Did you know nuts are actually fruits? How about that cashews are part of the poison ivy family and have very toxic shells? Or that peanuts aren’t a nut or fruit, but actually a legume?
If you’re a crack at nut facts, October 22nd is your chance to shell-ebrate your favorite treat for National Nut Day. But here’s a not-so-fun fact to remember: nut allergies are one of the most common food allergies in the world, and also one of the most likely allergens to cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.
If you or a loved one have a nut allergy, this annual holiday can feel more like a day of nut-ural disaster. As your source for sublingual allergy drops that can provide lasting relief from allergy symptoms, we’re here to crack the code on nut allergies and get to the core of this common condition.
Nut Allergies: Causes and Statistics
Like all food allergies, nut allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system when specific substances (tree nuts) enter the body; these normally harmless foods trigger an attack of powerful chemicals that cause mild to severe reaction symptoms.
Nuts are one of the top foods that account for 90% of all allergic reactions in children and adults. Notably, the impact of nut-related allergies has risen 21% since 2010 and continues to rise each year. An estimated 4 million people within the United States alone suffer from peanut or other various forms of nut allergies. These allergies typically develop during childhood and usually persist for an entire lifetime.
People can be allergic to just one tree nut, but over 50% of patients with an allergy to tree nuts will be allergic to more than one. The tree nuts most commonly reported to cause allergies include walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews and pistachio.
Detecting such allergies can be challenging, as there’s a lot of confusion around the difference between peanut allergies and tree nut allergies. Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts, and bind to different IgE antibodies in the immune system to cause an allergic reaction. But these allergies often go hand-in-hand; 40% of peanut allergy patients will also have an allergy to at least one tree nut.
Nut Allergy Signs and Symptoms
Tree nut and peanut allergies can be severe and debilitating. A normal routine involving outdoor activity or varied food consumption can expose allergy patients to nuts and their derivative oils and quickly lead to reactions and even anaphylactic shock.
The typical symptoms of a tree-nut or peanut allergy can range from mild to severe and may include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhea
- Itching or inflamed skin, particularly around the mouth and eyes
- Throat irritation
- Nasal congestion
- Difficulty breathing
- Anaphylaxis
If symptoms occur and persist, the patient should be escorted to a doctor or emergency room immediately. An allergist may determine the triggering food or tree-nut responsible for the allergic reaction. If the individual in question is already aware of their nut allergies, an epinephrine (or EpiPen) injection should be carried at all times, and administered when severe symptoms appear.
Nut Allergy Management
When dealing with any type or degree of allergy, avoidance and caution play pivotal roles in ensuring safety, health, and wellbeing. When dealing with nut allergies, this can feel like a daunting task. Nut allergies are often severe and easy to react; even traces of nut spread on an unwashed knife or a restaurant failing to include the use of tree nut oils in a dish can accidentally lead to dangerous symptoms. Nuts are also frequently used in mainstream products and often hidden in sauces, baked goods, dressings, beverages, and even cosmetics.
Mindful and open communication can help tackle many nut-related risks for the general population. For example, restaurant managers and chefs can be alerted to food allergies and asked to suggest allergy-free dishes when you’re dining out. Teachers and school staff should be informed of nut allergies and instructed to take steps to keep students safe and healthy. You should also carefully read labels behind purchased products; it is necessary by law to highlight tree-nuts and tree-nut derivatives (such as oils and butters) amongst other high-risk allergens in the United States.
If you or a loved one have a severe and ongoing tree nut or peanut allergy, our sublingual allergy drops provide effective immunotherapy to provide lasting relief from these and other common food allergies. With just a few painless drops under the tongue each day, many customers report a dramatic decrease in their allergy symptoms – for some, in as little as 3-6 months. Our sublingual allergy drops are safe for all ages, easy to use in the comfort of home, and successful at reducing and even eliminating your food allergy symptoms.
Learn more and contact our allergy team today to begin treating your nut allergy. By this time next year, you could be shell-ebrating National Nut Day with the nuttiest of the bunch!
DISCLAIMER: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.