Food allergy
Food allergies refer to immune system reactions triggered by certain foods. When individuals with food allergies consume or come into contact with a specific allergen, their immune system mistakenly identifies it as harmful and releases chemicals to defend against it. These chemicals can cause reactions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, skin, respiratory system, and other organs.
Symptoms of Food Allergies
Symptoms of food allergies can vary and may include:
- Gastrointestinal Issues: Difficulty swallowing, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
- Skin Reactions: Redness, itchy rash, eczema, hives, and swelling.
- Cardiovascular Symptoms: Drop in blood pressure, fainting, or lightheadedness.
- Respiratory Symptoms:Throat tightness, runny nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, wheezing, and coughing.
- Other Symptoms: Sense of impending doom, headaches, itching in the throat and mouth, and tingling.
Severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.
Adverse Food Reactions
Adverse food reactions are any negative and abnormal responses that occur after consuming certain foods. They can be classified into three categories:
- Food Allergies: Triggered by specific proteins in certain foods, causing the immune system to release chemicals.
- Food Intolerances:Caused by the inability to properly metabolize and digest certain components in food, such as lactose or gluten. Symptoms often include gastrointestinal issues.
- Food Sensitivities: Also known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity, these are adverse reactions to certain foods that do not involve the immune system.
