Peanut Allergy - What You Need To Know

The peanut problem continues to grow and that’s partially a result of peanuts being a cheap source of dietary protein. At one time it was mainly found in peanut butter but because it is so cheap it is used in many different products. Since there are so many people suffering from a peanut allergy here’s what you need to know.

The problem is as much about it being used in so many products. Rather it is about the labeling and how difficult it is to recognize that there are peanuts in it. Sometimes it is marked as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Other times as ground nuts. It’s important to understand that a peanut allergy will not go away. In fact as you age it could get worse.

Most of us know about a peanut allergy because it gets so much attention for its seriousness with anaphylactic shock reaction. The peanut allergy can move really quickly and occasionally in just minutes it can prove fatal.

A peanut allergy needs to be treated with epinephrine immediately when the first signs of a reaction. After administering the epinephrine you still must monitor as the reaction can re-occur and another shot will have to be administered.

Possible symptoms of a peanut allergy may include the following which are not listed in any specific order:

1. sense of foreboding, apprehension or fear

2. flushed face, hives, swollen or itchy lips, mouth, eyes, or tongue

3. tightness in chest, throat, or mouth,

4. difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing, drooling, coughing, choking, running nose, voice change

5. vomiting, , stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea

6. dizziness, sudden fatigue, rapid heartbeat, unsteadiness, chills

7. loss of consciousness, coma, death

There are many factors which contribute to the peanut allergy being a fatal reaction.

1. Improper Labeling – sadly even though the peanut allergy can be so deadly packaging labeling is still inadequate.

2. Lack of understanding by schools that serve food and restaurants who don’t properly notify customers of a peanut possibility.

3. Nuts marked incorrectly with peanuts being sold as some other type of nut.

4. Failure to carefully read the labels.

5. Failure to inquire at restaurants and places where a problem may arise.

6. Sharing food or utensils that can cross contaminate.

7. Kissing someone that has been eating peanut products.

8. Failure to understand that a very small amount of peanuts can kill.

9. Denial of symptoms that you have a peanut allergy.

10. Not wearing a medical bracelet identifying your allergy.

Thankfully there is a treatment that works well for a serious peanut allergy. But problems still occur which can be fatal. Epinephrine or your Epi-Pen may be outdated. Sometimes a person will wait too long to take their epinephrine. Another problem is not having a second dose of epinephrine with you. Allergy suffers often carry one pen. Another problem is failure to report to emergency after taking epinephrine. All of these issues may be little if the peanut allergy wasn’t so serious.

Living with a peanut allergy is like living with any allergy or illness. The big difference is the seriousness of the peanut allergy. Make sure you understand and make appropriate lifestyle changes.

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What Is The Most Common Food Allergies In Adults?

The most common food allergies in adults are going to be nuts. There are two kinds of allergies relating to nuts. You will find when asking the question, what is the most common food allergies in adults that peanuts are the upper most on the list. Other allergies that are very common in adults include other nuts or tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. Wheat is another prominent allergy in most adults. You will find that when specifically referring to peanuts there are about 1% of the population who are affected by a peanut allergy and about a .5% allergy to tree nuts.

The most common food allergies in adults are going to offer a variety of degrees in severity as well as the symptoms the adult can suffer. You will find that any person who is allergic to a food can have the severest of reactions, meaning death. Although there are certainly preventative measures, death can be the result if a person doesn't seek medical attention at the first sign of the issue.

For those who have lived with an allergy, even the most common food allergies such as peanuts, they will have an Epi- Pen. The Epi- Pen is filled with epinephrine, which is a common drug used to treat almost any allergy. When the pen is injected into the skin the medication is released immediately into the bloodstream and the individual usually recovers without medical attention. In some cases it will provide enough time to get the person to the emergency room in order to avoid the threat of death.

Basically when discussing what is the most common food allergies in adults, you are going to find that with peanuts the person can have a small reaction like hives, or they can have swelling in the throat, mouth, and stomach pain. Each person is going to be different regarding their reaction to peanuts or other food allergies.

Some individuals don't even realize that they have food allergies until they reach late adulthood when the symptoms become more pronounced. In other cases the adult could have the allergy their entire life, in a severe enough case that they have a special diet, and must avoid most restaurants. You will find that restaurants have taken to warning individuals about peanut products in their menu items to help avoid any issues. The reason of course is that this is the most common food allergy.

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Will Peanut Allergy Symptoms Soon Be A Thing Of The Past?

Peanut allergies are on the rise worldwide among children, and even though awareness is increasing there is still a great risk of exposure for young children and others who suffer. Peanut butter is a universal and cheap source of protein that many families rely on for lunches, making it tough to avoid. Its unlikely that peanut butter and peanuts will disappear so perhaps the best hope for people with peanut allergy symptoms lies in changing the peanut itself.

Dr. Wesley Burks, a food allergy expert at Duke University Medical Center predicts a possible solution to peanut allergies could come from immunotherapy with in 5 years as several studies are under way. Researchers are using the protein of the peanut that is responsible for causing allergies to develop immunotherapy programs to combat peanut allergy symptoms.

Another hope is in altering the peanut itself. By identifying which proteins in peanuts are responsible for causing peanut allergy symptoms researchers hope to modify the peanut and eliminate the proteins that are harmful to some. The problem is that there are so many different types of peanuts, the end result might be a peanut that is more of a soy based peanut.

Hopefully researchers will be able to come up with some sort of help as there is currently far to much risk for those who suffer from peanut allergies and even though awareness and education are increasing the peanut is still king of the school lunch. Many product also still contain trace amounts of peanuts and even foods that are produced in the same plant as those that use peanuts can be problematic. A peanut free world does not seem to be possible so science will have to have come up with a solution.

For information on everything from toothpaste allergies to Peanut Allergy Symptoms visit Natural Allergy Relief. We also have the latest allergy alerts and allergy food warnings as well as a allergy indexwhere you can check your local allergy levels via zip code.

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