Food allergies increase the risk of cardiovascular death? Study reveals: "Milk" is actually the most dangerous food
If you frequently experience allergic reactions to certain foods, don’t think it’s just a minor problem! The latest research published in “The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” indicates that people with food allergies are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and even increase the risk of death from cardiovascular events than the general population. Shockingly, “milk” is the most likely allergenic food that causes cardiovascular events.
Is “milk” one of the most dangerous foods? Study: Food allergies may lead to increased cardiovascular deaths
“Food allergy” means that after an allergic person eats the allergenic food, the immune system releases “Immunoglobulin E” (IgE) antibodies to fight the allergen, which causes a cross-linking reaction with the sensitized mast cells, thereby causing abnormal Allergies. This research was initiated by Dr. Corinne Keet of the University of North Carolina, USA, and collaborated with a team from the University of Virginia.
The research team included 4,414 adults in the National Health Interview Survey (NHANES) and 960 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Arteriosclerosis (MESA). After 19 years of long-term follow-up, 229 subjects in the NHANES study died of cardiovascular events; there were 56 cardiovascular deaths in the MESA cohort.
In addition, the study also analyzed common allergens. In the NHANES cohort, milk, eggs, peanuts, shrimp and aeroallergens were included. In the MESA cohort, milk, α-galactose, peanuts, dust mites, and cattails were included in the analysis. . Finally, the study adjusted for variables such as gender, age, race, smoking, education, and asthma.
The results indicate that being allergic to at least one of the above foods is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality. Milk allergy has the highest correlation with cardiovascular death events in NHANES and MESA; in addition, food allergies caused by shrimp and peanuts are also one of the risk factors for cardiovascular death. Worryingly, the subjects most closely associated with cardiovascular death were subjects with abnormal IgE responses who continued to consume allergenic foods.
Why do food allergies affect cardiovascular function? “Silent immune response” to food is an important cause
“This means that a ‘silent immune response to food’ may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease!” Dr. Keet pointed out that after eating allergenic foods, the human body may not cause immediate allergic symptoms, but it may still lead to chronic allergic symptoms. Inflammation, and over time can lead to problems like heart disease.
Dr. Keet admitted that cardiovascular disease has not been recognized as a long-term complication of food allergy before; however, there is currently a large amount of evidence showing the importance of allergic immune pathways in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between food allergy and cardiovascular disease is a new research area, so more samples need to be included to further explore the relationship between the two.
Do you feel sick when you eat certain foods? 10 major food allergens to avoid
To sum up, if you are prone to allergies to specific foods, not only will it be difficult to enjoy the delicious food, but you may also be at risk of cardiovascular disease, and may cause many inconveniences in your life. According to public information from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of people suffering from allergic diseases in Taiwan in 2019 was approximately 3.55 million, accounting for approximately 15% of the total population. The Ministry of Health and Welfare reminds you to pay attention to the risk of food allergy when consuming the following 10 foods:
Crustaceans and their products.
Mango and its products.
Peanuts and their products.
Cow/goat milk and its products (lactitol obtained from cow/goat milk is not limited to this).
Eggs and their products.
Nuts and their products.
Sesame and its products.
Gluten-containing cereals and their products (glucose syrup, maltodextrin and alcohol obtained from cereals are not limited to this).
Soybeans and their products (soybean oils that are highly refined or purified from soybeans, mixed forms of tocopherols and derivatives, plant sterols, and plant sterol lipids are not limited to this).
Fish and their products (gelatin obtained from fish, used as a carrier for the preparation of vitamins or carotenoid preparations, or used for clarification of alcoholic beverages).
In addition, consuming products containing sulfites with a sulfur dioxide residue of more than “10 mg per kilogram” may also cause allergic symptoms.
What are the symptoms of food allergies? You should stop eating if “these 8 conditions” occur
What are the symptoms caused by food allergies? The NHS says common symptoms of food allergies include:
Feeling dizzy or unable to stand
Itchy skin or a rash (urticaria)
Swelling of lips, face, and eyes (angioedema)
Cough, hoarse voice
Asthma, difficulty breathing
Sneezing or an itchy, runny, or blocked nose
extreme discomfort
Abdominal pain, diarrhea
The British National Health Service also reminds the public that if they experience severe allergic reactions after eating allergenic foods, such as weakness, fainting, or the skin, tongue, lips become pale, or even a systemic rash, they should seek medical treatment immediately. in addition. Food allergy sufferers should never eat without checking the ingredients of food, and be sure to follow the advice of a specialist to avoid worsening of food allergy symptoms.
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