Heart palpitations caused by eating are likely the result of a severe food allergy. If you have not been diagnosed with a specific food allergy, you need to make an appointment with an allergist. An allergist is the most qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat your condition. Heart palpitations are a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe whole-body allergic reaction that could lead to life-threatening symptoms. If certain foods cause you to develop adverse reactions, stop eating that particular food until you can be seen by your doctor.
Food Allergy
Food allergies are most common among children under the age of 5 years. They typically subside before adulthood. Foods that are the most common to trigger an allergic reaction include fish, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, eggs and wheat. An allergic reaction to a food is a reaction of the immune system, in which the immune system mistakes the proteins in the food as a threat to the body. The immune system fights back by creating immunoglobulin E antibodies that trigger other chemicals and cause inflammation in the body.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are not a common food allergy symptom. This symptom only occurs when your body is experiencing an extreme reaction. During anaphylaxis excessive amounts of chemicals are created, such as IgE antibodies and histamine that cause the body to enter a state of shock. Anaphylaxis will affect almost every system in your body, such as your digestive system, respiratory system, your skin and your cardiovascular system. Heart palpitations from a food allergy will cause your heart to race and cause a faint pulse.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms associated with anaphylaxis, along with heart palpitations, include facial, lip or tongue swelling, hives, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, light-headedness, dizziness, mental confusion and stomach pain. If you develop heat palpitations along with any of these other symptoms, you need to call 911 immediately. Without immediate treatment, this condition can cause death.
Treatment
A diagnosis of which foods you're allergic to is needed to effectively treat your food allergy. Remove all foods that contain the allergen from your diet to prevent anaphylactic shock. If you accidentally ingest a food that triggers an allergic reaction, an infection of epinephrine is needed to restore your body. Epinephrine is a prescription medication that will temporarily alleviate your symptoms.
