How Are Food Allergies Treated
There’s no cure for food allergies, and the only real way to treat them is to avoid the food in question. But doctors can prescribe medicines to help lessen symptoms if they do happen, and even save a person’s life if the reaction is serious.
If you have a food allergy, always have two epinephrine auto-injectors nearby in case of a severe reaction. An epinephrine auto-injector is a prescription medicine that comes in a small, easy-to-carry container. It’s easy to use. Your doctor will show you how. Always have two auto injectors nearby in case one doesn’t work or you need a second dose.
The doctor can also give you an allergy action plan, which helps you prepare for, recognize, and treat an allergic reaction. Share the plan with anyone else who needs to know, such as relatives, school officials, and coaches. Also consider wearing a medical alert bracelet.
Time matters in an allergic reaction. If you start having serious allergic symptoms, like trouble breathing or throat tightness, use the epinephrine auto-injector right away . Also use it right away if symptoms involve two different parts of the body, like hives with vomiting. Then call 911 and go to the emergency room. Medical supervision is important because even if the worst seems to have passed, a second wave of serious symptoms can happen.
Can You Develop Allergies Later In Life
It is certainly possible to develop allergies in adulthood. Adult-onset allergies can occur seemingly out of nowhere due to exposure to new allergens in the environment, family history and changes in the immune system. The most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, fish, shellfish such as shrimp, lobster and tree nuts .
Theres no way to avoid getting adult-onset allergies if youre susceptible to them, since you cant reasonably expect to know every trigger that could cause an allergic reaction and then avoid it. In addition, there is some recent research that indicates avoiding allergens can make it more likely for an individual to develop allergies, because the immune system is unfamiliar with more substances.
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Can You Be Allergic To Cbd Oil
If you experience an allergic reaction to CBD oil, current research says its unlikely that the CBD itself is the cause. Other cannabis proteins or enzymes in the oil are more likely culprits. If you experience vomiting as a side effect of using CBD oil, however, you may want to speak with a medical professional about the possibility of CHS.
Q: Can you be allergic to CBD?A:There is no evidence that CBD is an allergen, though high levels of it may contribute to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Products marketed as CBD may also contain other cannabis chemical compounds and provoke an allergic reaction in some users.
Possible Treatments For Allergies
Here are some possible ways to treat your allergies, from seasonal allergies to severe food or contact allergies:
- Get a skin prick test: This test can help you see what specific allergens trigger your reactions
- Tell people around you about your allergies: Just in case you come into contact with a possible trigger, tell the people around you so that they know how to treat you
- Keep an EpiPen nearby: Having an EpiPen is essential if you interact with an allergy trigger
- Take antihistamines: Zyrtec or Benadryl can reduce your symptoms or keep them under control
- Consider allergy shots: Immunotherapy can gradually build your immunity within a few years of regularly getting shots
Yes, adults can develop allergies later in life. Some allergy symptoms are mild and require simple treatment, such as taking medication, while some symptoms are life-threatening.
If youre dealing with new allergy symptoms or persistent allergy symptoms, we encourage you to reach out to Allergy & ENT Associates. Our allergy clinic near Houston provides professional treatment in allergies, asthma, and other severe allergies requiring special care. Book an appointment with us today!
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Manage Allergies And Weight Gain Symptoms
It is critical to visit your primary care provider if you suspect you may have a food allergy. Your doctor can recommend treatment and testing to determine the source of your symptoms.
Read more: When Are Allergies a Medical Concern?
If your symptoms are not severe, your doctor may recommend keeping a log of all the foods you eat, noting any that cause symptoms.
If the cause of your allergic response is easily identified, you might try an elimination diet. In an elimination diet, you will completely cut out the trigger food from your diet. This can jumpstart successful weight loss for many people, but can be difficult if the food causing your symptoms is one you love or is something you eat frequently.
Focusing on the healthy, nutritious foods you can have rather than the few foods you cant have due to allergies also helps you commit to healthier eating overall.
When your symptoms persist despite these initial treatment methods, your doctor will refer you to a specialist for further testing. You may see an allergist, who can pinpoint specific allergies through blood tests or allergy skin testing.
If you feel that you have a food sensitivity or allergy, PartnerMD can help. PartnerMD takes the time to look at your health history, pinpointing trends that may show what is triggering your allergic reactions.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Allergies
Allergic reactions can be mild, like a runny nose, or they can be serious, like difficulty breathing .
Some types of allergies cause multiple symptoms. And in rare cases, an allergic reaction can become very severe this is called anaphylaxis . Signs of anaphylaxis include trouble breathing or swallowing swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat or other parts of the body and dizziness or loss of consciousness.
Anaphylaxis usually happens minutes after exposure to a trigger, such as a peanut, but some reactions can be delayed by as long as 4 hours. Luckily, anaphylactic reactions don’t happen often and can be treated successfully.
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Symptoms Of Marijuana Allergy
Allergy to airborne cannabis
The symptoms of an allergic reaction to inhaled cannabis are typically similar to the seasonal allergy symptoms that many people experience every spring: coughing, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, itchy or watery eyes, stomach cramps, or nausea. Asthma can also be aggravated or induced by exposure to airborne cannabis.
