I have hit a wall with allergies. Sneezey, stuffy nose, itchy eyes. The symptoms have almost debilitated me. Whenever the wind was blowing, I took for cover to avoid the serious symptoms.
There was an article published yesterday all about allergies. But not the seasonal kind that I deal with. A recent study shoves aside the usual headline grabbing seasonal allergies. Food allergies quickly became the headliners.
Think food allergies only affect the nerds and geeky kids, think again.
1 in 13 children have food allergies, almost double what was recently projected by the government. While seasonal allergies might bother people, they are rarely life threatening. However, food allergies can be deathly.
Almost half of the allergies found in foods for these children are severe, meaning serious complications could arise.
So how many is 1 in 13 children in the U. S.? That is more than 6 million children, making health officials and parents worry about the kids.
Ever had a serious reaction to a food allergy? The movie “Hitch” comes to mind when the main character ingests a nut and his face quadruples in size. Sure an ugly face may be hard to look at, but when your throat is swelling, it becomes a seriously problem.
Food allergies affect more than just those allergic. I am planning a camping trip with a group of girls in my neighborhood next week. One girl is deathly allergic to nuts. So allergic that she cannot be in any close proximity to nuts, so we are declared a nut free camp. That even means that peanut butter and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are forbidden.
While some food allergies only affect kids when they are younger, it can also be a life long struggle. How do you deal with food allergies?
Know the difference between food allergies and food intolerance. While some of the kids in the study were allergic to milk, many were just lactose intolerant. Intolerance just means it is harder for the body to digest. Intolerance is met by bloating, discomfort and gasiness, allergic reactions are met with tightening or closing of the throat, wheezing and rashes.
Be prepared for long term health care. Most food allergies will be life long, so prepare yourself mentally and physically. Short term health insurance will not cut it for the health care you might need. If someone has a severe allergic reaction that requires a visit to the emergency room, it can be very costly if you do not have long term health insurance. Find health insurance quotes in your area by entering your ZIP code in the field at the top of this screen. You will be able to find and compare quotes for different health insurance options, so when you are faced with an emergency hospital visit you will not face financial troubles.
If your child has a severe food allergy, let his or her school know. They might be able to make adjustments to the menus or classroom activities if allergies are well known.
Food allergies are not a death wish. But knowing more about them and how to prepare yourself is the safest way to ensure they don’t rule your life.