Food Allergies Don't Only Evolve When We're Kids - Adults Get Them Too

Even though we may look the same for years, our bodies are constantly changing. If you have been free from allergies until adulthood, you may think that you are one of the lucky ones without allergies. But one day, you may eat a food that you have eaten for years, only to break out in a rash or hives. You could develop a runny nose or have a tingly feeling around your mouth if you eat peanut butter or another food. Although you have eaten peanuts for years, you have suddenly developed a peanut allergy.

Most Common Allergy Developed In Adults

Food allergies are sometimes developed in adulthood when the immune system believes that a food is a foreign substance invading the body. You may suddenly become allergic to strawberries, raspberries, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, or honey. Adults should definitely not ignore any of the symptoms that they develop after eating foods because they could develop anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction to foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, and others.

Adult Food Allergies Can Be Especially Dangerous

Many people do not realize that they can develop allergies as an adult, and this makes them more dangerous because adults tend to ignore the symptoms. Food allergies can become worse as you eat more of the food, increasing the chances of anaphylaxis developing. For this reason, it is important to listen to the messages that your body gives you. If you were feeling fine before eating certain food and you develop symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a feeling that you are not well, get immediate medical treatment.

Millions of People Have Allergies

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million people in the United States have allergies. They have a wide range of allergy symptoms that include a scratchy throat, hives, rashes, itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and other symptoms. Allergies can be controlled when you know that you have them, but food allergies require that you avoid the food that you are allergic to.

Your Doctor May Want To Order Allergy Testing

If you develop peanut allergy symptoms after eating a peanut butter sandwich, you should avoid peanut products until you can see your doctor. If you have severe symptoms that could be anaphylaxis, call 911 immediately. Your doctor may want to order allergy testing to verify which foods you are allergic to. There are no cures for food allergies, so you need to avoid this food for the rest of your life.

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