- News
- November 3, 2009
Peanut Allergy…The Shocking Facts
by BioVeda of Bethlehem
Peanut allergy is the most common cause of deaths from food allergy.
Allergy to peanuts affects 1.3% of the general population. Peanut allergy affects 7 percent of brothers and sisters of persons with the allergy. (British Medical Journal 1996;313:518-521.)
Facts About Peanut Allergy
Peanut Allergy Prevalence
Peanut and tree nut (pecans, walnuts, almonds, etc.) allergy can be a serious condition that affects approximately three million Americans, or 1.1 percent of the population.
Peanuts are the leading cause of severe food allergic reactions, followed by shellfish, fish, tree nuts and eggs. (Food Allergy Network)
Peanut Allergy Characteristics
Peanut allergy can be characterized by more severe symptoms, such as gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory symptoms, than other food allergies and by a high rate of symptoms on minimal contact. (“Clinical characteristics of peanut allergy,” Clin. Exp. Allergy, 1997; “An evaluation of the sensitivity of subjects with peanut allergy to very low doses of peanut protein,” J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 1997)
Severe sufferers also may experience potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock in response to ingestion of peanuts. Anaphylactic shock is an allergic reaction in which the release of histamine causes swelling, difficulty in breathing, heart failure, circulatory collapse, and sometimes death.
As many as one-third of peanut-sensitive patients have severe reactions, such as fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis. (“Anaphylactic deaths in asthmatic patients,” Allergy Proc., 1989)
Avoidance of peanuts is very difficult because peanuts are commonly used as an adulterant in the preparation of foods. (Allergic reaction to inadvertent peanut contact in a child,” Allergy Asthma Proc., 1997)
Peanut Allergy Therapies
Strict avoidance of peanut and peanut-ingredient is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, The American Peanut Council)
Reactions can begin and proceed rapidly, in extreme cases proving fatal within minutes. Severe sufferers must use epinephrine (i.e., adrenaline) to help prevent anaphylactic shock. If administered in time, an injection of epinephrine may reverse the anaphylactic condition by quickly constricting blood vessels, increasing the heart rate, stopping swelling around the face and throat, and relaxing muscles in the lungs. Once administered, immediate hospital follow-up is required. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology)
Flying With a Peanut Allergy
One of the most common staples of air travel is the little bag of peanuts. If you have a peanut allergy, this is a dangerous perk. Below is some great information and some helpful tips for travelers on how make it a positive situation.
Throughout the year, FAN receives many calls from members who are seeking guidance for requesting a peanut-free flight. Below is a set of suggested guidelines for peanut-allergic passengers flying on U.S. carriers. However, each person must create a plan based on his or her particular case.
As of August 2000, the only major U.S. airline that does not serve peanut snacks is United, but you should confirm this with them because airlines have been known to change their policy. This does not mean they are peanut-free, because they may have peanut ingredients in their meals or other passengers may carry peanuts on the plane with them. No airline can guarantee a peanut-free flight. However, some airlines are willing to serve non-peanut snacks upon request; others will make no accommodations
No matter which airline you choose, let them know up front that you are requesting they serve a non-peanut snack to everyone on your flight. If the reservation agent doesn’t seem to understand what you are requesting, ask to speak to a supervisor or special service coordinator (titles vary by airline).
Ask for a written confirmation of your request and the airline’s response. Some will provide it, others will not; but it may help if you have to reschedule your flights en route. At the very least, get the name and telephone number of the supervisor or special service coordinator in case you have a problem en route. Some will ask for documentation of food allergy from your physician at the last minute. This can usually be handled via fax. There are a number of important things to do before, during, and after your flight.
Before your trip, check with your allergist and discuss your travel plans in detail.
Discuss the travel-related risks in your case. Ask if you should carry extra epinephrine or other medications with you.
Carry enough peanut-free food with you to get to your destination. As an extra precaution, we recommend that food-allergic individuals avoid eating airline meals. This year has seen a higher than normal amount of flight delays and cancellations, so bring enough food for at least two extra meals en route.
Get to the airport early and re-confirm your peanut-free snack request at the gate and with the lead flight attendant when you get on the plane. Remember, you need their cooperation. Show them how they can help you and thank them when they do. If the gate agent tells you they have no record of the request, have them call the special service coordinator who helped with your reservation. It may help.
If you are traveling with a contact-sensitive child, after boarding wipe down the seats, arm rests, tray table, and window area with a handy-wipe or similar product. Also, inspect the floor and seat area and remove any peanut residue from previous flights.
If a reaction should occur, follow your physician’s treatment instructions and then notify the flight crew immediately. This will enable them to identify health professionals on the flight who can help treat the reaction, contact medical professionals on the ground, and/or allow the pilot to begin preparations to land the plane, if needed.
If a reaction should occur, we recommend reporting it in writing to the airline CEO, and the Federal Aviation Administration (http://www.faa.gov) with a copy to The Food Allergy Network.
Finally, remember that many peanut-allergic individuals have safely flown without incident. Your physician will help you assess the risks involved in your specific case. Take all reasonable precautions, and then relax and enjoy your trip.
There is a new treatment that is giving hope to thousands of people across the country with peanut allergies and other allergy related conditions. This treatment is called Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy or NSRT and it is administered by a device called The Bax 3000.
How it works?
When stress or pressure is applied to the nervous system through exposure to specific substances, the nervous system begins to fight or expel the substance from the body. This response is referred to as an Autonomic Nervous System Mediated Response which can be expressed by the body in the form of sinus pressure, skin irritations, headaches, upset stomach or any other manner in which the body can expel the substance it believes is harmful or toxic.
The ANS Mediated Response is the trigger for all of these symptoms which when diagnosed as chronic by the medical community become conditions we are all familiar with such as allergy, asthma, eczema, ADD, ADHD, migraine, IBS or CFS.
NSRTSM uses sound and light to positively condition the brain or what we call neurological relaxation training to eliminate the ANS Mediated Response that triggers the symptoms and conditions that affect you on a daily basis. The nervous system triggers a reaction or series of events because of something it has sensed in your environment. By training the nervous system to NOT become stressed from a harmless substance during substance specific exposure, we are able to stop the reaction or event, before it becomes a symptom or condition.
The net result is that many of those conditions that people suffer from all their lives can be alleviated in just a few therapy sessions, with no drugs, no needles, no diets and no nutritional supplementation.
Through NSRT, inappropriate ANS mediated responses can be reduced or eliminated. These ANS mediated responses are the triggers for symptoms commonly associated with:
- Allergies & Sinus Conditions (including Peanut Allergies)
- Asthma & Shortness of Breath
- ADD, ADHD, Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome
- Skin Irritations, Eczema & Rosacea
- General Digestive Discomfort, Indigestion, Constipation, Swelling & Bloating
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Menstrual Irregularity
- Headaches & Chronic Fatigue
For more information read through the rest of this website or to schedule a free consultation with a doctor near you call 1-877-275-1481.
