It has been estimated that up to 1 percent of the population of the United States or as many as 3 million people suffer from peanut allergies. More people in America suffer from peanut allergy than any other food allergy and for some of them exposure to even a very small amount could be fatal. Peanut allergies result in 80 of those afflicted grow out of it, for the rest of them it's a very serious problem. Even the tiniest contact with a peanut or peanut product could cause major problems for many sufferers.
A strange thing about peanut allergies is that the first time someone is exposed to a peanut they don't have a problem, but the second time they could have a reaction. The reason is the first time the immune system develops antibodies to fight the proteins in peanut products and the next time the body recognizes these proteins they are attacked by the antibodies which produces a allergic reaction, according to an article in Peanut Allergy.
The American Peanut Council states there isn't a cure for peanut allergy and no treatments to eliminate or reduce peanut allergy attacks. You can only treat the symptoms of a reaction once it happens. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and The American Peanut Council agree the only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to strictly avoid any peanuts or peanut products.
According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology allergy reactions start and proceed quickly even though fatalities are rare. They say that in severe cases epinephrine (such as adrenaline) must be used to keep sufferers from going into anaphylactic shock. When given in time it could reverse the condition by increasing heart rate, squeezing the blood vessels, relaxing lung muscles and halting swelling in the throat and face. Once the drug is given the patient must immediately follow-up at a hospital.
Tips to help you and your loved ones avoid peanut allergy problems:
1. Read all the labels on the foods you buy especially ones that are a combination of ingredients. If you have any doubts don't use it. You can also take down the manufacturer's information and contact them. Check with the Peanut Allergy Website or someplace similar to see if they have additional information.
2. Learn all the different names for peanuts and peanut products, as these vary throughout the world. It probably a good idea to avoid foreign packed foods as they don't always label all ingredients, especially if it's a small amount.
3. Contact the person in charge of meals at your child's school and ask them to not serve any food with a peanut product in it. You may be able to get a list of what they buy and check it yourself.
4. Make sure the restaurants you frequent have a peanut product notification policy. It will likely take some work to find restaurants you feel safe in going to. Talk to managers and chefs to see if they will cooperate with you.
5. You may want to avoid all nuts, as many times peanuts are sold as another type of nut or mixed in with them.
6. If there is peanut butter in your house or where you visit, be very careful about sharing food or utensils where there could be cross contamination.
7. Be care in kissing someone who may have been eating a peanut product. Be especially watchful about children. Try to make everyone aware of your problem so they don't feel slighted if you don't kiss them.
8. You need to keep in mind that even a very small amount of peanut product could potential kill you or someone you love.
9. If you suspect that you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, don't deny the symptoms, have a check up.
10. Wearing a peanut allergy identification medical bracelet might save your life.
Here's some good news for peanut allergy sufferers. On July 25, 2007, Medical News Today reported that the North
Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University announced that a scientist there, Dr. Mohamed Ahmedna, had invented and developed a way to make peanuts completely allergen free. A 100% lack of allergens in whole roasted peanuts was proven in initial testing and severely allergic human serums showed no reaction upon exposure to processed peanuts. The process purportedly doesn't affect the taste or quality of the peanuts so a number of food companies have shown interest in licensing the method. It was also reported the process for using peanuts as an ingredient in food product is made simpler.
While the news about a safe peanut is great, it's likely to be available sometime in the future, so in the meantime be very diligent in all matters that relate to peanuts or peanut products.
Find out how you can have an Allergy Free Child Visit the Natural Cures blog to get more information on allergies plus information on many other ailments
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