Wheat Can Induce Allergies Too

Wheat is a common substance found in most staple foods. Bread, cereals, crackers and bread crumbs are common foods that contain wheat that are harmless to most people. But if you are suffering from wheat allergy, eating everyday food such as the ones mentioned could bring complications.

Wheat allergy starts when the immune system mistakenly identifies proteins present in wheat as harmful to the body. The four wheat proteins that can cause allergies are globulin, gluten, gliadin, and albumin. When these four proteins come in contact with the bloodstream, the immune system releases IgE or immunoglobulin E antibodies, which in turn signals the release of histamine and other chemicals.

The common symptoms that a person suffering from wheat allergy can experience are swelling and itching of the mouth or throat, hives, nasal congestion, airway inflammation, and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Like most cases of allergies, the symptoms of wheat allergy could be experienced in as short as minutes after the exposure to the allergen or as long as hours after.

Skin tests and blood tests are usually recommended by physicians to help diagnose if one is suffering from wheat allergy. With skin tests, the skin is pricked and then exposed to small quantities of wheat protein. If the test spot on the skin develops a hive, then the person is most likely allergic to wheat. In blood tests, on the other hand, the amount of IgE antibodies present in the bloodstream is measured to determine if someone is allergic to wheat proteins.

Medications could be given to help allergic people be relieved of allergy symptoms. These medications, however, does not prevent allergic reactions from occurring. The best way to prevent allergic reactions from breaking out is to avoid the allergen that causes it. That means wheat allergic people must stay away from eating food with wheat content, even in small quantities.

This could be a real problem when eating out. Because wheat is a common ingredient, finding a food that doesn’t contain it could be really hard. Aside from bread, pasta and pastry, wheat could be also found in sauces and certain drinks like beer. To suppress allergic symptoms, allergic people usually carry a syringe of epinephrine with them and administer it themselves whenever they have accidentally taken in wheat containing food. Epinephrine is administered to counter act anaphylactic reactions, a severe case of allergic reaction that could be fatal. If you are allergic and susceptible to anaphylactic reactions, you should consult with a physician right away regarding the use of epinephrine.