Are Food Allergies Exploding? Digesting the Data (with David Stukus, MD)
Food allergies are super common. According to the American College of Asthma and Immunology and the CDC, about 5% of kids and about 4% of adults are affected by food allergies. The allergic reactions can range from mild to severe and life threatening.
Food allergy symptoms are most common in babies and children, but they can appear at any age. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problem (bummer).
As we learned in our previous episode about Celiac Disease with Dr. Alessio Fasano, when we restrict people’s diets, it can create a really stressful and isolating situation for them.
How can we support people with food allergies? Can we treat the allergies? Are food allergies actually more prevalent now than they have been historically?
Thankfully, we have our friend and renowned expert in the field of Allergy and Immunology to help us understand more!
Welcome, Dave Stukus, MD!
Dr. Stukus (DR. DAVE!!) is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy/Immunology Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
- He’s also the director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center.
- He’s very active on social media with @AllergyKidsDoc on Twitter and Instagram.
- We remember Dr. Stukus from his AWESOME episode about seasonal allergies!
Hold on to your EpiPens, folks, let’s learn about food allergies!
Key moments in this episode include:
00:06:32 – What Are Food Allergies?
00:09:47 – Major Culprits and Unknowns
00:13:57 – Different Methods of Testing
00:14:50 – Over-the-Counter Allergy Tests
00:15:29 – High IgE Levels and Allergies
00:24:35 – Diagnosing Food Allergies
00:27:10 – Reactivity to Cow’s Milk Allergy
00:28:58 – Prevention of Food Allergies
00:30:26 – Treatment Options for Food Allergies
00:37:57 – What to Do in an Allergic Reaction
00:39:08 – Role of Antihistamines
00:48:36 – Food Allergy Labels
00:49:01 – EpiPen Availability in Schools
00:50:11 – Number of EpiPens to Have, Expiration Dates
00:52:35 – Evolving Understanding of Food Allergies, Future Research
Dr. Stukus recommends the following trusted resources if you want to learn more:
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
The Support Groups page of FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education org).
Dr. Dave’s professional page via Nationwide Children’s.
For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link!
- This includes the famous “Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead” shirt 🙂
Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network
Find us at:
Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Call the DOCLINE on 312-380-5005 and leave us a message. We will listen and maybe even respond/play it on the show!
(Disclaimer: we will not answer specific medical questions or offer medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional with any and all personal health questions.)
Connect with us:
@your_doctor_friends (IG)
@yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube)
@JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter)
@JuliaBrueneMD (IG)
@HealthPodNet (IG)
