Food Allergies
Millions of people suffer from food allergies without ever realizing it. In some cases, the allergies are genetically inherited, so entire families may
be allergic to a food and not know it. Symptoms that you may have previously passed off as normal may result in an allergy to certain foods.
Environmental Allergies
An environmental allergy is a hypersensitivity to normally harmless substances in the environment. An allergic reaction is typically characterized by an intense inflammatory reaction that comes on quickly. Symptoms of an allergy can include sneezing, coughing, wheezing, nasal
swelling, itchy/red eyes, ear pain, skin rashes or hives, and when affecting the gastrointestinal system bloating, diarrhea and vomiting. Environmental
allergic reactions include reactions to mold, insect stings, eczema, asthma attacks and the extremely common allergic rhinitis or hay fever, which
causes a mild reaction of sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose. An extreme allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, may result in swelling of
the throat and nasal passage causing breathing difficulties, shock, rapid irregular pulse and loss of consciousness. In an anaphylaxis reaction the
symptoms intensify swiftly. A severe allergic reaction to food is often treated with epinephrine or adrenaline. A physician may prescribe a self-
injected device with a pre-measured dose of medicine for patients with known severe food allergies, which should be carried at all times.
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Allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) is the most common form of allergy to the
environment. Allergy symptoms often vary with the seasons.
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Signs and Symptoms of Environmental Allergies
 Stuffy, runny nose
 Sneezing
 Itchy nose, eyes, and throat
 “Sinus” symptoms-headache, feeling of pressure behind the eye, pain above the
cheek bones and on the lower forehead, aching teeth.
 Skin rashes or hives
 Diarrhea or frequent urination
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Culprits of Environmental Allergies
 Pollens, grasses or ragweed (in certain seasons and areas)
 Dust and household mites
 Changes in temperature or humidity
 Spicy foods
 Smoking or prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke
 Pollution
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Food and environmental allergies are known to cause the following illnesses:
ADD/ADHD Arthritis, Asthma, Autism Symptoms, Candidacies, Migraines, Skin Rashes, Celiac Disease
Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Diabetes, Ear Infections, Sinusitis, Weight Changes, Eczema, Fatigue
Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Hyperactivity, Stress/Tension, Hypoglycemia, Hypertension, Irritability
Irritable Bowel, Syndrome, Leaky Gut, Premenstrual Syndrome
Impact of Food Allergies: Hospitalization
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How many people in the U.S. are allergic—to ragweed pollen, cat dander or
food? What sort of impact do allergies have on society?
Here’s a rundown of some of the most important allergy statistics—based on the best available data.
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Number of people in the U.S. who have either allergy or asthma symptoms: one in five.
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Percentage of the U.S. population that tests positive to one or more allergies: 55%.
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Rank of allergies among other leading chronic diseases in the U.S.: 5th .
One estimate of the annual cost of allergies to the health care system and businesses in the U.S.: $7.9 billion.
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Number of workdays lost each year is a result of hay fever: 4 million.
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Number of weeks by which the ragweed pollen season has increased in the last
10 to 15 years, likely as a result of global warming: four.
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Odds that a child with one allergic parent will develop allergies: 33%.
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Odds that a child with two allergic parents will develop allergies: 70%.
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Number of ER visits in the U.S. caused by food allergies each year: 30,000.
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Percentage of the people in the U.S. who believe they have a food allergy: up to 15%.
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Percentage of the people in the U.S. who actually have a food allergy: 3% to 4%.
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Percentage of the U.S. households with one or more dogs (2012): 36.5%.
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Percentage of the U.S. households with one or more cats: (2012) 30.4%.
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Percentage of all U.S. households with detectable levels of dog and cat dander: 100%
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Percentage of people in the U.S. that have asthma: 8%.
