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.