Wheat Allergies | A Common Food Allergy

Wheat allergies are another form of food allergy that affect millions of people in the United States alone. Like other allergic reactions, a wheat allergy reaction can range from somewhat mild to very severe. Further complicating the situation is that it's sometimes difficult to avoid wheat as it is an ingredient in so many foods including pasta, bread, some types of hot dogs, and even ice cream. When you are allergic to this grain you need to pay careful attention to the information on the food packaging to make sure you are not unknowingly ingesting it.

Some of the common symptoms of a wheat allergy are similar to other types of food allergies. They include a skin rash, digestive conditions like flatulence or bloating, stomach pain, swelling of your lips and tongue, or even worse like anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a life threatening, severe allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention and probable treatment with Epinephrine. Symptoms of this can include restricting of the airways, difficulty breathing, severe drop in your blood pressure, racing pulse, dizziness, or loss of consciousness. A quick medical response is essential in bringing the symptoms back under control.

Facts Regarding Wheat Allergies

  • Wheat allergies are more common in children, but they also occur in adults as well. A lot of children do outgrow this allergy but some don't. These people will have problems well into adulthood, and likely for their entire lives. For them, watching what food they eat by preparing special recipes is the key to staying healthy.
  • Not all reactions are caused by a wheat allergy, but may be a reaction to the protein gluten that is found in wheat. In today's times, food manufacturers develop their wheat to contain even higher levels of gluten than naturally occur. Our digestive tract was not designed to handle this much gluten, causing an allergic reaction in some people.
  • Celiac disease is not the same thing as a food allergy, but rather it is an autoimmune disease that has similar symptoms. One big difference is that you cannot grow out of Celiac like you can with a wheat allergy.

How Do I Know If I Have An Allergy To Wheat?

If you suspect that you or your child has wheat allergies you should immediately speak with your doctor. You will then have a test performed, typically either a skin or blood test. With a skin test you would have your skin pricked, then exposed to a very small amount of the allergy causing components. If you are allergic you will develop a small bump. With a blood test, your blood will be drawn and sent to a laboratory to measure the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies as a measure of your body's sensitivity to wheat.

As with any food allergy, wheat allergies must be taken serious even if the symptoms appear to be mild. If you have been tested and determined to have this condition, strictly avoiding any food that contains wheat is the only way to safely avoid an allergic reaction. This is sometimes easier said than done, but there are special recipes that can keep you wheat and gluten free. Information is one of the keys to living a long and healthy life.