How to spot food allergies as an adult
Posted: 19th January 2022 | Posted by Costa
How to spot food allergies as an adult
Imagine you’re out for a meal with your family or friends. It’s a restaurant you’ve been to countless times before. You order your favourite meal that you always have. It arrives, it looks as tasty as ever, and you dig in. Then something strange happens.
You’ve never experienced this before, but all of a sudden, you feel your throat start to close. You struggle to breathe and then you realise. You’re having an allergic reaction.
It sounds unbelievable, but this can happen to anyone. One day, out of the blue, you can develop a food allergy as an adult. It’s happened to many people and is more common than you think. But why does it happen? And how can you spot it?
Developing an adult food allergy
Why do people suddenly develop a deadly food allergy as adults? Unfortunately, no one’s really sure. It’s something our bodies do and there’s seemingly no rhyme or reason (that we know of). But it’s the reality for a lot of people.
More than 48% of people with a food allergy developed it as an adult. And 51% of those adults with allergies will experience a serious reaction at some point. But, at the same time, while 20% of adults self-diagnose a food allergy, only 10% really have one. Usually because they’ve mixed it up with an intolerance.
It makes figuring out you have a new allergy a bit tricky. But here are some warning signs you can look out for.
Spotting a food allergy
Allergic reactions to food often have one or more of these symptoms:
- Tingling sensation in the mouth
- Itchy rashes
- Sneezing
- Swelling around the face and mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Trouble breathing
That’s our body reacting to the substance it (all of a sudden) doesn’t agree with. The worst symptom is anaphylactic shock. This is extremely worrying and can be life-threatening. It usually includes difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure, and even a loss of consciousness.
Keep your eye out for any of these symptoms if you’re feeling something out of the ordinary. The most common culprits will be peanuts, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts. Though this isn’t an exhaustive list.
The most important point? If you ever suspect you have a new allergy as an adult, consult a doctor. If you can, make it an allergy specialist. They will be able to accurately diagnose whether you do have an allergy. Then they can give you the advice you need to adjust and live a comfortable life.
Don’t ignore the warning signs and don’t take your medical care into your own hands. Always take allergies seriously.
We’re here for you if you ever suddenly develop an allergy. You can book in for a consultation here or call us on 02031 433 449.