Chest congestion is caused by inflammation in the airways and can be triggered by a food allergy. Food allergies cause various symptoms to develop within the body, including chest congestion, tightness and pain. Chest congestion may be a sign of another medical condition that needs to be evaluated by your doctor. If you have been diagnosed with a food allergy, avoiding that food is the most effective preventive method to treat the condition.
Food Allergy Information
Food allergies are not as common as people think. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that although many people believe they're allergic to a food, only 2 percent of the population is diagnosed with a food allergy. The most common foods that cause an allergic reaction include wheat, fish, peanuts, soy, eggs, tree nuts and dairy. Food allergies are commonly related to anaphylaxis shock, a severe allergic condition that causes your body to enter a state of shock, which could lead to death.
Chest Congestion Cause
The cause of the chest congestion from a food allergy is caused by increased levels of histamine in the lungs. When histamine is produced in the lungs, the soft tissue swells and become inflamed, restricting the airways. After you eat a food that you're allergic to, your immune system reacts to the proteins in that food as if they were harmful. The body reacts by creating IgE, or immunoglobulin E, antibodies that defends it, according to Medline Plus. The presence of IgE antibodies causes mast cells in the lungs to produce histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that helps protect it from infection but can cause inflammation.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms associated with chest congestion include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, wheezing and coughing. You will develop symptoms in other parts of your body from a food allergy. This includes the sinuses, the skin and the digestive system, according to MayoClinic.com. Common symptoms related to a food allergy, aside form chest congestion, include nasal congestion, runny nose, eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin inflammation, eczema, rashes, hives, abdominal pain, cramping and tingling in the mouth.
Warning
Chest congestion is a sign of anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock symptoms come on quickly after ingesting a food you're allergic to. If you are unable to breathe along with dizziness, lightheadedness, hives, a drop in blood pressure, an increased heart rate and swelling in the face, call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
