Allergy to nuts

Allergy to nuts and to peanuts is one of the more common allergies that affect a lot of people.  It is a condition that is sometimes difficult to prevent because of the many varied applications that nuts and peanuts have in food.  They can be ingredients to some recipe’s which people would not normally associate with them.  For example, some chili recipes include ground peanuts to make the sauce thicker than others.

In extreme cases, an allergy to nuts and peanuts can result into anaphylaxis.  This is the most serious result that can come from nut allergy because it can potentially cause the person to die.  This condition can cause the affected person’s air tunnels to swell and close.  It can also cause the person’s blood pressure to drop.  These two symptoms force the person to lose consciousness and have a hard time breathing which could lead severe complications.  This could happen even if the exposure of the person to nuts or peanuts is not that much.  This is often attributed to a theory that the body cannot recognize nut proteins much easier than it can recognize other types of proteins.

Unfortunately, there is no actual treatment for nut allergy.  The best way to treat it is to avoid and stay away from nuts and peanuts.  As mentioned earlier, this is a lot easier said than done.  Peanuts or nuts could be found in many different items such as pet food (especially dog food, bird food, and hamster food), some cosmetic products, previously owned or second hand items such as toys and furniture, and pet beddings.  It is recommended then that people with nut allergy stay away from these kinds of items.

Food is also a big risk for persons with nut or peanut allergy.  It is best to read the label on foods before consuming them to make sure that they do not have any peanut content.  But aside from the actual ingredient list, also look for phrases such as “may contain nuts and peanuts”, “produced with equipment also used to process nuts and peanuts”, or “made in facilities that make peanut related products”.

Precautions for nut and peanut allergy:

1. Avoid all foods that do not come with a specific list of ingredients.  These include foods that are “home cooked” by people who do not know about your nut allergy.
2. Inform everyone you know about your nut allergy, especially those that handle your food, such as restaurant staff.  If you are in a restaurant that is not sure about how to handle your situation, it is best to find one that does.
3. Keep your “rescue” medications easily accessible at all times.  This means that it should be in your pocket or your bag or your purse not in your car or your office drawer.  It is very important that you or anybody else who is trying to help you is able to access your medication if you get an attack of anaphylaxis.  A few seconds may mean the difference between getting saved and succumbing to the attack.