GP says three 'overlooked symptoms' could be sign of food allergy - including 'subtle' ear issue

GP says three 'overlooked symptoms' could be sign of food allergy - including 'subtle' ear issue You might not think your ear would show a symptom of a food allergy - but you would be wrong A doctor says three surprising symptoms could be indicators of a food allergy. Dr Nighat Arif, a GP, said that most people associate food allergy symptoms with 'hives and swelling'. But she said that there were actually other subtle symptoms which people might be experiencing without realizing they were also linked to food allergies. The NHS says: "A food allergy is where your body reacts to certain foods. It's often mild, but can be very serious for some people." Three signs "If you think food allergy symptoms only mean hives and swelling, then these three signs might surprise you, especially number three - you'll want to stick around for that one," Dr Arif said. "That post-lunch brain fog or feeling dizzy, and that gets easily brushed off, think again, because there might be more to it. And for some, it could be a delayed reaction to a trigger food. Your body releases inflammatory chemicals that make you feel mentally and physically drained. In some food allergies, your immune system responds by affecting your blood pressure and your inflammatory pathways, leaving you feeling light-headed and woozy or unsteady after eating. "Allergic reactions can irritate your vocal cords, leaving your voice raspy, tight, or weaker than usual. But if it keeps happening after certain meals, your immune system is trying to tell you something, and it could be reacting to something that was on your plate at that dinner time or lunch time. "Likewise, a runny or a blocked nose that shows up after eating can be a food-triggered reaction. Your nasal linings swell as part of the immune response; many people treat the symptom, not the trigger. "And this one is the most overlooked: an itchy feeling deep inside your ears after eating. That strange, deep itch in your ear canal or throat can be early, subtle signs of an oral immune reaction. Yep, your ears are connected to your oral pathway, but it can signal your immune system is reacting to a food, and reactions are becoming more and more severe with repeated exposure—keep an eye out for that." What does the NHS The NHS lists the following as common symptoms of food allergies: - feeling dizzy or lightheaded - itchy skin or a raised rash (hives) - swelling of the lips, face and eyes (angioedema) - coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice - sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose - feeling sick or being sick - tummy pain - diarrhoea These symptoms can kick in straight after eating, or sometimes several days afterwards. A food allergy is different from a food intolerance, which causes symptoms such as bloating and tummy pain, usually a few hours after eating the food you're intolerant to. What should you do? Most allergies are not serious. However, you should see a GP if you think your child has a food allergy. You should call 999 if: - your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen - you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air) - your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow - your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet) - you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy - someone faints and cannot be woken up - a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face) "Food allergies don't always scream; sometimes they can whisper for hours, and they don't always come as dramatically as we think," Dr Arif said. "Reoccurring tummy troubles, random rashes, or that tingly mouth after certain foods—please don't ignore it. Mild reactions can get worse over time. "If this sounds familiar, track your symptoms and keep a good food diary before seeing a specialist. And share this with someone who's always "just tired" after a meal—it could be that they're eating something that's triggering their immune system."