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Millions of Americans Are Wrong About Having a Food Allergy, Study Suggests
gizmodo ^ | 01/07/2018 | Ed Cara

Posted on 01/07/2019 7:53:34 PM PST by BenLurkin

19 percent of the nationally representative group reported having a food allergy. But only 10.8 percent said they had symptoms consistent with an allergic reaction to food, such as hives, swelling of the lips or throat, and chest pain. The main culprits behind these allergies were shellfish, milk, and tree nuts. Those who didn’t have a convincing food allergy instead reported symptoms like stomach cramps, a stuffy nose, or nausea.

The findings, published Friday in JAMA Network Open, roughly match up to estimates from other studies, including those that confirmed a person’s food allergy with testing or medical records. In terms of the U.S. population, the study estimates, there are about 26 million adult Americans with a food allergy—and there are likely nearly as many Americans who wrongly say they have one. But that doesn’t mean huge swaths of people are pretending to have food allergies; it’s just that we could be a little confused about the terminology.

It’s likely then, the researchers say, that people might be mixing up a food intolerance or sensitivity with a food allergy.

Only half of the group said they had an official diagnosis from a physician. And while many of us develop food allergies early on in childhood, just about half reported finding out about their allergy as adults.

This lack of diagnosis is concerning, because food allergies aren’t something you want to be in the dark about. ...In the study sample, 38 percent of people with food allergies said they had to visit the emergency room at least once in their lives as a result, while around a quarter had a current prescription of epinephrine, which can prevent anaphylaxis.

(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: allergy; food; foodallergies; foodallergy; gluten; hypochondria; lactose; milk; neuroses; shellfish; soysucks; treenuts
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1 posted on 01/07/2019 7:53:34 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

It’s likely then, the researchers say, that people might be mixing up a food intolerance or sensitivity with a food allergy

————————————

Bingo.


2 posted on 01/07/2019 7:55:55 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
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To: BenLurkin

I thought I had a food allergy, but it turned out to be an allergy to toothpaste! (Crest)


3 posted on 01/07/2019 7:58:16 PM PST by Cowboy Bob ("Other People's Money" = The life blood of Liberalism)
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To: BenLurkin
Yeah, I am intolerant of liver, tongue, and lima beans.

Did not stop the stepmonster from feeding the crap to me though. Thank God for a small dog that loved the stuff I sneaked off the plate and under the table to her.

4 posted on 01/07/2019 7:59:34 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: BenLurkin

Ah, no mention of peanuts.

How could the allergy that is all the rage escape being the biggest offender?


5 posted on 01/07/2019 7:59:42 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: BenLurkin
I have a aversion to Asian food.

Does that count?

Don't like having dink sh**.

6 posted on 01/07/2019 8:00:27 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: BenLurkin

My allergies:

Eggplant

Peas mixed in my food. Not mixed ...fine


7 posted on 01/07/2019 8:02:13 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me htt7ps://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZGw2M)
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To: BenLurkin

Most people also don’t know the difference between a medication allergy and an adverse reaction, either.


8 posted on 01/07/2019 8:02:34 PM PST by susannah59
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To: the OlLine Rebel

I still cannot figure out how peanuts are so deadly and dangerous. It seems millions of Americans have a peanut allergy. However, 40 years ago no one was allergic to peanuts.

Go figure.


9 posted on 01/07/2019 8:03:53 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
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To: Responsibility2nd
Or, the researchers in question are buffoons. And the purpose of these buffoons is to produce the results and promote whatever they are hired to promote.

In this case, the position is that the term allergies is to now have a more narrow definition, supplemented by different terminology to describe other parts of what the term has meant for generations. Those who accept the new terminology quickly are all the smart people...the good people . Those who use definition that has been in place since the late nineteenth century are clearly fools and bad people.

We see this same strategy in the ever rotating terms for blacks, and in the concept that there are fifty-something sexes and some men have vaginas.

Basically this piece from conception to end is drivel.

10 posted on 01/07/2019 8:06:55 PM PST by MrEdd (Caveat Emptor)
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To: doorgunner69
Yeah, I am intolerant of liver, tongue, and lima beans.

Tongue and lima beans can both be quite delicious if prepared properly.

Can't say the same about liver.

11 posted on 01/07/2019 8:07:48 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Every time a lefty cries "racism", a Trump voter gets his wings.)
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To: BenLurkin

Or, more likely, the testing methods are flawed.


12 posted on 01/07/2019 8:09:36 PM PST by aimhigh (1 John 3:23 "And THIS is His commandment . . . ")
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To: BenLurkin

The author sounds kind of nitpicky to me.

If someone has adverse reactions to eating food, even if the symptoms don’t technically qualify as an allergy, so what if they call it an allergy? I won’t get any more excited about that than I get when someone calls condensed water vapor steam.


13 posted on 01/07/2019 8:09:47 PM PST by be-baw (still seeking...)
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To: Responsibility2nd

I believe the hysteria over peanut allergies is MOSTLY B.S. promoted by neurotic mothers.


14 posted on 01/07/2019 8:10:13 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Every time a lefty cries "racism", a Trump voter gets his wings.)
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To: BenLurkin

all I know is that about 7 years ago I started having excruciating itching on my legs when I went to bed.

I also started having incredible joint pain.

When I stopped eating wheat both went away 100%.

I knew it was an allergy of some sort because when I took Benedryl it relieved the itching and I could sleep.

And if I have any wheat, I can barely walk from the joint pain.


15 posted on 01/07/2019 8:12:50 PM PST by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
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To: doorgunner69

LIMA BEANS???!!! Slowly I turned.... I know what you mean. My late father insisted on us kids eating those God awful things. He would solemnly recount to us that “Lima beans kept me and my family alive during The Depression. Sometimes that’s all we had!’’. Jeez. If that’s all I had to eat I’d be depressed too.


16 posted on 01/07/2019 8:13:03 PM PST by jmacusa (Made it Ma, top of the world!'')
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To: Responsibility2nd

Yeah, right? I’m 62. Growing up I never heard of a ‘’food allergy’’. Now for crying out loud it’s all you hear.


17 posted on 01/07/2019 8:14:40 PM PST by jmacusa (Made it Ma, top of the world!'')
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To: Jeff Chandler

Since I have known a couple of people who died from them, I will have to see those people come back from the dead and tell me they were just kidding.

One of them was a truck driver who drove the church bus when I last lived in rural Oklahoma. Great guy.


18 posted on 01/07/2019 8:16:26 PM PST by MrEdd (Caveat Emptor)
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To: jmacusa

Papaya breaks me out. I get a bright red rash around myu mouth if I eat them. My hands itch if I don’t wear gloves while working with the plants.


19 posted on 01/07/2019 8:18:34 PM PST by Fai Mao (There is no rule of law in the US until The PIAPS is executed.)
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To: MrEdd

MOSTLY


20 posted on 01/07/2019 8:20:04 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Every time a lefty cries "racism", a Trump voter gets his wings.)
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