Can Older Adults Develop Food Allergies?
Most food allergies start in childhood, but that doesn't mean you're healthy. Protect yourself by staying proactive and informed.
Food allergies are a big topic between children and their parents, but they're something that should also be on your radar.
Today, nearly 15 million Americans have at least one food allergy. And according to recent research from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, roughly half of adults with food allergies experienced them for the first time after age 18.
“You can develop a food allergy at any age,” says Flavia Hoyte, M.D., an allergist and immunologist at National Jewish Health in Denver. In other words, you may have eaten a food your entire life without problems and then suddenly develop an allergy to it.
Scientists aren't exactly sure why this is happening, and research on adult food allergies is a fairly new area. But one factor for older adults: As we age, so does our immune system (it's called “immunosenescence”). This causes cells to begin to react differently to certain stimuli, including food.
What causes food allergies?
Allergies are the result of a reaction that starts in your immune system, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).
If you are allergic to a certain food, your immune system misidentifies a protein in that food as an invader and sends out antibodies to kill it. It can cause symptoms such as:
- Itching
- Urticaria
- Swelling
- diarrhoea
- Anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction characterized by wheezing, tightness in the throat or chest, or difficulty breathing
According to AAAAI, 90 percent of food allergies are caused by these allergens:
- Seafood: more common in adults
- Fish: more common in adults
- Peanuts: more common in adults
- Tree nuts: more common in adults
- Cow's milk
- Eggs
- soy
- Trigo
Most food allergy symptoms occur within two hours of eating, Dr. Hoyte says. You should know pretty quickly if your body isn't reacting well to something you've eaten.
You don't have to have a major reaction to be considered allergic. If you notice anything as mild as an itchy throat or intestinal discomfort after eating any of the above foods, tell your doctor. If you experience any signs of anaphylaxis, seek immediate medical help or take emergency medications (more on that below).
How to determine if you have a food allergy
The only way to confirm a food allergy is through medical tests, such as:
- Puncture skin tests
- Blood tests
- Oral food challenge, where your doctor will give you small doses of a food and see how your body reacts.
Do not attempt to self-diagnose. This can be dangerous since you don't know how you will react. In addition, other conditions can mimic the symptoms of a food allergy.
If your doctor confirms that you have an allergy, you should avoid that food as much as possible. Your allergist will also likely prescribe an epinephrine autoinjector such as an EpiPen for you to carry around. If you ever have a severe allergic reaction, the EpiPen can give you an epinephrine injection to open your airways and reverse other effects.
It's also essential: Make sure your loved ones know your allergy and know where to find your autoinjector.
“Never leave home without it,” Dr. Hoyte says. “It can't help you with that.”
Source: SilverSneakers.com
