Wheat allergies are fairly common; it is one of the big eight most common food allergies. Obviously there will be symptoms when you have a reaction but identifying wheat allergy symptoms can be a problem. Most allergies have the same symptoms so figuring out the cause can be a challenge. It is important that you do figure it out since some reactions can be very serious. People can and do die from a wheat allergy so determining whether or not you have one is important to keep yourself healthy.
The most common symptom of a wheat allergy is eczema. Eczema is a skin rash that most commonly appears on the cheeks, knees and the elbows although it can actually occur anywhere on the body. Eczema is usually a red rash that is often accompanied by oozing blisters. The blisters are mostly caused by scratching since eczema is very itchy. There are a number of other causes of eczema so it is not necessarily caused by a wheat allergy. However if you are susceptible to it eczema outbreaks are often triggered by allergies.
The other most common wheat allergy symptom is asthma. This is where your airway will become inflamed making it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be a very serious condition and it needs to be treated properly if you suffer from it. In almost all cases asthma attacks are the result of an allergic reaction and they can vary dramatically in severity. It is important that you talk to your doctor if you suffer from asthma to make sure that you keep it under control. Asthma attacks can occur at anytime so if you require medication you will want to makes sure that you keep it with you at all times.
The most serious wheat allergy symptom is anaphylaxis. This is an allergic reaction that affects the whole body. Your blood vessels will contract as the result of a release of the protein histamine. This will cause your whole body to swell up and your blood pressure to drop. This is a very serious condition and it requires immediate medical attention. If you know that you are prone to anaphylaxis when you encounter an allergen your doctor will usually recommend that you carry an epinephrine pen with you at all times. This will allow you to give yourself a shot of the medication needed to treat anaphylaxis in the event that you have a reaction.
The biggest problem when trying to use the symptoms to determine whether or not you have an allergy to wheat is that the symptoms are the same as for most allergies. Eczema, asthma and anaphylaxis are called the classic three allergic reactions for a reason; they apply to almost all allergies. In all likelihood you will need to see your doctor for an allergy test to determine exactly what is causing your reaction. Once you know whether or not you have a wheat allergy you can take steps to avoid having a reaction.
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