Learn About Some of the Food Allergies You Can Be Tested For

If you are worried about food allergies, you might not realize that there are actually dozens and dozens of foods you can be allergic to. A food allergy can be life-threatening, and it is, therefore, essential to know if you have a serious food allergy. Considering that as many as 5% of all Americans have a food allergy, it is understandable that anyone would want to be tested for food allergies.

Keep reading to learn about some of the food allergies you can be tested for, or just contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment for your testing.

Any Food Could Cause an Allergy

It can be scary to know that technically, any food could potentially cause an allergic reaction. However, there are eight foods that makeup about 90% of all food allergies. They are:

• Milk
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Tree nuts (including walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, almonds, and brazil nuts)
• Soy
• Peanuts

Those are the eight most common food allergies, but the most common food allergies that did not make the top eight list include corn, certain spices like caraway, mustard, coriander, and garlic, meats like pork, beef, chicken, or mutton, seeds such as sesame, sunflower and poppy, and corn.

Common Symptoms of Food Allergies

The media often portrays food allergies as occurring instantly when a person ingests a food they are allergic to, but in fact, it can take hours or even days for a reaction to occur. Common symptoms of food allergies include a rash, hives, or other red, swollen skin issues, upset stomach, runny or stuffy nose, itchy mouth or itchy interior ear, start taste in the mouth, sneezing, cramps, nausea, or diarrhea.

Symptoms of Food Allergies That Require Immediate Medical Care

If you notice any of these symptoms, then you should get medical attention right away. They include issues breathing, swollen lips, tongue, or throat, chest pain, a week feeling, confusion, light-headedness, unconsciousness, an uneven heartbeat, or passing out. If a person has this type of reaction after eating one of the foods that cause more serious allergies, such as shellfish or peanuts, then immediate medical care might be needed to save their life.

Come in for Food Allergy Testing So We Can Find the Answers to Your Symptoms

If you suspect that you have a food allergy, then you should contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group for testing. Even if you do not have a food allergy, we might be able to determine what is causing your symptoms. Contact us at 805-658-9500 right away.