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Food Allergies, Anaphylaxis and Running

MedicAlert — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:00:39 +0000

FOOD ALLERGIES

Food Allergies, Anaphylaxis and Running

Food allergies affect an estimated 2.5% of the global population. Of the 198.5 million people around the world living with food allergies, approximately 20 million people in the U.S. live with the condition. This includes 5.6 million children under the age of 18.

“I had my first anaphylactic shock reaction in 1989, a couple months before my 9th birthday,” says Sarah. “I arrived at the hospital in time to receive epinephrine and thankfully I survived. Allergy tests would reveal food allergies. I was allergic to all seafood and fish, though I’d eaten them without incident nearly every week for my entire life up to that point.”

“My second anaphylactic reaction was to chicken when I was 10. Again, I arrived at the hospital quickly, and epinephrine again saved my life. I went to the allergist again for more tests and found I had to add poultry and tree nuts to my allergy list. It was at this allergist visit that my mom was given a MedicAlert brochure. She signed me up immediately, and my first bracelet soon came in the mail.

A childhood with anaphylaxis food allergies

Every three minutes, a food allergy sends someone to the emergency room. In the U.S. and around the world, many of the same foods are responsible for the most allergic reactions. Examples include peanuts, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, and milk, with peanuts causing the most anaphylactic reactions.

Even the smallest amount of these foods can cause anaphylaxis, which is an acute allergic reaction to an antigen such as foods, medicines, and insect bites.

“I was teased some at school for wearing my MedicAlert ID,” says Sarah. “In 1990 food allergies weren’t that common, and the only people I saw with MedicAlert bracelets were of my grandparents’ generation. Kids said I was a grandma/grandpa, but I kept wearing my “grandma” bracelet because my mom said I couldn’t take it off!”

“I had another anaphylactic reaction when I was 11 while at a youth group BBQ. I inadvertently had a bite of a turkey hot dog,” Sarah explains. “My youth pastor rushed me to the hospital, and epinephrine saved my life yet again. Doctors used the info on my MedicAlert bracelet to contact my parents and allergist.”

“A lot of people don’t know that an anaphylactic reaction always requires an emergency room visit,” says Sarah. “Without the proper treatment, anaphylaxis can turn deadly in a little as 15 minutes.”

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About Food Allergies

Learn more about this condition on the medical conditions page.

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Other Conditions

Read about other conditions that our MedicAlert members live with.

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Anaphylaxis symptoms and MedicAlert.

The first signs of anaphylaxis may include hives, itching, and flushed or pale skin. This can quickly progress to throat swelling, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. Shock can occur. Even worse, anaphylaxis symptoms can return within 6-12 hours after an epinephrine injection. In some cases, symptoms can return days later.

“Even if you receive epinephrine right away,” says Sarah, “you still need to be observed by medical professionals to ensure you recover completely.”

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI), a delay in using epinephrine is common in severe food allergic reaction deaths. A MedicAlert food allergy bracelet can save precious time by alerting first responders and those around you that you have food allergies and carry an EpiPen (epinephrine auto-injector). Having this information readily available can help save your life if you are in an accident or have another medical emergency.

An accident or dangerous allergic reaction can occur at work, at school, at home, or on the run. A MedicAlert food allergy bracelet can be there for you every second of every day, protecting you no matter where you are or what you do.

I’ll be a MedicAlert member for the rest of my life. MedicAlert means I can live the life I want to live. A full life. A life I love.

Sarah, MedicAlert Member since 1993

My husband and daughter feel more at ease when I go out for a race or training run knowing MedicAlert will help protect me, and notify them in an emergency.

Facts About Food Allergies

Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room.

More than 170 foods have been reported to cause reactions in the U.S.

Eight major food allergens – milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and crustacean shellfish – are responsible for most of the serious food allergy reactions in the United States.

Source: FARE Food Allergy Facts and Stats

Anaphylaxis symptoms and MedicAlert.

“Even if you receive epinephrine right away,” says Sarah, “you still need to be observed by medical professionals to ensure you recover completely.”

