Chers Santies,
Have you ever heard of anaphylactic shock? It's a generalized allergic reaction of the body that can be induced, among other things, by the ingestion of food. If this happens to you, and you don't get immediate medical attention, you could go into cardiac arrest!
This form of food allergy is one of the rarest, but also the most dangerous.
It can occur within 2 hours of eating, or up to 48 hours later.
In France, between 50 and 80 people die every year from anaphylactic shock, and nearly 6% of the population is affected by a food allergy.
This reaction occurs when your immune system reacts abnormally to a protein. It perceives it as a pathogenic agent when in fact it is harmless. This triggers a chain reaction, causing allergic symptoms throughout your body. So it's best to recognize the symptoms so you can react quickly.
When your immune system goes haywire
A food allergy is a reaction caused by your own body. In fact, it's your immune system which, thinking it's attacking a dangerous protein in a food, starts to deploy protective mechanisms. It produces specific antibodies known as IgE antibodies. These then spread throughout your body, attaching themselves to your defense cells: basophils and mast cells.
When the allergenic food is eaten a second time, it binds to your IgE antibodies, which are automatically activated. This is when the inflammatory response begins, leading to a variety of symptoms of varying degrees of severity. And this has repercussions throughout your body.
4 types of symptoms that should alert you
In most cases, the signs of a food allergy are mild: tingling of the lips, redness of the skin, itching... But their intensity varies greatly from one person to another. Here are the 4 types of symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction.
1. Skin manifestations
They are quite varied. It could be your tongue or lip tingling, or your skin itching. You may also notice a rash on your face, redness and even general swelling of your body. You may also see the appearance of violent hives or raised red patches, like nettle pimples.
2. Respiratory signs
If you suddenly feel wheezy, have a swollen throat, have difficulty breathing or feel like you're suffocating (for no apparent reason), you may have ingested a food that your body cannot tolerate.
I would draw your attention to its manifestations: they can be extremely serious.
In particular, you may experience angioedema. This is the sudden swelling of the deep layers of your skin and mucous membranes. It first appears on your face and neck, but if it reaches the larynx, you may choke. Your throat will be so swollen that air can no longer circulate. So you need to act fast: call the emergency number 15.
3. Virulent digestive pain
These signals never come alone, but they can alert you to a potential food allergy. They include :
- Abdominal cramps,
- Diarrhea,
- Colic,
- Nausea,
- or vomiting.
These are caused by your body reducing the size of its blood vessels to protect your vital organs (heart and brain).
4. Cardiovascular and neurological disorders
The drop in blood pressure caused by a food allergy will lead to a drop in organ oxygenation. This can result in paleness, a weak pulse, dizziness or even loss of consciousness. In the worst cases, this can lead to neurological disorders, confusion or even coma. And in the heart, it manifests itself as arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), which can lead to cardiac arrest.
When this happens, an injection of adrenaline must be given as a matter of urgency. People at risk generally carry one with them at all times. All these allergic reactions appear on average between 2 minutes and 2 hours after ingestion. In some cases, they can occur 2 days later.
The 10 most "dangerous" allergens
A food allergy really does depend on the individual. You may well be able to tolerate peanuts, but your grandson won't be. To give you an idea of the foods that can provoke a reaction, I've listed the 10 most "dangerous" as identified by the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mapaq):
- Peanuts.
- Wheat.
- Seafood (fish, shellfish).
- Sesame seeds.
- Milk.
- Nuts.
- Eggs.
- Soya only.
- Sulfites.
- Mustard.
P-S.: Don't confuse food allergy with food intolerance. The latter is not an immune hypersensitivity, but a difficulty in metabolizing a food or one of its components. What's more, food allergies are triggered only by proteins, whereas intolerances are caused by any component (gluten, lactose, caffeine...).
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact a doctor.
Tarragon essential oil - organic
"Tarragon essential oil is very effective for improving digestion, easing hiccups and calming certain allergies."
