THAT PERNICIOUS RAGWEED pollen may finally be on the wane, giving many seasonal allergy sufferers much-needed relief from their miserable symptoms. They might even be tempted to assume they can coast through the upcoming holiday season symptom-free. Now that would, indeed, be cause for joy and good cheer! But unfortunately, having one potent allergen temporarily out of the equation doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for people with allergies to let down their guard. Despite the festive mood and celebrations, this time of year presents its own set of challenges for allergy sufferers.
For instance, people with known food allergies must be especially vigilant when attending holiday parties and potlucks where the menu and food preparation are completely out of their control. The concern isn’t merely that people with food allergies might be served a trigger food directly—e.g., an unwitting party host presenting a bowl of peanuts or mixed nuts to someone with a nut allergy. They must also be on their guard against accidental cross-contamination, for instance if that bowl of nuts is emptied by other guests and then the host refills it with chips or a different snack without first washing the bowl. In highly sensitive individuals, the nut residue left in the bowl can be sufficient to trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction. The same risk of cross-contamination applies to spoons, knives, spatulas, and other implements used to serve multiple dishes.
Hidden ingredients are another big issue for food allergy sufferers during the holidays. The list of the most common food allergens includes milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. Now, consider how many of our favorite holiday candies, cookies, and desserts likely contain at least the first two items, if not others, on that list.
The symptoms of food allergy can affect the skin, stomach, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system and range from mild to severe. But the greatest concern with any food allergy is the potential for life-threatening anaphylaxis, which can cause a constellation of symptoms, including itching and hives over large areas of the body; swelling of the throat, tongue, face, or other parts of the body; difficulty breathing due to the throat closing or chest tightness; dizziness; and gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Having asthma also places food-allergic people at higher risk of experiencing a life-threatening episode.
If you have a known food allergy and are planning to attend a holiday party, don’t leave your risk of exposure to chance. Advise your host ahead of time that you have a food allergy, and don’t be afraid to inquire about the specific ingredients in any of the foods that will be served. Most important, be sure to bring your injectable epinephrine along with you to the party in case you experience the type of accidental exposure just described. People who suffer with respiratoryallergiesalsohave to stay vigilant, especially early in the holiday season. The annual succession of tree, grass,and weed pollens may be drawing to a close, but mold continues to be a problem—and all those leaves spread across yards and piled up in the streets are the biggest source of this culprit. As leaves decay, they provide the perfect growing medium for certain molds known to make seasonal allergy sufferers miserable and to cause flare-ups in people who have asthma. Adding insult to injury, all the raking and leaf blowing we do to keep our lawns and landscapes looking their best releases mold into the air where sensitive people can breathe it in.
Avoiding leaf raking/blowing and limiting time outdoors in late autumn can help reduce the misery associated with mold allergies. If avoidance isn’t an option, people with mold allergies are encouraged to wear a dust mask over their nose and mouth when spending time outdoors, especially if they can’t get someone else to tackle the chore of leaf raking and removal. Of course, they should also see their allergist for a proper treatment plan as well as keep up with prescribed allergy medications to help stay ahead of symptoms. ✲
