Although it is a popular belief that diary can cause nasal congestion, lung congestion and asthma, research has found that dairy does not congest the lungs, according to AndorraPediatrics.com. A common symptom of a dairy allergy is asthma-like symptoms that can cause congestion in the lungs. A milk allergy can lead to severe symptoms that could cause anaphylaxis, a rare but life-threatening condition. During an allergic reaction, your lungs can become swollen, restricting your ability to breathe normally. Call your doctor if you develop severe chest congestion after drinking milk.
Dairy Allergy
A dairy allergy is considered one of the most common food allergies by Kids Health. The proteins, casein and whey in cow's milk can cause your immune system to overreact, causing an allergic reaction. If you body mistakes the proteins as harmful, it will produce immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies that can cause mast cells to produce histamine, the primary chemical released during an allergic reaction. Histamine causes inflammation in soft tissue, and increased levels of histamine in the lungs will cause congestion and other asthma symptoms.
Lung Congestion Symptoms
Lung congestion can result in excess mucus but it is not commonly caused by it. The main cause of lung congestion is swollen airways. As histamine increases, the soft tissue that your lungs are made of becomes inflamed, leading to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, the feeling of a lump in your throat, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, chest tightness and coughing, according to MayoClinic.com. If you lungs are affected by a milk allergy, you most likely will develop sinus congestion as well.
Avoidance
If diagnosed with a milk allergy, avoid all products that contain diary to prevent lung congestion. Milk is difficult to avoid because it is used in common products such as milk, ice cream, cheeses and yogurt. But other products that might contain milk include processed meats, chocolate and non-dairy creamers. Any product that contains milk is required by law to disclose the use of the ingredient on the label.
Treatment
If you have a milk allergy and accidentally ingest dairy products, call your doctor right away. Moderate symptoms might respond to taking an antihistamine, but more severe reactions can require an injection of epinephrine. This drug mimics adrenalin and will alleviate severe chest pain, the inability to breath and other symptom associated with anaphylactic shock. Call 911 if you suspect a severe allergic reaction to dairy.
