Five Fast Facts About Food Allergy in New York City

Continuing our celebration of Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, here are Five Fast Facts on Food Allergy in New York City 

NYC Food Allergy Fact # 1

Did you know that food allergies can be deadly? 

•  Someone is sent to the emergency room every 3 minutes from a food allergy reaction
•  The CDC reports more than 300,000 hospital visits from food allergy reactions in children under 18

NYC Food Allergy  Fact #2

Who is likely to have food allergies?

•          Anyone can develop food allergies at any age!
•         But your risk is higher if you have parents who have an allergy disease
•       You’re more likely to have food allergies if you have other allergy conditions such asthma, eczema, or hay fever

NYC Food Allergy Fact #3

Can you prevent food allergies in babies?

• Restricting a mother's diet during pregnancy or while breast-feeding has not been shown to help prevent the development of allergies.
• Solid foods should be introduced gradually between four to six months of age. Egg, dairy, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish can be gradually introduced after less allergenic foods have been tolerated. In fact, delaying the introduction of these foods may increase your baby’s risk of developing allergies.
• Reducing exposure to some allergens, such as dust mites, may delay or prevent allergy or asthma symptoms.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke before and after birth increases your infant's risk of developing wheezing and asthma.

NYC Food Allergy  Fact #4

What are the top 8 Foods that Cause Food Allergies?

• Amazingly 8 foods cause 90% of reactions.
• Milk egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat fish and shellfish are the top offenders
• But remember, any food can cause an allergic reaction.
  

NYC Food Allergy Fact # 5

What can you do when eating out?

•  Very sensitive people can get an allergic reaction just from walking into a kitchen or restaurant
• Obtain a chef card, available online, that says what your allergy is and what foods to avoid
• Talk to the waiter and chef and stress the need for uncontaminated food preparation
• Traveling abroad this summer with food allergies- learn how to say and write the foods you are allergic to.  Remember, not everyone knows how to read.  
  

 Where to eat out in New York City with Food Allergies?

Are you a New Yorker, foodie and have food alleriges?  Don't let that stop you!

Do you research on restaurants! Many restaurant will try and accommodate dietary restrictions, especially gluten allergies, but many food allergies slip through the cracks. For example, restaurants may add dairy products to a variety of foods or use peanut oil to cook.

Allergy Eats is a Yelp-like website for finding allergy-friendly restaurants:

Here’s a blogger’s list of allergy-safe restaurants in New York City: Allergic Girl Dines Out is an informative blog on where to eat out in NYC with food allergies.

Two more lists for eating out in New York: http://foodallergyny.com/resources/food/local-food-allergy-friendly-restaurants/

https://itchylittleworld.com/2013/08/13/dining-out-in-nyc-with-food-allergies/

Here are some of Gramercy Allergy's favorite food allergy friendly restaurants!  

 Bistango (415 3^rd Ave), Nizza (630 9^th Ave), Dos Caminos, BareBurger,  and Blue Smoke.

Have your favorite finds?  Please let us know so we can share- post on our facebook page or tweet at us @gramercyallergy #NYCFoodAllergyFinds

New York City is best known for its variety and breadth of food options! Don’t let food allergies in New York keep you from experiencing the best of New York City!



What can you do if your food allergies are uncontrolled?  Gramercy Allergy and Asthma is here to help.  We help New Yorkers every day with allergies and asthma.

Pledge to yourself to make May the month you take control over your allergies and asthma in New York.    

• Get Tested!
• Know Your Triggers!
• Have a plan for dealing with symptoms!
• Get Treatment!

Want more specific advice on surviving New York’s Allergy Season?  Visit our website http://www.gramercyallergy.com or click here to schedule an appointment online.

Follow us on Twitter@gramercyallergy

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May Is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month!

Did you know that Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declared May to be asthma and allergy awareness month.? 

Asthma affects over 24 million Americans and 330 millionpeople worldwide have asthma; that’s 7.4% of adults and 8.6% of children, or 1in 14 people, according to the CDC.  Symptoms of asthma and allergies peak around this time. Asthma is a condition in which the airways from the nose and mouth to the lungs become inflamed and sensitive to substances. Asthma occurs in bouts known as asthma attacks. The airways swell and narrow, causing difficulty breathing. In severe cases, asthma can be fatal.

How Do You Know You Have Asthma?

Symptoms of asthma include
·        Trouble breathing (shortness of breath or rapid breathing)
·        Recurrent coughing
·        Wheezing
·        Tightness in the chest
·        A night time cough that wakes you from sleep

·        If you’re worried you may have asthma see your doctor or allergist.

Picture Credit.

What triggers asthma?

•  Allergens: Asthma caused by allergies is called allergic asthma. When the immune system thinks a foreign substance (for example, inhaled pollen) is harmful, it will release immunoglobulin E (IgE) which leads to inflammation of the airways and an asthma attack. Common allergens include pollens (like tree, grass, and weeds), animals, mice, roaches, and dust mites.  Make sure to get a skin or blood test at your allergy doctor to find out what you’re allergic to!
  
• Irritants: Have you noticed symptoms of asthma whenever you are using cleaning products, tobacco smoke, or strong odors? Irritating particles in the air, such as from smoke, pollution, or strong odors, can exacerbate already inflamed and sensitive airways. These irritants are not allergens but can trigger a severe attack.
  
• Exercise: have you ever noticed symptoms of asthma whenever you are physically active? During exercise, people will breathe through their mouths instead of their noses. Because the nose warms and moisturizes air, air that enters through the mouth is cooler and dryer. If the air is already dry and cool outside, it can trigger narrowing of the airways (called bronchoconstriction). Talk to your allergy doctor to help manage exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
  
•   Respiratory illnesses: do you have a persistent lingering cough from a cold or flu? Asthma may be caused by infection of your respiratory system. This is the most common cause of asthma in children.

What should you do If You Suspect You Have Asthma?

·        See your doctor or allergy specialist.  Gramercy Allergy and Asthma, New York City’s premier Allergy office is here to help!  You can schedule an appointment here.

·        Get Tested.  Know what your triggers are.

Over the month of May, Gramercy Allergy and Asthma, will be writing about topics specific to asthma so stay tuned to learn more about asthma.

We'll be including interesting facts about asthma, asthma and the gender gap, and ways to treat difficult asthma.

Want to get more involved?

Share the Asthma and Allergy Foundations Allergy Awareness ribbon on your Facebook page or visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Amercias webpage for more information.

Want more specific advice on treating asthma in New York?  Visit our website http://www.gramercyallergy.com or click here to schedule an appointment online.

@gramercyallergy

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