Asthma attacks can occur as a result of stress, exercise, infection, allergies and sometimes food. The International Food Information Council estimates that 6 to 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults experience food-related asthma attacks in the United States each year. While food-related asthma attacks are rare, it is possible for people who are hypersensitive to certain foods to experience an asthma attack. Knowing what foods trigger asthma may help to reduce the severity and frequency of the attacks. It is always important to contact a physician during an asthma attack.
Nuts
A common food trigger that can cause an asthma attack is nuts. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that three million people in the United States are allergic to tree nuts or peanuts. People who are hypersensitive to nuts may have an asthma attack when nut residue and oils inflame the airways. Symptoms of an asthmatic reaction to a nut allergy may include wheezing, shortness of breath and/or chest tightening. In severe cases, asthmatic people who are highly sensitive to nuts may experience anaphylaxis. According to the MayoClinic.com, anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause constriction of the airways, swelling in the throat, dizziness, loss of consciousness, a sudden drop in blood pressure and possibly death. Exposure to nuts may come from direct contact, cross contamination during production, undeclared nut ingredients in foods and beverages or inhaling peanut oil spray.
Milk and Dairy
Milk and dairy products are common causes of upper-respiratory allergies and asthma attacks, according to the website Natural News. Milk protein is probably the most common trigger of allergy-related asthma. Milk and dairy products can stimulate mucus production in the lungs worsening asthma or provoking an asthma attack. People with asthma may experience an asthma attack after consuming milk or dairy products due to excess mucus accumulation in the lungs. In addition, some people may experience an asthma attack in response to the rather small amount of antibiotics passed from dairy cows into milk. Antibiotics, most commonly penicillin, are given to cows to treat inflamed udders. Cows are not supposed to be milked for 48 hours after receiving penicillin, but small quantities of penicillin are often transferred into the milk.
Wheat
A wheat allergy can trigger an asthma attack in some people. Wheat contains a variety of proteins such as albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten. An allergy to one or more of these wheat proteins can trigger an asthma attack. People who are hypersensitive to wheat may experience an asthma attack after consuming foods with wheat or inhaling wheat flour, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergic reactions to wheat usually begin a few minutes to a couple of hours after eating or inhaling wheat. Wheat allergies are most common in young children, but they can persist into adulthood. In addition, inhaling wheat flour proteins can cause baker's asthma. According to Occupational and Environmental Medicine, baker's asthma is one of the first forms of occupational asthma, which occurred during the 1700s when bakers reported respiratory problems after inhaling flour particles. Baker's asthma generally involves wheezing, chest tightness, chest whistling and breathing difficulties.
References
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology: Allergy Statistics
- MayoClinic.com: Peanut Allergy
- Natural News: Asthma Explained By Common Allergy to Milk and Dairy Products
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Wheat Allergy
- Science in Africa: Adverse Reactions to Wheat and Gluten
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine: Baker's Asthma
