In his monthly column, Dr. Kent Herbert answers your questions related to health care matters. Simply submit your question to stefaniw@newfalconherald.com. It’s your chance to ask the doc.Question: I suspect that I may be allergic to certain foods. What can I do?Answer: A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly believes a certain food is harmful, like it does for viruses and bacteria. Once the immune system decides a particular food is harmful, it creates specific antibodies to it. The next time that food is eaten, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, to protect the body. These chemicals trigger a series of allergic symptoms that affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal and circulatory systems. These symptoms can be life threatening. It is estimated that about 12 million Americans, or about 6 percent of children and 2 percent of adults, suffer from food allergies. The most common foods to be allergic to are tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish.Food allergies can cause many different symptoms, including a tingling sensation in the mouth, tongue and throat swelling, difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, loss of consciousness and death. Symptoms typically appear within minutes of eating the food you are allergic but can occur up to several hours later. These symptoms often worsen rapidly and require emergency treatment.There is no medication or other effective treatment for food allergies; therefore, it is important to avoid all foods you are allergic to. Reading ingredient labels for all foods is key to avoid a reaction. If a product doesn’t have a label, it should not be eaten. Many people outgrow food allergies, although peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish allergies are considered lifelong. If you have a food allergy, it is a good idea to carry a self-injecting vial of epinephrine, or adrenaline, which can be used to stop an allergic reaction without having to wait for an ambulance. Your doctor can prescribe this.Many people mistake food allergies for food intolerances. While food allergies involve the immune system and can be life threatening, food intolerances are adverse reactions to certain foods that do not involve the immune system. The most common example of this is lactose intolerance. A person with lactose intolerance does not make enough of a chemical that is needed to digest milk sugar; and, when they eat milk products, they get symptoms such as gas, bloating and abdominal pain. These intolerances are not life threatening but can cause distress and discomfort. You can be intolerant of virtually any food, and symptoms typically include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and bloating. It is estimated up to 25 percent of the population is intolerant to one or more foods.If you suspect that you may be intolerant of a certain food, you can eliminate it from your diet for several weeks and see if your symptoms resolve, then reintroduce it. If the symptoms come back, you are likely intolerant of that food and should avoid it. It is important to eliminate only one food at a time in order to clarify what you are reacting to.With true food allergies, eliminating foods is not advised, because it can be dangerous to remove and reintroduce foods. If you suspect a food allergy, it is important to see your doctor for blood or skin testing. This testing can identify foods that need to be strictly avoided. If you are having difficulty with a certain food and are unclear whether you are allergic or intolerant, see your doctor to help you clarify it.Dr. Kent HerbertBoard-Certified Family PhysicianFalcon Family Medicine7641 McLaughlin RoadFalcon, CO 80831(719) 494-2006(719) 494-8448 faxwww.FalconFamilyMedicine.com
