7 Strategies to Prevent Food Allergy Emergencies

From: Rachel Grumman
If you’re one of people with food allergies, they likely stem from just eight foods, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are responsible for 90 percent of all food allergies which can range in severity from uncomfortable to deadly.

If you’re unsure if you’re one of those affected, of if you’re looking for ways to help you cope, follow these tips on how to prevent serious reactions and safeguard your health.

Get Tested
To find out which foods, if any, are problematic for you, have an allergist do a skin test. If you’re diagnosed with a specific food allergy such as peanuts or shellfish, you’ll know which edibles not to eat, thereby avoiding an allergic reaction. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to more than one food, according to the AAAAI.

Read Labels Carefully
Most labels will list ingredients (including warnings such as “may contain peanuts”), according to the AAAAI. Even if it’s a product you’ve been using for years, the item’s ingredients or labeling can change so always check the label, according to the Mayo Clinic. If a product doesn’t have a label, don’t chance it by eating the food.
Ask Your Waiter
When dining out, ask your server how the dish is prepared and drive home the seriousness of your food allergy. If your server hesitates or doesn’t seem sure about the ingredients, have him or her to ask the chef. “When in doubt, clearly avoid the food,” says Jeffrey M. Factor, MD, an allergist at the Connecticut Asthma and Allergy Center in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Watch Out For Hidden Triggers
Meat slicers at delis are often used to slice both meat and cheese, so if you’re allergic to dairy, it could trigger a reaction. “Some people are highly allergic and even with minimal exposure they can have problems with certain foods,” says Eugene S. Hurwitz, MD, an allergist at Center for Allergy and Asthma of West Georgia in Atlanta. Also, even if a food is listed as “non-dairy” it may still contain milk by-products that can cause a reaction. Many snack foods are processed on machines that also process nuts, but will list that fact on the food label.

Find Substitutes
If you’re allergic to milk, soy and rice milk are good alternatives. Steer clear of goat’s milk since most people who are allergic to cow’s milk react to goat’s milk as well, according to Dr. Hurwitz. At ice cream shops, opt for soft serve instead of hard ice cream where the scoopers can come into contact with peanuts, causing an allergic reaction.
Read the Signs Symptoms often strike almost immediately after eating the problematic food: tingling or itching in the mouth or throat, difficulty swallowing and/or swelling of the lips or tongue. “They may break out in hives or have breathing problems, such as tightening of the chest and shortness of breath,” says Dr. Factor. “Also, some may experience stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.”

Be Prepared for Emergency
If you’re severely allergic to a certain food, talk to your doctor about the Epipen, a shot that immediately administers epinephrine during a severe allergic reaction. “It not only reverses the symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction, but it also prevents it from getting worse,” explains Dr. Factor. Ask your allergist whether you need an Epipen and if so, when and how to use it (it should be on you at all times).


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Allergy Proffing Your Environment

Medicines help treat allergy symptoms once they strike, but there are several steps you can take to prevent symptoms altogether. The following recommendations can help you avoid allergy triggers whether you're at home, outdoors, or out on the town.

