How To Spot Food Allergy Symptoms

Has it ever occurred to you that the discomfort that you have been experiencing for ages are a result of food allergy symptoms? Food allergy symptoms can show up within minutes after eating, making these symptoms easy to spot. However, sometimes, it can take up to a few hours, for their effects to show. Usually, these are then misdiagnosed as other problems or simply lumped into a 'catch all' diagnosis that is not clearly understood.

Food allergy symptoms can be mild or severe. Some are merely uncomfortable, yet others can be debilitating or even life threatening. For example, a mild reaction may give you a skin rash that disperses over a short period of time. Conversely, a severe reaction can cause severe inflammation and the throat can swell up to the point that you cannot breathe.

For severe food allergies, it is important that you address them. The consequence of not addressing your food allergy symptoms can be poor digestion or other bodily functions that reduce your ability to perform normally. Food allergy symptoms need not be confined to digestive complaints. They can show up in almost any part of the body, depending on the irritant and your own chemical system.

They can affect many parts of the digestive system. You may suffer from tingling or burning sensations in the mouth, lips, and tongue. You may experience nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or cramping. If a food allergy develops over time, it may be difficult to pin point whether it is an allergic reaction or a different problem. If you suffer from chronic digestive difficulties, you may have a staple of your diet that is aggravating your system.

Food allergy symptoms can also result in skin irritations and more chronic diseases such as eczema. It is not unusual for a person to develop hives from eating irritating foods.

Although many people do not equate respiratory problems with food allergies, but as with other allergens, food can produce symptoms throughout the respiratory system. You may find yourself experiencing congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, or nasal symptoms resembling a cold. There can also be inflammation of the throat and bronchial passages, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties. Should you feel a tightness of the chest, you should check it out immediately. Asthma attacks are also very serious and you should seek medical attention as they can be life threatening.

Another set of symptoms that are often overlooked as the result of food allergies include musculoskeletal complaints. Joint pain resembling rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other conditions with joint problems can actually be a symptom of delayed food allergies.

You can choose to do an elimination diet on your own to check whether specific foods are triggering a reaction for you. In an elimination diet, after cleansing your system, you start with foods least likely to cause a reaction, avoid them for a period and then very gradually add them back to your diet. Carefully observe if there are any food allergy symptoms that arise. The sooner you learn how to spot your food allergies, the greater the chance for a more comfortable and productive life. Many of us have forgotten how that feels as we have lived with our food allergy symptoms for far too long!

A food allergy sufferer, Evelyn Lim is the publisher of an ebook, Allergy treatment Secrets. She has been healing herself through a variety of treatment options. She also provides free research and tips on allergies on her site. Please visit http://www.allergy-attacks.com/ for more information.