Many people complain about suffering from allergies. Food allergies seem to be an ever increasing health problem. The fact about food allergies is that many are not true allergies but simply the intolerance to a certain type of food. In recent years often people complain about wheat allergy. The truth about wheat allergies is that only a very small percent of the population suffers a true wheat allergy.
Most people with complaints against wheat have the intolerance to wheat but not an allergy. An allergic response to wheat and wheat products will come on suddenly for the patient and can be life threatening. The person may suffer anaphylactic type symptoms such as hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, coughing, and projectile vomiting.
A person having an allergic response to wheat will need immediate medical attention to prevent serious complications and possibly death.
Diagnosing a Wheat Allergy
If a person suspects that he or she is allergic to wheat or wheat products, he or she should see product contents whenever possible. The doctor can perform a simple blood test to determine if there is a true allergy. This is important to do, so that after determining it a correct step can be taken to prevent exposure to wheat and thus an allergic response.
Even small children may have wheat allergies and their parents will need to take forward step toward getting them diagnosed. A child may not understand the diagnosis but parents and the physician can begin to teach adaptations to him or her in the early child’s life.
Treating a Wheat Allergy
The only treatment for a true wheat allergy is to avoid completely wheat in the diet. This may seem simple and easily undertaken but is very complex. Wheat is present in many food items in the American diet. Of course, the basic foods to avoid are grained products such as bread, cereal, and pasta.
The allergy sufferer will also have to avoid caking, cookies, crackers and pies. Wheat may also found be in many canned food items. Wheat is often used as a thickener so foods such as soups, gravies and sauces need to be avoided. Some drinks such as beer and root beer will probably contain wheat products.
The list goes on and on for food which may contain wheat. A person with wheat allergy would be wise to consult a registered dietician for diet alterations which will prevent an allergic reaction and it will also maintain a healthy well rounded diet.
