Can You Develop Food Allergies as an Adult?

Adulthood is a time for stability in a life that has often been changing. You know your own body, how it reacts to many conditions, and you’ve also developed preferences and personal tastes for things as varied as comfortable temperatures to favorite foods. 

It may be disconcerting to discover that a meal you’ve enjoyed for years is now causing you digestive difficulties or other negative health effects. Just as children outgrow certain allergies, you can develop food allergies as an adult. 

Allergy testing is a specialty at Macomb Medical Clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan. If you suspect that your body might be developing new sensitivities, testing for common allergies is a good place to start. 

Adult-onset food allergies

Adult-onset food allergies may be more common than you’re aware. One study of 40,000 people discovered that more than 10% had a food allergy, and almost half of that group had at least one food allergy that they developed as an adult. 

The most common adult food allergies as identified by the Mayo Clinic are:

• Fish
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Tree nuts

Four additional food categories combine with the previous four to account for 90% of all food allergies. These other groups are: 

• Dairy
• Eggs
• Soy
• Wheat 

A wide range of foods can trigger the dysfunctional immune system response that creates allergy symptoms in your body. 

Adult food allergy symptoms

As your body begins to react to new food allergies, some of the common signs of these sensitivities include:

• An itchy mouth or throat
• Hives
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Stomach pain
• Swallowing difficulties
• Vomiting

Any of these symptoms could indicate a food allergy reaction. 

While these symptoms aren’t pleasant, they’re not usually serious. A severe food allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. If you have difficulty breathing combined with dizziness immediately after eating, contact 911 or head to the nearest emergency room. 

Diagnosis and treatment of adult food allergies

While your food allergy symptoms may not be life-threatening, they’re certainly not welcome, either. 

Symptoms often appear soon after you eat, so you can begin to pinpoint suspects by noting possible triggers using a food diary or other tracking method. Staying away from suspected allergens may be all you need to eliminate reactions. 

However, it’s not always easy to discover the allergy offenders with a varied contemporary diet. That’s where the experts at Macomb Medical Clinic enter the picture. Scratch tests and blood tests are two common ways to diagnose allergies, and a food elimination diet may also help you uncover harder-to-find food allergens.

Once you know where your sensitivities originate, you can relieve your symptoms by avoiding the foods or food groups that cause your reaction. This isn’t always easy, but we can help you with diet substitutions and modifications. 

Book an allergy consultation with Macomb Medical Clinic by calling the appointment line at 586-315-2394. Together, we can uncover the foods that no longer agree with you. Schedule your session today.