Business & Tech

Unfortunate Allergy on the Rise

Just one tick bite could force you to put down the bacon.

[Click here for a list of allergists near San Bruno]

Doctors usually recognize an octet of major food allergies, a group they call "the big eight" — milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. 

But a newly-discovered allergy, so simple that it should have been recognized long ago, is threatening to rebrand the group as "the big nine."

Meat. 

Specifically, a carbohydrate protein in beef, pork and lamb seems to be causing increasing amount of major allergic reactions in many people, according to Everyday Health

Dr. Princess Ogbogu of Ohio State University is of the belief that many previously-unattributed allergic reactions were actually in response to a meat allergy. 

The meat allergen presents itself similarly to other known food allergens — hives, itching, shortness of breath, swelling, and in extreme cases, vomiting, wheezing, irregular heartbeat, slurred speech and confusion. 

Until now, it was difficult to attribute the reaction to meat because unlike other allergens like peanuts and wheat, which cause sudden symptoms, the meat allergy does not present itself until three to six hours after that steak dinner goes down the hatch. 

According to Dr. Ogbogu, the specific protein is called alpha galactose, or alpha-gal for short. 

CNN reported in 2012 that a common thread among those allergic to alpha-gal is a history of tick bites.

"There is some relation to the number of tick bites one receives and how allergic one may become to alpha-gal," according to CNN.

In other words, as odd as it sounds, if you've been bitten by a tick, you are more likely to be allergic to meat.

For tips on treating tick bites, click here.

[Click here for a list of allergists near San Bruno]


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