Food allergies

If you are planning on serving your employees a nice lobster dinner, you may want to pick a new restaurant or a new food. Several people are actually allergic to lobster. Food allergies affect about 12 million Americans. People experience food allergies because their body is reacting to a food that it thinks is harmful. The body will develop antibodies to this food and it will release chemicals the next time you eat this food. This can cause you to have a whirlwind of allergic reactions from swelling to breathing problems.

Employers often have a hard time with food allergies because so many people are allergic to different things. Some employees may be allergic to chicken, others are allergic to peanuts, and others may be allergic to hot dogs. With so many food allergens, how can an employer find the right food to serve for lunch and dinner events?

There are several companies that cook for people with food allergies. Before you order meals, try to find out what food allergens your employees have. Let the company know what they are and they will take care of everything else for you.

During staff meetings, avoid bringing a big box of peanuts and bring in some fresh fruits and vegetables. Most people are not allergic to all types of fruits and vegetables and they can pick over the ones that they know they have allergic reactions to like cantaloupe or watermelon.

Many people develop food allergy symptoms within minutes to an hour after eating the food. Almost immediately they will have difficulty breathing and swallowing. Some other immediate symptoms you may see include itching of the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Other people can experience hives or eczema from the food allergens as they enter the blood stream. Many people develop asthma as a result of food allergies. Most people also experience lightheadedness, weakness, and anaphylaxis (a sudden drop in blood pressure). Those who experience anaphylaxis need immediate medical attention as this can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Some people require immediate medical treatment for their food allergies. Peanuts are a common food allergen to many people and even the slightest exposure to a peanut can cause the person to go into anaphylactic shock. Most people require medication for peanut allergies, or need to carry a shot with them at all times in case of emergency.

Of course the best way to prevent your employees from having food allergy problems is to avoid the particular food altogether. If you have a small staff, it is easy to tell people not to bring peanuts to the office or not to bring chicken to the pot-luck. What about the larger offices that have a staff over 100 people? Since mangers cannot stay on top of every health condition for their employees, you need to fend for yourself. If you know a company staff meeting is coming up, let your manger know you are allergic to certain foods and ask them if they can order more vegetables or fruits for you to snack on.

Patients who have severe food allergies must be prepared with an anaphylactic shot. Once the shot has been administered, the person must seek immediate medical attention.

There are other medications available for those with symptoms of food allergies. Antihistamines are used to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms, hives, sneezing, or a runny nose. Patients who have asthma typically have a bronchodilator. A bronchodilator is inhaled through the mouth and administers medicine immediately to the patient. The bronchodilator increases the airflow to a patient whose food allergies restrict their breathing abilities. No medication is currently available for preventing an allergic reaction before eating the food.