Allergies - Much More Than A Sneeze
By Dr. Yolanda Hobbs
Product advertisements bombard us with the well-publicized allergy symptoms of sneezing and water eyes - but allergies are much more than a sneeze. Do you get headaches? what about stomachaches? Does your child seem overactive? Do their grades fluctuate? Is your sleep disturbed? Do you or your child experience cognitive fog, items when you can't think clearly? Do you eat a meal and then get indigestion because you ate too much? It could be WHAT you eat!
Food and inhaled allergies seriously impact our health. Recent studies (Brostoff, 1989; Darlington & Mansfield, 1983: Galland, 1989; Jaff, 1994; Marshall & Stroud, 1984; O'Banion & Armstrong, 1978; Rapp, 1978; Rapp, 1991; Ratner & Vigder, 1985; Schauss, 1981) implicate food allergies in profoundly affecting many behaviors, characteristics, and health concerns.
There are over seventy distinct food and environmental allergy symptoms. Below are listed four of the leading causes of allergies and some of their respective symptoms:
| DAIRY | CORN |
| Edema; Swelling; Water Retention | Hyperactivity |
| Fatigue | Diarrhea |
| Headache | Headache |
| Congestion | Fatigue |
| Stomachache | Joint Tightness |
| Smelly Hair and/or Feet | Itchiness; Skin Rashes; Eczema |
| Constipation and/or Diarrhea | Congestion; Increase in Mucous |
| Itchiness; Skin Rashes, Acne | |
| Eczema | |
| Sudden, Overnight Weight Increase | |
| WHEAT | BEEF |
| Diarrhea | Halitosis |
| Halitosis | Sense of Fullness |
| Fatigue | Headache |
| Headaches | Lethargy |
| Congestion | Hyperactivity |
| Lethargy | |
| Hyperactivity | |
| Joint Tightness | |
| Talking too much - "Motor Mouth" | |
| Eczema | |
| Additional Symptoms to These and Many Other Foods and Environmentals Include: | |
| Dark Black, blue or pink eye circles | Throat clearing, clucking, coughing |
| Itchiness; skin rashes, acne, eczema, psoriasis | Head banging |
| Nasal voice | Forgetfulness |
| Irritability, mood swings, tempter tantrums | Distractibility |
| Swelling under the eyes. | Joint tightness |
| Inattention | "Spaced-out" look |
| Overnight weight gain | Halitosis; indigestion |
| Acne and skin eruptions on face, neck and back | Red or white spots or patches on tongue |
| Dried, cracked lips | Red earlobes |
| Bags under the eyes | Excessive perspiration |
| Increased desire for sleep | Mental dullness |
| Bad dreams and nightmares | Insomnia, disturbed sleep |
| Can't seem to wake up in the morning | Red circular cheek patches |
| Canker sores | Wiggly legs |
| Mouth breathing | Localized tender skin spots |
| Depression or feeling "blue" | Excitability |
| Stuttering or unclear speech | Sense of fullness |
| Muscle aches, joint tightness | Ear, sinus and/or throat infections |
| Congestion | Over-talkativeness, motor mouth |
| Fidgeting, can't sit still | Impulsiveness |
| Burping, belching, gas | Swelling in the area of the upper cheekbones |
| Edema, selling, water retention | Red tip of nose |
| Mental confusion | Lack of concentration |