Food Allergies Are Common! |
Millions of Americans suffer from undiagnosed food allergies. Indeed, many physicians believe food allergies to be the most common cause of chronic disease. Symptoms of food allergies are varied and wide-ranging. They may be severe or subtle and may occur within 15 minutes or within two to three days after ingestion of the offending food.
Symptoms associated with food sensitivities may affect most any system within your body. Common symptoms that may be due to food sensitivities include:
• General – Chronic fatigue, malaise, edema and sleep disorders
• Headaches – Migraine, tension or sinus
• Ear/nose/throat – Runny nose, bronchitis and recurrent sinus or ear infections
• Gastrointestinal – Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, nervous stomach, colitis and rectal itching
• Genitourinary – Bedwetting in children, vaginal itching and fluid retention
• Bone and joint – Arthritis, arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), growing pains in children and non-specific pain syndromes of your skin
• Skin – Eczema, urticaria (itching), unusual rashes, pale skin color, dark circles under your eyes, swelling and lines under your eyes
• Neuropsychiatric – Depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, behavior problems, difficulty concentrating, panic attacks and moodiness
The Wycoff Wellness Center's approach to food allergy diagnosis is to begin with a comprehensive history and physical. Based on these finding we may suggest further testing such as RAST blood testing or skin testing for offending food sensitivities. We often find the most effective method of diagnosing or confirming food allergy is with an elimination diet follow by an oral challenge test.
The purpose of the oral challenge test is to determine if any symptoms will result after eating the suspected food. Our highly trained office staff will assist you in performing an oral challenge test which may be performed at home. We will have you monitor not only for induced symptoms that may occur within a few minutes of ingestion, but also look for symptoms that may not occur for two or three days.
Once an offending food has been identified, the most effective treatment is avoidance. We will help you to deterinine how you may avoid the offending foods in your daily routine. We typically recommend not only an elimination diet by will educate you about a “rotation” diet. The rotation diet may allow you to consume some of the offending foods on a rotation basis (usually once every fourth day).
Beyond elimination of the offending foods we may offer you specific treatment of your food allergy or sensitivities. In our experience sublingual (under-the-tongue) drops may be used to decrease or eliminate your sensitivity to various allergic foods. These drops are safe and effective and may be administered at home. The Wycoff Wellness Center staff will instruct you in the appropriate use to this type of treatment is desired or indicated for the treatment of your specific food allergies.
