How do wheat allergies develop

However, it is also the single most common symptom of an intolerance to gluten Many people experience headaches or migraine attacks once in a while. Migraine is a common condition, affecting roughly 1 in 6 adults in the United States Still, some studies have shown that gluten-intolerant individuals may be more prone to migraine episodes than others 48 , If you have regular headaches or migraine episodes without any apparent cause, you could be sensitive to gluten.

Feeling tired is very common and usually not linked to any condition. However, if you constantly feel very tired, you should explore the possibility of an underlying cause.

Gluten-intolerant individuals are very prone to fatigue and tiredness, especially after eating foods that contain gluten 50 , Anxiety involves feelings of worry, nervousness, unease and agitation. It often goes hand-in-hand with depression Individuals with gluten intolerance seem to be more prone to anxiety and depression than individuals without any underlying conditions 54 , 55 , That suggests that gluten exposure on its own may induce feelings of depression, irrespective to digestive symptoms.

The inflammation may result in widespread pain, including in the joints and muscles People with a gluten sensitivity also seem to be more likely to experience arm and leg numbness While the exact cause remains unknown, some older studies have linked this symptom to the presence of certain antibodies related to gluten intolerance This symptom may be caused by a reaction to certain antibodies in gluten, but the exact reason is unknown Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a form of gluten intolerance that can cause headaches, depression, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, pain, and digestive problems.

Wheat allergy is more common among children than adults. Like other types of gluten intolerance, wheat allergies may be associated with certain skin conditions. In particular, wheat allergies can often cause hives. This is a type of skin rash characterized by itching, redness, and inflammation Typically, this reaction sets in shortly after a person eats wheat products and slowly subsides on its own over time Studies show that people who are allergic to wheat often report experiencing digestive issues, such as 65 :.

Food allergies can also trigger other digestive symptoms, including 66 :. Sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose can also be signs of a wheat allergy This is an allergic condition caused by frequently breathing in bread flour, resulting in increased sensitivity to wheat or other grains Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening if left untreated It can cause a range of serious symptoms, including swelling, hives, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing after exposure to an allergen, such as wheat Although symptoms usually begin within minutes of exposure, they may also occur up to an hour later Wheat allergy is a type of food allergy that may cause skin rashes, digestive issues, nasal congestion, and anaphylaxis.

Gluten intolerance can have numerous symptoms. However, keep in mind that most of the symptoms on the list above may have other explanations as well. Nevertheless, if you regularly experience some of them without an apparent cause, then you may be reacting to the gluten in your diet. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. People need to visit a medical professional for treatment.

Several strategies, including some tests, can help a doctor identify a wheat allergy. These include:. Barley, oats, and rye also contain some wheat proteins. A person with a wheat allergy may be allergic not just to wheat, but also to rye, oats, and barley. Before consuming wheat, it is good practice to check the nutrition label of each food to see if it contains wheat or any other grains that have wheat proteins.

The manufacturer may have processed certain foods in a facility that also processes wheat. A wheat allergy is an immune system response. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system mistakes a neutral or beneficial substance for a pathogen and attacks it. Allergens are substances that cause no harm to most people, unless they have an allergy to it.

An allergic reaction to wheat involves immunoglobulin antibodies reacting to at least one of the following proteins in wheat:. Some people are allergic to just one of the proteins in wheat, while others may be allergic to two or more. Some people may have allergic symptoms if they exercise within a few hours of consuming wheat proteins. The allergy occurs due to wheat flour inhalation, not ingestion. It tends to affect breathing, and it may occur due to a wheat protein or a fungus.

Medical experts class celiac disease as an autoimmune food sensitivity , rather than an allergy. The immune system reacts to gluten, causing inflammation and damage in the small intestine. This leads to poor absorption of nutrients. Learn more about celiac disease here. If a close relative has an allergy — such as a wheat allergy, hay fever , or asthma — there is a higher risk that a person will develop a wheat allergy themselves.

Infants and young children are more likely to have a wheat allergy than older adults because their immune and digestive systems have not yet matured. Most children eventually outgrow this allergy, however. The best treatment for a wheat allergy is to avoid wheat proteins.

This can be difficult, as so many foods contain wheat. If bread and pasta have been excluded for some time, the disease cannot be confirmed. If coeliac disease is diagnosed, the patient must strictly avoid gluten, since even small amounts of gluten can damage the intestinal mucosa.

Other gastrointestinal symptoms that mimic a wheat allergy may be caused by non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. The set of symptoms this refers to has not yet been clearly defined. Nor is it clear whether the reaction is triggered by gluten or other components in wheat. Symptoms of gluten sensitivity include abdominal pain, bloating, and in some cases diarrhoea.

Patients also report fatigue, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. Gluten sensitivity is confirmed by a diagnosis of exclusion: If the examination results fail to confirm an allergy or coeliac disease and the symptoms subside while on a gluten-free diet, the patient is assumed to have gluten sensitivity. Whether non-coeliac gluten sensitivity actually exists is still widely debated in the medical community.

There is currently no effective treatment for wheat allergies. For this reason, patients must try to avoid wheat. Not only do they have to exclude products containing wheat flour, wheat starch and breading; they may also be intolerant to cereals that are similar to wheat spelt, freekeh, kamut or emmer. It should also be noted that gluten-free foods are not always safe for people who are allergic to wheat, as they could theoretically contain other allergenic wheat proteins.

If the triggering factors are known, it often suffices to avoid the triggers for up to six hours after eating wheat. However, patients at risk of an anaphylactic reaction must carry an emergency kit with them containing an adrenaline auto-injector, a corticosteroid and an antihistamine. This also applies to people with a severe true wheat allergy who may experience an anaphylactic reaction from exposure to even the smallest trace of wheat protein.

Prevalence A wheat allergy occurs rarely in adults, but it can take a life-threatening course. Triggers Wheat contains several different proteins that have a potentially allergenic effect. Symptoms A wheat allergy can cause mild or severe reactions in various organs. Wheat Allergy in Childhood Allergic reactions often appear a few minutes to hours after a baby food containing wheat is consumed for the first time. Wheat Allergy in Adulthood Although rare, WDEIA w heat- d ependent e xercise- i nduced a naphylaxis is a special form of wheat allergy that can progress to a very severe stage.

Diagnostic Procedure As a first step in diagnosing a wheat allergy, the doctor asks the patient about his or her symptoms and eating habits. Therapy There is currently no effective treatment for wheat allergies.