Asthma and food allergies
Asthma and food allergies
About asthma and food allergies
Foods, food additives and chemicals are not common triggers for
asthma
. They rarely trigger asthma by themselves, but can trigger asthma either as part of a
food allergy or an intolerance reaction
An
allergy
is when the body’s
immune system
overreacts to a substance that is normally harmless to most people. These substances are also known as
allergens
. Being exposed to an allergen may cause irritation or swelling in areas of the body such as the nose, eyes, lungs, air passages and skin.
A severe food allergy reaction is known as
anaphylaxis
and can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of food allergies
An allergic reaction to food may be mild, moderate or severe. Some of the symptoms may include:
itching, burning and swelling around the mouth
swelling of face or eyes
runny nose
skin rash (eczema)
hives (urticaria – skin becomes red and raised)
diarrhoea
abdominal cramps
breathing difficulties, including wheezing and asthma
vomiting
nausea.
Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening
An anaphylactic reaction, or anaphylaxis, is an extreme allergic reaction that can be life threatening without prompt medical treatment. A life-saving injection of adrenaline, administered through an auto-injector such as EpiPen® or Anapen® (also known as an adrenaline autoinjector), is required to treat anaphylaxis to prevent permanent injury or death.
The onset of symptoms can occur immediately (within 2 minutes to 2 hours) or steadily get worse over time.
Some of the symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
difficult or noisy breathing
swelling of tongue
swelling or tightness in the throat
difficulty talking or hoarse voice
wheeze or persistent cough
persistent dizziness or collapse
pale and floppy (in young children).
High-risk foods that may cause allergies
Some of the foods that may cause an allergic reaction in susceptible people include:
eggs
peanuts
tree nuts
shellfish
wheat
sesame
milk
soy
lupin.
Food chemicals that may trigger asthma symptoms
Intolerance to food chemicals is dose-related, which means the symptoms get worse the more you eat.
Some of the food chemicals that are known to trigger asthma in susceptible people include:
sulphites
– these additives are widely used as preservatives and antioxidants in the food and pharmaceutical industries
food colourings
– such as the yellow food dye tartrazine. Food colourings very rarely trigger asthma attacks. Generally, if a person with asthma reacts to one food colouring, they should make sure to avoid eating any food colourings
salicylates
– naturally occurring salicylates are also present in many foods, including instant coffee, soy sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste and sauce, beer, some wines and honey.
Read the labels on food products
Some food additive numbers to remember include:
benzoates – 211, 213, 216, 218
sulphites – 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 228
tartrazine – 102&n
monosodium glutamate – 621.
If you are looking for more information, you could check the Official Shopper’s Guide to Food Additives and Labels, which is available through libraries, major bookshops, supermarkets and newsagencies. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) also has a
list of food additives and their numbers on their
website
External Link
.
Identifying trigger foods
It is important to identify the foods or food chemicals that may cause problems for you.
This must be done under strict medical supervision. Don’t try and diagnose the trigger foods yourself, because you may restrict your diet unnecessarily and this may be unhealthy. For example, some people with asthma avoid
dairy products
because they believe (incorrectly) that these foods cause an overproduction of mucus in the airways.
Your doctor or allergy specialist may conduct a
blood test or skin prick test
to determine your allergies. Sometimes they will eliminate a food and compare lung function tests before and after elimination.
No special asthma diet
Only a small percentage of people (less than 3 in 100) with asthma have food allergies or intolerances that trigger asthma flare ups.
It is important to remember that no foods either cause or prevent asthma.
Like anyone else, people with asthma should eat a
healthy, balanced diet
that includes plenty of fresh and unprocessed foods, particularly fruit and vegetables. If you are concerned about your diet, consult with your doctor or dietitian.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
Respiratory physician
Allergy specialist (your doctor can refer you)
Dietitian
The
Royal Children’s
Hospital
External Link
has produced a number of videos to help you better understand and manage your child’s asthma.
Asthma
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 278 462
National Asthma Council
Australia
External Link
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
(ASCIA)
External Link
Allergy & Anaphylaxis
Australia
External Link
. Tel.
1300 728 000