In May Ariana Grande announced on Instagram that a sudden illness caused her to cancel scheduled performances in Orlando and Tampa. A day later she revealed a sudden allergy to tomatoes had caused her throat to close and that she still felt as though she were “swallowing a cactus”.

Most of us associate food allergies with children and babies, not twenty-five-year-olds who have been eating tomatoes all their lives. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s (JAMA) Open Network revealed 10% of adult Americans reported having developed a food allergy in adulthood. Less than 25% of those, however, did not have any allergies as a child.

Interestingly, only half of those adults who reported a food allergy had mentioned it to their medical provider. Most simply avoided the offending food.

What’s your risk?

It’s hard to pinpoint the risk of a specific person to develop a food allergy in adulthood. Allergies often develop after repeated exposure to a substance, which means you might have eaten that shrimp pasta without any problems a week ago but you could experience a reaction to it today. As mentioned above, only 10% of adults report a food allergy so don’t let this fear keep you up at night.

What are the symptoms?

Food allergies almost always include some type of skin reaction which could include swelling, itching, and hives. Other reactions may include one or more of these symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Repetitive cough
• Shock
• A weak pulse
• Dizziness

Most reactions to food happen within 30-60 minutes of having ingested the substance.

How do we treat it?

Obviously avoiding the offending food is first on the list, but you should also contact your doctor. You may need to carry an Epi-pen.

Another reason to contact your provider and see an allergist is your allergy may not be to the food you suspect. Medications can lower the immune system allowing your body to overreact to normal substances or your allergy could be to the medication and not the food at all. It’s also possible you have an “oral allergy syndrome” where your body mistakes the proteins in the food you’ve eaten to pollen like grass to which you are allergic.

What are the most common food allergies?

Never heard of a tomato allergy? That’s probably because it’s not on the list of the top 9 most common food allergies, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a real allergy. Most food allergies in adults, however, are related to one of these:

• Shellfish
• Milk
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Tree Nuts
• Sesame
• Finfish
• Eggs

Ariana Grande is back on her concert tour now, which is a reminder that food allergies may alter some of what you can eat, but it doesn’t have to limit your activity.

We’re smack in the middle of the “yellow season” in Mississippi. While the warmth of spring thaws our bodies and spirits, it also sprouts the trees and grass which produce pollen responsible for seasonal allergies. If your seasonal allergy medications aren’t doing the trick keep reading.

Many over-the-counter seasonal allergy medications such as antihistamines and nasal sprays keep allergy symptoms at bay especially if used consistently. Patients may also reduce their reactions by showering after being outside, keeping pets out of bedrooms, closing outside doors and windows and wearing face masks and sunglasses when working outside. Unfortunately for some patients, these precautions aren’t enough.

What do you do when your sneezing, watering eyes, and stuffy nose persist even after you’ve eliminated as much pollen as possible? It might be time to see your provider.

When to see your provider

Our bodies naturally protect themselves against foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Sometimes our bodies react to other substances like pollen which are not harmful. Severe allergies happen when our body really overreacts to these substances.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions make an appointment with your medical provider or your allergy specialist.

• Have your allergies led to chronic sinus infections, nasal congestion or breathing problems?
• Do you experience hay fever or other allergy symptoms more than a couple of months out of the year?
• Are you using over-the-counter antihistamines or nasal sprays without improvement?
• Have your seasonal allergies or asthma decrease your quality of life or interfere with your day-to-day activities?
• Do you struggle to catch your breath at times?
• Do you wheeze or cough mainly at night or after exercise?
• Are you short of breath or feel a tightening in your chest?
• Have you been diagnosed with asthma but your medications aren’t working?

How can my provider help?

If over-the-counter seasonal allergy medications aren’t helping, it might be time for your provider to prescribe stronger medication. Another option is one that treats your allergies in a different way. It’s also possible that the over-the-counter medications you’re using may have negative side-effects you don’t like.

Your medical provider can determine if you need a referral to an allergy specialist or if they can treat your allergies before making that referral. An allergy specialist can test to find out what exactly is causing your allergies and may discuss immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treats allergies by introducing an increasing amount of the allergen via injection over months or years.

If you’re tired of struggling with your stuffy nose make an appointment with your provider. Together you can discuss new options for treating your allergies so you can enjoy the spring weather.

Every year during the spring and summer seasons, people who suffer from allergies suffer in silence. In the South, the longer growing season, temperate weather, and tons of rainfall means plants grow and bloom longer than in northern climates which makes the allergy season in the places like Mississippi much longer and more intense.

What Is An Allergy?

An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to something that is harmless. Take pollen for instance. It’s a fine powder emitted into the air by flowers in order to fertilize other flowers like itself. It’s harmless to human beings, but to people allergic to pollen, the immune system misidentifies the pollen as a foreign invader like a bacteria. In order to protect the body against this invader, (a.k.a an allergen) the immune system releases a bunch of chemicals that causes symptoms such as inflamed skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system.

Of course, you can be allergic to many different things, not just pollen. People are allergic to certain types of bugs, pet dander, and certain foods. The most common allergies found in Mississippi are pollen allergies and stinging insect allergies.

Pollen Allergies

Pollen allergies are as described above. They’re the immune response the body has to the allergen pollen when it is mistaken for an invader in the body. Because of Mississippi’s temperate climate, the pollen from trees, grasses and weeds is a major source of allergies in the state. To beat these allergies, it’s best to just stay indoors when pollen is bad. If you have to go outside, make sure you wash your face and your clothes often when you come back in.

Insect Allergy

The second most common type of allergy in Mississippi is a stinging insect allergy. The allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to the venom stinging insects inject into their victims. Most people are not allergic to stinging insects like bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants. For these people, a sting from these insects will likely result in swelling, pain, and redness at the site of the sting.

It’s very important for people to understand the difference between a normal reaction to an insect sting and an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction to an insect sting can become life threatening in a very short period of time, and a person who may not know they are allergic may dismiss their symptoms as merely pain from the sting.

Symptoms of Allergic Reactions

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to an insect sting include pain, swelling, and redness not confined to the area of the sting, but spreading to other parts of the body. Flushing, hives, and itching are also common symptoms. The most severe allergic reactions will need immediate medical attention and symptoms could include abdominal cramping, vomiting, intense nausea or diarrhea, tightness in the chest, difficulty in breathing, and anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It may progress so rapidly that it leads to stop breathing, collapse, experience seizures, and lose consciousness within 1 to 2 minutes. The reaction may be fatal unless emergency treatment usually in the form of a dose of epinephrine administered in an auto-injector (also known as an Epi-Pen) is given immediately.

If you have an allergic reaction to an insect sting, you may need to see an allergist  about allergy shots. Allergy shots can be effective at preventing anaphylaxis from insect stings. Also, avoid wearing perfume or cologne and  bright colors, and always wear socks and shoes outside. The sweet perfume and bright colors will attract stinging insects. Socks and shoes will help protect your feet from fire ants.

MRHC is dedicated to providing our patients with the highest level of compassionate, personal and trustworthy medical care in a warm and welcoming environment. If you think you may have a sinus infection call 662-282-4226 to schedule an appointment.

https://www.pollen.com/allergy/what-is-allergy

http://www.wtva.com/content/news/Allergy-season-causing-trouble-but-is-flu-season-really-over-478699093.html