You may enjoy a glass of milk, but if you develop heart palpitations and headaches after consuming dairy products, you may need to eliminate dairy from you diet. Dairy allergies that cause heart palpitations and headaches may lead to death if not promptly treated. Milk is a common cause of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which causes the body to go into a state of shock. Call 911 immediately if you develop heart palpitations and a headache after consuming dairy.
Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction occurs in the body when your immune system mistakes a normally harmless substance as a threat to the body. If you're allergic to dairy, the immune system overreacts to the proteins found in milk -- casein and whey. During the reaction, the immune system releases immunoglobulin E antibodies, histamine and other chemicals that attempt to fight off the milk proteins, according the Nemours Foundation's Kids Health website. Theses chemicals cause inflammation and swelling throughout the body, leading to most food allergy symptoms.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are a severe sign of a dairy allergy. Heart palpitations may cause your heart to race, slow down and speed up again. The palpitations may also be accompanied with lightheadedness, dizziness and faint pulse. During anaphylaxis, extreme amounts of allergy-fighting chemicals enter the blood stream and can cause the body to enter a state of panic. You may also develop hives, shortness of breath, facial, lip or tongue swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and cramping in the abdomen, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Most symptoms of anaphylaxis begin within seconds of ingesting dairy and can develop in severity quickly.
Headache
Headaches from a diary allergy are most likely the result of a drop in blood pressure and swelling in the sinuses. Anaphylaxis causes your blood pressure to suddenly drop, resulting in mental confusion, dizziness and pain in your head. Inflammation in the sinuses also places excessive pressure on the head, which is commonly felt in the eyes, forehead, cheekbones, inner ear and upper teeth. A severe headache is a sign of anaphylaxis and needs to be reported to emergency medical personnel immediately.
Treatment
Do not attempt to self-treat your symptoms, unless your doctor has prescribed an epinephrine injector. Common oral antihistamines may become lodged in your throat, complicating your condition. An epinephrine injector is intended for use during anaphylaxis from a food allergy. The injected medication works quickly by restricting blood flow and relaxing your lungs. If you need to inject yourself with epinephrine, you still need to call 911 and head to the nearest emergency room because your symptoms may return.
