Wheat Allergy and Pain: Understanding the Connection

Wheat allergies cause reactions in sensitized individuals due to histamine releases that occur throughout the body in response to a wheat-protein trigger, resulting in swelling that leads to painful symptoms and discomfort.

Warning

• Wheat allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that occurs within five minutes of exposure, stressing the body through symptoms of sore throat, chest tightness, swelling, coughing and painful breathing.

Identification

• Wheat allergy is visibly identified by topical reactions of swelling and hives that trigger itching, leading to oozing blisters and dry, cracked skin, causing skin to burn, throb and become tender.

Effects

• Wheat allergy can result in reactions of painful burning and intense itching inside the mouth, which may be accompanied by aching allergic rhinitis symptoms of sinus pressure, facial tenderness and difficulty breathing.

Considerations

• Allergies to wheat affect daily routines due to painful digestive and respiratory system complications, such as nausea, cramps, constricted breathing, sore throat and chest tightness that limit exercise and work.

Prevention/Solution

• Wheat allergy pain is prevented by eliminating sources of wheat from a diet. Wheat allergic reactions are treated with oral and topical antihistamines, corticosteroids, inhalers and epinephrine shots during anaphylaxis emergencies.