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Allergies to food may seem more common today than they were when you were a child. It’s estimated that for every three people, one has modified a diet because of a suspected food allergy. That may sound like an extremely common condition, but only around 5 percent of kids reportedly have “clinically proven” allergies to foods. In adults that figure is even lower, around 4 percent. What accounts for the gulf between perceived food allergies and genuine, clinical conditions? Mayo Clinic believes such disconnect lies in an allergy mistakenly being blamed for symptoms that are actually caused by food intolerance. … Continue Reading

Food Allergies are becoming more common in children, which has resulted in an increase of allergies in adolescents and adults. Most of these allergies are diagnosed during childhood and they remain through adulthood. Today, millions of Americans are learning to cope and live everyday life with food allergies. It is important first to understand that there is a distinction between food intolerance and food allergies. Food intolerances are more common than food allergies, but actual allergies are much more serious. Food allergies are an abnormal immune system response to a specific food. Food allergies generally develop after your body has … Continue Reading

We’ve all been there, one minute you’re enjoying a nice meal and the next minute you are feeling less than stellar. You may be wondering if you were allergic to something you ate. Sometimes, what you are experiencing is food intolerance. However, for many people, they are seeing the first signs of a food allergy, which can cause serious sickness or in some cases, death. If you suspect you have a food allergy, it is important to seek the aid of a professional to find out if your reaction is indeed an allergy. At Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/FOOD ALLERGY … Continue Reading

An allergy is an unusual sensitivity to a substance that is generally considered harmless. These substances may include food, cosmetics, and metals. If you suspect you are suffering from food allergies, contact your doctor to confirm the allergy. Dr. Noga Askenazi and staff at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates/Food Allergy Center of Illinois are here to meet that need. Food allergy symptoms may include: Hives Respiratory issues such as wheezing or shortness of breath Diarrhea or abdominal pain Eczema Hives are a common symptom of food allergies. Hives develop suddenly on the skin and look like swollen, light red bumps, … Continue Reading

As a food allergy sufferer, you may relate to the annoying tingling or itching on the roof of your mouth. Your face may itch, or you may develop hives. Hopefully, you or a loved one haven’t experienced the super-scary symptoms – the swelling of the tongue and throat and constricted airways that can interfere with breathing. Anaphylactic shock is an emergency that can lead to low blood pressure, rapid pulse, and loss of consciousness. Since some symptoms are shared between food allergies and food intolerances, these two conditions are often confused with each other and misdiagnosed. Generally, food intolerance does … Continue Reading

If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from allergies, you know that they can have a major effect on your day-to-day life. Discovering the cause of your allergies is the first step to coming up with an effective treatment plan. At Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates, we offer a variety of specialty testing that is convenient and extremely accurate at identifying common allergens. Allergy testing is safe. There is always a risk of allergy symptoms during test because of exposure to potential allergen. The most common side effects are rashes, swelling, or itching near the testing area. … Continue Reading

Substances that cause an allergic reaction are referred to as allergen. For people who are currently experiencing these reactions, it is important to determine what substances are triggering the events. In order to do this, allergists can test your skin or blood using small amounts of the most commonly known allergens. Allergy tests are extremely important because they can provide insight on what you are allergic to and allow your allergist to recommend the best treatments available. Both adults and children who suspect that they may have an allergic disease should undergo allergy testing. Inhaled allergens typically produce respiratory symptoms … Continue Reading

Food is a source of vitamins and nutrients. For many, it also provides comfort and pleasure. For some, food is a cause of discomfort. In fact, most people, at some point in time, experience distress after consuming certain foods. Such experiences are often deemed the result of food allergies. Most mild reactions to foods like milk or ice cream are simply bouts of intolerance, mimicking allergic responses but not triggered by the same mechanisms. Food allergies are very specific to our genetic makeup and immune system, passed down from our ancestors. Allergies to foods occur after certain proteins which are … Continue Reading

Skin conditions such as eczema can affect children and adults alike. It is believed that anywhere from 10-20% of babies have eczema, and approximately 3% of adults and children do as well. Some babies grow out of the condition while others struggle with it off and on for the remainder of their life as a chronic problem. Knowing more about the condition and how it works can help patients in the Illinois area in better understanding it and treating it in a way that is both effective and efficient. The allergists at Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates and Food Allergy … Continue Reading

Eczema is a condition that affects children and adults in the United States and is a medical condition that results in the skin becoming irritated and inflamed. There are different types of eczema which means that allergists such as Dr. Noga Askenazi and the staff need to provide individuals with an appropriate diagnosis before being able to address the issue. At Advanced Allergy and Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois in Elgin, we understand that this condition is present in up to 20% of infants and 3% of adults and children. Some patients have mild issues with it … Continue Reading