Food Allergy Awareness Month

May is Food Allergy Action Month, it's appropriate to learn how to recognize and manage food allergies, which are the keys to preventing serious health consequences.

What is Food Allergies? Food allergies affect millions of Americans and their families. They occur when the body's immune system reacts to certain proteins in food. These reactions range from relatively mild — hives and lip swelling for example — to severe, such as anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening respiratory problem.

Major Allergens: Milk, Peanuts, Eggs, Wheat, Fish, Soybeans, Shell Fish, Sesame, and Tree Nuts

While most symptoms from food allergies are mild and limited to skin or digestive discomfort, some may progress to a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can lead to: Constricted airways in the lungs Severe lowering of blood pressure and shock (anaphylactic shock) Suffocation by swelling of the throat and larynx