A wheat allergy causes health effects when those with immune system disorders consume foods that contain wheat flour or other wheat products. While allergy symptoms can include a pulsing stomach and other digestive problems, a much more severe allergic reaction threatens those with food allergies. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), once sensitized to wheat, individuals can experience life-threatening anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction affecting the entire body) from eating foods that contain wheat anytime thereafter.
Function
Allergic reactions to wheat create stomach upset and other symptoms when an immune system abnormality triggers the body's inflammatory response. According to the Cleveland Clinic, inflammation contributes to the many effects of food allergies, including symptoms of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, asthma and abdominal pain.
Features
The various inflammatory conditions will arise as the allergenic wheat proteins disperse through the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body, according to the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases. Allergic reactions may take several minutes or an hour to produce symptoms. Early signs might be itching and swelling in the eyes, mouth and throat. Inflammation may spread to the nasal passages and skin causing the same effects there. As the digestive tract becomes involved, the pulsing of stomach cramps may precede vomiting, intestinal pain and diarrhea.
Effects
The immediate effects of wheat allergy symptoms generally subside as the allergens pass out of the body. Food allergies can also cause asthma attacks in patients with asthma. These bouts of coughing and wheezing can create severe breathing trouble, sometimes requiring emergency treatment. While the majority of allergic reactions to wheat result in only mild digestive illness, rare events include anaphylaxis. The National Institute of Health warns that this set of symptoms alters pulse, blood pressure and breathing, potentially ending in cardiac and respiratory failure.
Identification
Because the effects can be so dire, individuals who link their stomach and other symptoms to a wheat allergy should consult an allergist for a positive identification. According to the Mayo Clinic, testing may include skin and blood tests or an elimination diet to pinpoint the source of food allergies.
Prevention
While children may lose their sensitivities, a wheat allergy in adults can't be cured, so foods that include wheat protein must be avoided, according to the NIH. Preventing symptoms in this manner is the only way to safely avoid allergy-induced asthma attacks or anaphylactic shock. In addition to eliminating wheat products such as some breads, cereals, pasta, cakes and crackers from their diets, patients must identify wheat ingredients in foods. The Mayo Clinic places items with modified food starch and hydrolized vegetable protein on the avoidance list for patients with wheat allergies.