In addition to smoking cannabis, airborne exposure to it can occur via secondhand smoke or pollen from agricultural cannabis production. As the legal environment surrounding weed in the United States and several other countries continues to become more friendly, we can expect to see a greater incidence of all three of these exposure factors.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction that can be caused by touching cannabis. Contact dermatitis may result in red, itchy, or inflamed skin, hives, blisters, or excessively dry skin. People employed by the quickly-growing cannabis industry, scientists and researchers, law enforcement officers, and marijuana users are all susceptible to developing contact dermatitis from repeated handling of cannabis.
Contact dermatitis may result in red, itchy, or inflamed skin, hives, blisters, or excessively dry skin.
Talk With A Healthcare Provider
Allergies cant be cured, but they can be managed.
If you think youre developing a new allergic response, Dr. Pien says to talk with a healthcare provider.
New allergies may take three to five years to develop, so if you havent had an allergy test recently, your provider may want to perform one, Dr. Pien says. Theyll be able to help you identify any allergies you have and discuss approaches to managing them.
Common treatment options for allergies include:
- Antihistamines.
- Avoidance of allergens or gradual sensitization to the allergen.
- Nasal sprays and nasal steroids.
Allergies can definitely develop later in life. Sometimes, theyve been lurking in the shadows all along waiting for the right trigger. Other times they just happen.
But some allergic reactions can be serious and even life-threatening, so if you suspect you have an allergy, talk with a healthcare provider before attempting to diagnose or treat yourself.
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How Common Are Adult
Although allergies often begin during childhood, adult-onset allergies are also common. Of the more than 10% of Americans diagnosed with food allergies, about half of these are diagnosed in adulthood.
Common causes of food allergies in adults include shellfish , milk, wheat, tree nuts, and soy.
Common causes of respiratory allergies in adults include pollen, dust mites, mold, and animal dander.
Can You Be Allergic To Thc
THC can be easily stored in our body fat. This can be problematic if a person is suffering from acute stress, food deprivation, or ketosis a stage of rapid fat metabolization often achieved through adherence to a low-carbohydrate diet. Under these circumstances, the body begins to use its fat stores for energy. The stored THC is released back into the bloodstream as the fat is burned.
Typically, THC leeching out of our fat stores and back into the bloodstream is gradual and doesnt appear to cause an adverse reaction. However, in some cases, particularly in people who have been longtime heavy cannabis users, a re-intoxication effect can occur, in which the level of THC in the bloodstream rises to dangerously high levels. This phenomenon may be a significant factor in the development of CHS. People with CHS do appear to lose their ability to comfortably or safely use marijuana.
Q: Can you be allergic to THC?A:It is still unknown if you can be allergic to THC, but it does appear that THC plays a role in a condition called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome . CHS develops as a result of long-term marijuana use and appears to leave users unable to tolerate cannabis without experiencing adverse reactions.
There isnt enough evidence to say for sure how big of a role THC may play in cannabis allergies.
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How Common Are They
Nearly 18 million adults in the United States have hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. Itâs caused by pollens, weeds, grasses, and molds. Many more have allergic reactions to other things in the environment, like dust mites, dogs, and cats. Some are allergic to foods, like peanuts or shellfish. Still others are allergic to medicines, like penicillin.
Doctors donât know exactly how many adults are diagnosed with allergies for the first time. But nasal allergies affect more Americans every years, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
âAs the population is aging, weâre seeing that people can have late-onset allergies,â says Beth Corn, MD, an allergist in New York City. âNow, it could be that some people were not diagnosed they might have really had allergies earlier on. It just might be that people are also a little bit more aware now of allergies.â
Whatever the case, allergies are all over, and theyâre big business. Theyâre the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., according to the CDC. And they cost Americans more than $18 billion a year.
We know what causes allergies: Your immune system overreacts to an allergen . You sneeze, sniffle, itch, or cough. But why this happens to you, when your Uncle Fred is on their third shrimp cocktail, is unclear.
âThatâs the thing about allergies,â Corn says. âYouâre fine, youâre fine, youâre fine … until youâre not.â
Nobody knows why.
Why Adults Become Allergic
Doctors arent exactly sure why people develop allergies beyond childhood, but it may have to do with several factors:
- An aging population. As more people are living longer in the U.S., allergies in adults are becoming more prevalent, according to the medical journal Aging and Disease. As we age, our immune system becomes weaker over time and we are more susceptible to illness, including allergies.
- A changing environment. Climate change is causing the planet to get warmer, which causes flowers to bloom earlier and pollen season to become longer by several weeks, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. There are higher amounts of pollen and mold in our atmosphere, which may cause people who never had allergies to develop symptoms.
- Hypervigilant focus on cleanliness. In the last few decades,we have become increasingly preoccupied with hygiene. The pandemic has only increased our awareness of germs. We use antibacterial soaps, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and bleach for wiping down surfaces. As a result, our immune systems arent used to fighting off minor invaders or germs, and our bodies can overreact with allergy symptoms.
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