Whether food allergies are mild or severe, they can adversely impact various areas of life. Sneezing, nausea, vomiting, and other allergy symptoms can interfere with your ability to carry out normal daily activities or fully enjoy yourself in social settings. Dr. Alan Sheen, the experienced allergy doctor at our office in Metairie, LA, treats food allergies and will develop a plan for managing your symptoms and reducing their impact on daily life and social activities. 

Common Food Allergies and Symptoms 

Some people experience an allergic reaction when they eat certain foods or come in contact with them. Some commonly allergic foods include peanuts, corn, eggs, dairy products, walnuts, almonds, wheat and other grains, fish, and shellfish. The reaction occurs because the immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food as an allergen, which can cause various symptoms to develop. 

Depending on the food allergen, symptoms could include: 

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Facial swelling
• Nasal congestion
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Itchiness
• Rash

Managing Food Allergies in Daily Life and Social Activities

Food allergies can adversely impact daily life and social activities. For example, in social situations where food is served, there is a risk of unknowingly consuming or coming into contact with a food allergen, which could trigger an allergic reaction. The symptoms of an allergic reaction often cause discomfort and can make it difficult to enjoy social activity fully. 

Steps you can take to manage food allergies include:

• Avoid known food allergens as much as possible
• Read food labels to check for allergens on the ingredient list
• Avoid cross-contact when prepping and cooking food
• Wear gloves during food prep if handling food allergens 
• Choose social activities that do not center around food
• Contact the host ahead of time to let them know about your food allergies
• Politely decline when someone offers to share their food with you if you do not know all the ingredients or if cross-contact could have occurred 
• Always carry an auto-injector if you have a severe food allergy 
• Develop an action plan for handling an unexpected allergic reaction 

Treatment for Food Allergies

Food allergies can be treated in various ways at our office in Metairie, LA. After diagnosing what food or foods you are allergic to, Dr. Sheen will develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Treatment could include antihistamines to alleviate symptoms, immunotherapy to build up tolerance to the allergen and become desensitized, or an auto-injector medication for emergencies. Treatment could also include developing an action plan for avoiding food allergens in daily life and social activities.

Food allergies can adversely impact daily life and interfere with your enjoyment of various social activities, but we can help. Call our office in Metairie, LA, at (504) 456-1999 or our Covington location at (985) 246-6077 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sheen to develop a plan for treating and managing your food allergies.