Just because you feel sick when you eat a certain food doesn’t necessarily mean you’re allergic to it. While your symptoms may be more or less the same either way, differing perhaps only by degree, an intolerance and an allergy are two totally different things. While an intolerance may put your body in discomfort, an allergy will mobilize your entire immune system. If you’re planning to visit the allergy doctor in Buffalo, NY, you’ll want to keep this difference in mind.
What Does a Food Intolerance Look Like?
Whether your body simply lacks the enzymes to digest the food or certain foods happen to give you heartburn, intolerance to a food will make you feel uncomfortable. If you are sensitive to a certain food, the effects will come on gradually and may only happen if you either eat large quantities of the food or if you eat the food frequently.
The most common intolerance is lactose intolerance. Babies were meant to drink their mother’s milk as infants, but many of us become intolerant to lactose at least to a certain extent as we get older. Many people are also sensitive to sulfites and other food additives or to gluten if they suffer from celiac disease.
Some common symptoms include:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Cramps
- Irritability
What Does a Food Allergy Look Like?
An allergy is your body’s response to what it deems as foreign. While peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and eggs are completely normal foods, for some reason or other, your body doesn’t recognize what we refer to as the allergen. During an allergic response, the body mobilizes the entire immune system in an attempt to destroy the allergen. Allergies typically affect multiple organs and can prove extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Attacks come on very suddenly every time the food is eaten. If you suspect you may have a food allergy, it’s essential that you see the allergy doctor in Buffalo, NY to be tested.
Some common symptoms include:
- Itchy Skin
- Hives
- Rash
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of Breath
- Trouble Swallowing
- Drop in Blood Pressure
Can the Allergy Doctor in Buffalo, NY Help Me With a Food Intolerance?
Yes, there are ways the allergy doctor in Buffalo, NY can help you with a food intolerance. Just because you have an intolerance to lactose, for instance, does not mean that you have to avoid milk products altogether. You can either drink milk without lactose or take lactase pills when you choose to indulge in pizza or ice cream. Make sure to speak to your allergy doctor in Buffalo, NY about possible solutions and lifestyle changes that will help you cope with your food sensitivities.