Food allergies are abnormal immune system reactions triggered by certain foods or substances in food. These allergies differ from conditions called food intolerances, which don’t involve immune system responses. In some cases, people with food allergies develop anaphylaxis, a life-threatening symptom that can trigger a condition called pulmonary edema. However, they do not develop another condition called pulmonary hypertension. Consult your doctor for more information about treating a food allergy.
The Basics
Food allergies most typically appear in infants and children, but also affect as much as 4 percent of the adult U.S. population, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The reactions associated with an allergy appear when the immune system identifies a food, or an ingredient in a food, as a foreign invader and takes steps to attack it and reject its presence. The foods that trigger most of these reactions are soy and soy products, cow’s milk, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and eggs. In addition to anaphylaxis, potential symptoms of a food allergy include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, sneezing, teary eyes, nasal itchiness or congestion, hives, skin itchiness or redness and a form of tissue swelling called edema.
Anaphylaxis and Pulmonary Edema
Anaphylaxis is whole-body response that can develop rapidly when food or any other substance triggers an allergic reaction. If you have an anaphylactic response, pulmonary edema — or lung congestion — can lead to a buildup of fluid in your lungs and trigger symptoms that include shortness of breath that leaves you unable to finish your sentences; coughing that produces blood or a bloody froth; breathing difficulties that occur when you lie down; a feeling similar to drowning; and production of wheezing, gurgling or grunting sounds when you breathe.
Pulmonary Hypertension Causes
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when you develop abnormally high blood pressure that is limited to the arteries in the right side of your heart and the arteries in your lungs. It is a progressive illness that grows worse over time and can eventually kill you. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute lists potential causes of pulmonary hypertension that include genetic predisposition; use of certain diet medications and illegal drugs; blood clots in your lungs; heart disease; lung disease; and the presence of other conditions such as sickle cell anemia, connective tissue disorders, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, lung tumors, thyroid gland disease and a blood disorder called polycythemia vera.
Additional Considerations
Additional potential symptoms of anaphylaxis include slurred speech, swallowing difficulties, anxiety, confusion, hives, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or cramping, diarrhea, fainting and blue or pale skin. In some cases, anaphylaxis also triggers throat edema that is extreme enough to block normal breathing. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can kill you. In addition to anaphylaxis, potential causes of pulmonary edema include kidney failure, certain forms of lung damage, heart attack, narrowing or leaking of the heart valves, high-altitude exercise, physical trauma, stiffening or weakening of heart muscle tissue and use of certain medications. Consult your doctor for more information on the potential effects of a food allergy and the causes of pulmonary hypertension.
References
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: Food Allergy
- American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Food Allergies
- MedlinePlus: Anaphylaxis
- MayoClinic.com; Pulmonary Hypertension (Pages 1 and 3); February 9, 2010
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Types of Pulmonary Hypertension
- PubMed Health: Pulmonary Edema
