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Know About Your Food Allergies – By Sanofi India

Food is an essential part of our lives and something we can’t live without (quite literally). Every individual has a favourite or two but imagine being told to refrain from eating it. Yes, you heard it right, your doctor asks you to give up your favourite food because you’re allergic to it. A tough one to swallow, isn’t it?

A food allergy cannot be identified as food intolerance. Food allergies are caused by proteins found in food to which your immune system overreacts. The fighting response from the body can lead to diarrhoea with other symptoms such as nausea and streaming eyes. Diagnosing food allergies can be challenging, but we’ve put together a few points to help you manage them.

Common items that give you food allergies 

Food allergy signs depend on how your body reacts to the food. While some may experience the same signs and symptoms, often they aren’t the same as another person. Although any food can cause an allergy, here’s a list of triggers that cause a food allergy 90% of the time:  

Food Allergy Symptoms

Food allergies can display several symptoms such as: 

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Food allergies are dangerous but can be avoided and managed if proper care is taken.

Can kids get food allergies?

Yes, kids can get food allergies and in fact, they are more prone to it. One of the best solutions is to find what your kid is allergic to. You should consult your doctor to help you identify the food that is causing an allergic reaction in your child. If you’ve determined the ingredient that your kid is allergic to, make sure they don’t consume anything which has that particular ingredient. Giving a heads up to their teachers and guardians is always helpful to keep the allergies at bay.

Also Read: Osteomalacia: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Food allergy diagnosis

 Food allergies usually cause some reaction every time you consume a trigger food. Although symptoms vary from person to person, you may not experience the same symptoms every time. Food allergies can affect the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system causing a potentially life-threatening reaction.

To ensure you get the proper food allergy treatment, it’s important to let the doctor know about your medical history and your symptoms. 

Although there’s no specific food allergies treatment available, you can always avoid certain food items if you’ve had a problem/reaction before. If food allergy symptoms persist, please consult a doctor/physician to get the necessary medical attention.

For more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Types Of Allergies You Ought To Know About – By Sanofi India

An allergy is a reaction/response by the immune system when it gets exposed to certain foreign substances known as allergens. Allergens can be found anywhere! In some individuals, the body responds and tries to fight them. 

Broadly, the allergies can be distinguished into the below types: 

The indoor and outdoor allergies can be further segregated into different allergy types that individuals suffer from. Typically, the eyes, nose, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract of the body are prone to allergic symptoms. Although the various allergic diseases may appear different, they all result from an exaggerated immune response to foreign substances in sensitive individuals.

According to AAFA There are many types of allergies like dust allergy, food allergy, drug allergy, insect allergy etc. Some allergies are seasonal and others are year-round. Some allergies may be life-long. It is important to work with your health care provider to create a plan to manage your allergy. Avoiding your allergens is the best way to prevent an allergic reaction.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

1. Indoor Allergies

What is it: Allergic reaction triggered from a protein found in a pet’s fur, skin flakes, saliva or urine.

Management:  There’s no need to get rid of your furry friends. With proper diagnosis by a doctor, pet allergy can be managed easily.

What is it: All paints give out fumes and chemicals which can act as allergens for some individuals in case of inhalation of fumes or direct contact with skin.

Management: Wearing a mask, gloves can help prevent it. Rinsing it off from the skin can help soothe it as well as keeping the area well ventilated is advisable.

What is it: It’s not the dust, but the tiny organisms living in it called dust mites that can trigger an allergic reaction. Apart from dust mites themselves, bed mites, pollen, cockroaches can also trigger a dust allergy!

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Management: Vacuuming frequently to keep the surroundings clean can help manage dust allergy in a better way.

What is it: A person gets mold allergy when they inhale mold spores causing various symptoms such as itchy eyes, coughing, etc. Favourable to grow in damp areas, it’s pretty common for mold to exist in one’s bathroom or kitchen.

Management: It is challenging but not impossible. Personal hygiene and cleanliness can help manage mold allergies.

Sinus rinsing can remove dust, pollen and other debris, as well as help to loosen thick mucus. It can also help relieve nasal symptoms of sinus infections, allergies, colds and flu. Plain water can irritate your nose.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

2. Outdoor allergies

What is it: Rapidly increasing air pollution is one of the major causes of allergy. Among the various sources of pollution are emissions from factories and industries, automobiles, crop burning and tobacco.

Management: Unfortunately, it’s tough to control pollution but can be managed/prevented by wearing a mask or staying indoors. Individuals need to contribute to a reduction in air pollution by simple methods like planting trees, walking instead of using vehicles whenever possible, etc. 

What is it: Tiny pollen released from the plants, weeds and grass during pollination lead to pollen allergy.

Management: The ratio of pollen increases in certain seasons, so one can avoid going to places where they can inhale them or wear a mask while going outdoors.  

What is it: Inhalation of mold spores that dwell in cold and damp places like gardens or backyards can be one of the many reasons for mold allergy.

Management: Stay indoors on days when mold content is high and keep away from uncut fields and raking leaves.

Most of the allergies mentioned above manifest as nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis. There are also skin and food allergies that may show presence in different ways.

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3. Food allergies

What is it: Often a general/harmless food item is mistaken as something foreign/toxic by our immune system, which leads to an allergic reaction.

Causes: The most common triggers of food allergies are peanuts, walnuts, pecans, soy, milk.

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Management: Determining the allergen is important and can be managed easily if you avoid consuming it. 

4. Skin allergies

What is it: A lot of materials can cause an allergic reaction when they come in contact with your skin.

Causes: Common causes of skin allergy are metals, gold, silver, insects, tobacco and even latex among many others.

Management: Topical ointments and moisturizers can be applied to the affected area to help manage the reaction. It is important to consult your doctor to get the right treatment for your skin allergies.

You must be cautious as allergies may have acute effects many times, it can be lethal for an individual. If you are suspicious about having an allergy, it’s best to reach out to a doctor/physician for an accurate allergy diagnosis.

Also Read: What is the Cause of Nipple Pain? Understanding and Managing Discomfort

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Spot The Allergy, Stop The Misery – By Sanofi India

Allergies can be stressful and every person around the world is prone to them. But often, people ignore the signs and symptoms of allergy or don’t realize it until they discover a repetition or pattern. So, how does allergy happen? Or what makes you allergic to a particular substance? How crucial is allergy testing?In simple words, when a person’s immune system overreacts to a foreign item (like dust, pollen, dander, etc.) as harmful/hazardous, it responds to it with an allergic reaction. Typically, an allergic reaction only takes a few minutes to develop from being exposed. There are a host of indoor allergies & outdoor allergies that can affect a human body which can be identified through allergy testing. Allergic reactions may vary from mild to severe, so identifying the allergy type is very crucial and should be reported to your doctor.

Sign and Symptoms of Allergies

Allergies exist in different forms & people are usually exposed to different allergic substances. Here are a few allergic reactions you need to be mindful of in the future. While a doctor can help you to diagnose these with the help of allergy tests, we have put down a list of signs & symptoms in allergies that are common.

Nasal allergies might cause:  

Food allergies might cause:    

Also Read: What Happens If You Eat Mold: Decoding the Potential Health Risks

Skin allergies may cause:    

In-Blog-02Don’t mistake allergy for something trivial. The sooner you identify symptoms, the sooner you can get them treated. If you are suspicious about having an allergy, it’s best to reach out to an expert/physician who can consult you based on the symptoms.  Also Read: Montair Lc UsesFor more information on how you can identify and manage allergies, visit http://bit.ly/allergy_free  SAIN.ALL.20.01.0181aDisclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
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