Food allergies can't be cured, just eased

By GARRON MARSH
gmarsh@tahlequahdailypress.com

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS September 19, 2007 11:32 am

— If you seem to spend most of your time sneezing, wiping your eyes, scratching or suffering the effects of rashes and swelling, you may be one of the millions of people for whom allergies are an annoying fact of life.
In the Cherokee County Community Building Tuesday morning, OSU Extension Educator Heather Winn offered some tips on how to pinpoint allergies and fight their symptoms.
According to Winn, one in five Americans suffers from hay fever, and around two million Americans are allergic to insect stings. For others, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold, or numerous other substances can keep them sneezing and wheezing.
A little less common are food allergies, although many folks might think otherwise.
Winn said although one-third of adults believe they have a food allergy, it actually affects less than 2 percent of the adult population, and 5 percent of young children.
But for those people, a food allergy can dramatically change how they think about their daily diet.
"There are about eight foods that cause most food allergy problems," said Winn. "They are milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts [such as pecans and walnuts], fish and shellfish."
In simple terms, allergies are a disease of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances -- or allergens -- that should not normally be a threat, like peanuts.
"Allergic reactions can be anything from skin reactions -- hives, redness, swelling -- to nose, throat and lung reactions; or stomach and intestinal reactions such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea," Winn said. "When someone eats a food they are allergic to, the immune system releases antibodies called histamines, which can cause itching or swelling; that's why we take antihistamines for many allergies."
For those suffering from a food allergy, Winn said the symptoms can be tricky.
"A person can have a very strong reaction one time -- they can be horrible," said Winn. "The next time it might not be so bad, and the next one might kill them. These allergies can be crazy like that, really up and down."
Likewise, an allergy may not be present at birth. Although allergies can be hereditary, they can also come from exposure to an allergen, or even hormone changes that come with age.
While there are no drugs available to "cure" food allergies, Winn said the problem can be managed by eliminating problem foods and taking a few precautions.
"Always check food labels, and use caution," said Winn. "For example, if you're allergic to milk -- small amounts of milk or milk proteins such as casein are common in 'non-dairy' products. You really have to be careful."
Winn said more information about food and other allergies are available at the OSU Extension Office, as well as several other resources that may help an allergy sufferer. But she said these resources are not a substitute for a doctor's advice.
"You can't self-diagnose; you should always see a physician if you think you have an allergy," said Winn. But with proper management, people with severe allergies can live a normal life. They just have to take control."
Winn provided several hints for dealing with food and other allergy problems.
• Pay attention to what causes a reaction, and eliminate or avoid it.
• Introduce foods to children gradually, especially if another family member has an allergy to a certain food.
• Keep windows closed, especially when it is windy and pollen counts are high.
• Keep the house dry to reduce molds and dust.
• Keep pets and plants outside.
• Do not permit smoking in the house, car, or near children.