Food Allergist in Coral Gables, and Palmetto Bay FL

An allergic reaction can happen from food, a trigger, a bug bite, or a sting, some allergic reactions can be mild to where it’s just uncomfortable, while others can have a severe allergic reaction to where it can become life-threatening.

Some of the most common allergic signs and symptoms:

• Hives
• Itching
• Eczema
• Tingling
• Itching in the mouth
• Swelling that can occur with the lips, tongue, throat, and other areas of the body
• Wheezing
• Nasal congestion
• Trouble breathing
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Fainting

Some individuals may even experience the very severe trigger of an allergic reaction which is known as anaphylaxis. This can be a life-threatening allergic reaction; the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Constriction or a tightening feeling of the airways
• Swollen throat or the feeling of a lump in your throat, making it difficult to breathe
• Severe drop in blood pressure mixed with shock
• Rapid pulse
• Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or even losing consciousness

If you have a food allergy, your immune system will accidentally identify the specific food item or substance you ingested as something harmful. Due to this, your immune system will set off triggers to release antibodies known as immunoglobin E to help neutralize the food item or substance that set it off.

In adults, these are the major food allergies that are most often triggered due to certain proteins found in them:

• Shellfish (shrimp, crab, and lobster)
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (walnuts, and pecans)
• Fish

In children, triggers are often connected to these major food allergies which are also due to the certain proteins found in them:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Eggs
• Cow’s milk
• Wheat
• Soy

Not all allergies are connected to the specific food items listed above, there are pollen allergies that affect many who have hay fever. With hay fever, certain fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices can trigger an allergic reaction.

Often food allergies can be confused with food intolerance. Food allergies involve the immune system and at times can cause life-threatening allergic reactions to occur. While food intolerance is when the body has issues digesting certain foods. Food intolerances can often cause an upset stomach, but this symptom is often not life-threatening.

If you are showcasing a food allergy, the reaction will usually be seen in some people almost immediately, particularly with food allergies, ingesting the food is what primarily causes the severe reactions to occur. However, there are some instances where just having skin contact or breathing in the item can cause symptoms to occur.

While some may see an allergic reaction occur almost instantaneously, others might not see an allergic reaction symptom occur for at least two hours later, even after the first symptoms go away, there may be a second wave of symptoms yet to show itself, and this second wave tends to last longer. People who have a severe reaction to the second wave of symptoms can see hospital visits from four to six hours for observation purposes.

It is best to visit a specialist like ours at Piniella Asthma and Allergy once you have had treatment for your first allergic reaction. This way, our doctors are able to work through what symptoms you may have experienced, and what you ate or did leading up to the allergic reaction so they can have a better idea of what it might be. From here, the doctors will run an allergy test on you, depending on the answers it could be a skin or blood test to ensure that you have an allergic reaction to the sequence of substances we are testing you for.

If you have any questions regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of allergies contact us at Piniella Asthma + Allergy! We have locations in Coral Gables FL and Palmetto Bay, FL to better serve you and we offer a broad range of services tailored to meet your asthma and allergy needs. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today! We serve patients from Coral Gables FL, Palmetto Bay FL, Westchester FL, Brownsville FL, Kendall FL, Pinecrest FL, Richmond West FL, and Goulds FL.