A fast heart rate and sinus pain after eating are sometimes signs of a serious allergic reaction that requires emergency medical care. An increased heart rate is a common symptom of anaphylactic shock, a rare but deadly reaction to certain foods. Sinus pain is the result of inflammation in the sinus cavities that can restrict your ability to breath through your nose and cause facial tenderness.
Food Allergy
Only about 4 percent of the adult population has a diagnosed food allergy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although uncommon, a food allergy is possible. A food allergy is caused by a malfunction of the immune system. Your immune system protects you from viral and bacterial infections by fighting them off by creating antibodies. If you're allergic to certain food, your immune system reacts as if it's under attack and releases specific antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE. The most common foods that cause an allergic reaction include: soy, fish, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, milk, eggs and tree nuts.
Fast Heart Rate
An increased heart rate after eating may be a sign of anaphylactic shock, according to MayoClinic.com. During anaphylaxis, your blood pressure drops and heart rate increases but becomes very faint. You may also feel lightheaded, dizzy and confused. This severe allergic reaction will affect your entire body, causing you to become short of breath, unable to breathe, develop facial swelling, wheezing, hives and nausea. This condition can cause death or other serious complications. Call for emergency medical help if you develop these symptoms.
Sinus Pain
Sinus pain can also be related to a food allergy. When you eat a food that you're allergic to, increased levels of histamine are produced in various parts of soft tissue in your body. Histamine is one of the primary chemicals in the body that causes inflammation, irritation and swelling, noted in most allergy symptoms. When your sinuses swell, they place pressure on the other parts of your face, such as in your eyes, cheeks, ears, upper-teeth and forehead, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sinus pain can make you feel fatigued, dizzy and cause your face to become sensitive to touch
Consideration
Because these symptoms are alarming, your doctor will want you to participate in allergy tests to diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Once diagnosed, you should eliminate a known allergen from your diet.
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