At Home

• Keep windows closed and use air conditioning if you're allergic to pollen. Don't use fans since they can stir up dust.
• Filter the air. Cover air conditioning vents with cheesecloth to filter pollen and use high efficiency particulate air filters. Clean air filters frequently and air ducts at least once a year.
• Keep the humidity in your house below 50% to prevent mold growth.
• If you have pets, consider keeping them outside or perhaps ask someone else to take care of them. Animal dander and saliva are common allergens for many people. If you must keep your pets indoors, do not allow them in the bedroom and be sure to bathe them often.
• Avoid areas where molds may collect, including basements, garages, crawl spaces, barns and compost heaps. Have someone else clean these areas often.
• Install dehumidifiers in basements and other areas of the house where molds tend to collect. Clean these devices every week.
• Air out damp clothes and shoes (in the house) before storing.
• Remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Don't leave wet clothes in the washer where mold can quickly grow.
• Wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles with mold-killing solutions.
• Don't collect too many indoor plants as soil encourages mold growth.
• Store firewood outside.
• Use plastic covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs. Avoid overstuffed furniture and down-filled bedding or pillows.
• Wash your bedding every week in hot water.
• Don't allow smoking in your house.
• Wear a mask and gloves when cleaning, vacuuming or painting to limit dust and chemical exposure.
• Vacuum twice a week.
• Limit throw rugs to reduce dust and mold. If you do have rugs, make sure they are washable.
• When possible, choose hardwood floors instead of carpeting. If you must have carpeting, choose low-pile material.
• Avoid dust-collecting Venetian blinds or long drapes. Replace old drapes with window shades instead.
• Make sure there is an exhaust fan over the stove to remove cooking fumes.

In the Car

• Keep windows closed and set the air conditioner to use recirculated air if you are allergic to pollen.
• Don't permit smoking in the car.

Outdoors

• Minimize walks in wooded areas or gardens.
• Check the forecast. Stay indoors as much as possible on hot, dry, windy days when pollen counts are generally the highest.
• Try to avoid extreme temperature changes -- they are triggers for some people with asthma.
• If possible, stay indoors between 5 and 10 a.m. when outdoor pollen counts are usually highest.
• Wear a mask (such as an inexpensive painter's mask) when mowing the lawn if you are allergic to grass pollen or mold. Avoid mowing and being around freshly cut grass if possible.
• Wear a mask when gardening, as flowers and some weeds release pollen and can cause allergy symptoms.
• Avoid raking leaves or working with hay or mulch if you are allergic to mold.
• After being outdoors, take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothes to remove pollen that may have collected in your clothes and hair.
• To protect yourself from insect stings, wear shoes, long pants and sleeves, and do not wear scented deodorants, perfumes, shampoos or hair products.
• Don't hang clothes or linens out to dry, as pollen and molds may collect in them and can make your allergies worse.

Traveling

• Pack your medicines with you in your carry-on bag.
• Bring an extra supply of medicines in case you need them.

Staying in a Hotel

• Ask for a nonsmoking room.
• Remove feather pillows and ask for synthetic, nonallergenic pillows -- or bring your own plastic pillow cover from home.
• If possible, keep the vent on the room air conditioner shut.

Dining

• Eat in smoke-free restaurants.
• For food allergies, avoid the foods that cause your allergy symptoms by carefully reading ingredient labels and asking about the food preparation methods when dining out. Choose fresh foods rather than prepared or processed foods. If you have severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis, carry an epinephrine injection kit with you at all times.

For Children in School

• Discuss your child's allergies with school personnel.
• If your child suffers from food allergies, discuss them with school officials, teachers and lunchroom staff.
• Educate your child about his/her allergies early, so your child can learn to avoid situations where he or she may eat a food that will trigger an allergic reaction. Arrange for an epinephrine kit to be left at the school, and make sure school officials (and your child when they are old enough) are able to use it correctly.
• Inform school personnel about the medicines your child is taking and make arrangements to leave necessary medicines at school.
• Encourage sports participation, but inform coaches of medicines that may need to be taken before activities.

by the WebMD Editorial

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Banana Strawberry Smoothie Superfoods When Pregnant

This was strange one to see on the list until it’s explained why. This drink concoction is jam packed with incredible baby nutrients that will reduce a lot of pregnancy complications. The big Vitamin C boost not only helps preeclampsia, but it can also help reduce the risk of the premature rupture of membranes which leads to premature birth. High calcium foods like low-fat yogurt and milk can also help fluid retention which will help keep your blood pressure down. Are you beginning to see the pattern here with the high blood pressure concerns?

Smoothie Recipe: Combine bananas, strawberries, ice, milk (or low-fat yogurt) in a blender and put on high speed until smooth.

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