Food Allergy, or Something Else?
In this article
- Shared Symptoms
- Different Symptoms
- Common Food Allergies and Intolerances
- Treatment for Food Allergy
- How to Prevent Symptoms
Treatment for Food Allergy continued...
If you have a food allergy, you'll need to stop eating the food altogether. .If you have a food intolerance, you’ll need to avoid or cut back on that food in your diet. For lactose intolerance, you can look for lactose-free milk or take a lactase enzyme supplement.
With a food allergy, you could be at risk for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Ask your doctor if you need to carry an Auvi-Q or Epi-Pen (epinephrine shots) that you could give yourself in an emergency. If so, always carry two injections with you.
How to Prevent Symptoms
- Learn which foods -- and how much -- cause you to have symptoms. Either avoid the food or only have as much as you can without triggering symptoms.
- When you eat out, ask your server about how your meal will be prepared. It may not always be clear from the menu whether some dishes contain problem foods.
- Learn to read food labels and check the ingredients for trigger foods. Don't forget to check condiments and seasonings. They may have MSG or another additive that can cause symptoms.