Anaphylaxis and EpiPen use

Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Epinephrine works by reversing the life-threatening symptoms associated with this reaction. “Allergists advise that all patients who have food allergies carry their EpiPen with them at all times,” reports the ACAAI. This is crucial for individuals who have had a previous anaphylactic reaction, those living with both food allergies and asthma, and anyone with peanut, tree nut, fish, or crustacean shellfish allergies.

“After multiple episodes of anaphylactic shock,” says Sarah, “I finally started carrying an EpiPen so I could inject myself with epinephrine if I was exposed to an allergen. My parents stood up for me by petitioning the school board, and the board granted me permission to keep my EpiPen in my backpack,” Sarah says.

Today, just about every state in the U.S. has epinephrine stocking laws or regulations in K-12 schools, with multiple states requiring stocking in schools. In 2003 alone, doctors prescribed 1.4 million EpiPens. By 2007, that number had reached 1.9 million — a staggering 36% increase. In 2015, the number of EpiPens prescribed stood at approximately 2.5 million.

“Since then [junior high], I’ve added many more foods to my “death” list,” says Sarah. “Currently, there are 22 foods/food groups I can’t eat. The risk is that I could go into anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Fortunately, I can now eat shrimp and salmon after successfully completing food challenges!”

I’ve survived anaphylactic shock many times, and a MedicAlert bracelet has been with me nearly every day since I was 10.

“My most memorable race was the 2019 Surfer’s Path Marathon. The forecast called for electrical storms and overall unpleasant weather. I was nervous I’d be miserable for the whole race. For the first 10 miles there was torrential rain, hail, lightning, and thunder,” Sarah explains. “Then the sun made an appearance over the Pacific Ocean and I was determined to do my best. Even with all the crazy weather, I managed to earn a PR (personal record)! “My husband and daughter feel more at ease when I go out for a race or training run knowing MedicAlert will help protect me, and notify them in an emergency.”

MedicAlert protection plans and managing food allergies

A MedicAlert protection plan adds an extra layer of protection to food allergy care plans. Our protection plans can deliver detailed information about your condition directly to ER personnel. This ensures that your ER team knows you are living with dangerous food allergies, so the most accurate treatments can be administered quickly and safely. In addition, a MedicAlert protection plan can deliver your full health profile, designated physician’s information, and emergency contact information directly to ER teams. With a MedicAlert food allergy bracelet and protection plan, you will always have a voice.

“I live with life threatening food allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis,” says Sarah. “Having a MedicAlert ID allows me to live the life I want to live. A full life. A life I love.”

Food allergies and anaphylaxis: educating the next generation.

Organizations such as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) help educate, advocate, and raise awareness for people affected by life-threatening allergies. As individuals, we can also do our part to educate those around us about the dangers of food allergies.

“I’ve been a primary teacher for 16 years (most of my experience is in kindergarten and first grade),” says Sarah. “At the beginning of each new school year, I share my story with my students, including my bracelet and EpiPen [use], and explain what to do in case of a severe allergic reaction.”

“Throughout the year,” she says, “they remind me to get my “medicine” when we walk out to recess! But it’s a great way to educate them about food allergies and what to do in an anaphylactic emergency. It helps them understand that anyone can have food allergies, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I show them that with the right precautions (like MedicAlert) they can live a normal, active life.”

“I’ll be a MedicAlert member for the rest of my life,” Sarah says. “I love my MedicAlert bracelet!”

Shop Sarah’s Bracelet here.

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Living with Life-Threatening Food Allergies

MedicAlert — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 12:00:51 +0000

FOOD ALLERGIES

Living with Life-Threatening Food Allergies

Living with life-threatening food allergies is something Sarah Ackerman has been dealing with her entire life. Diagnosed as a toddler, Sarah has had to learn a lot of strategies to avoid serious allergic reactions.

Today, she’s an expert at reading food labels, knows how to talk to restaurant staff about cross-contamination, and religiously carries an epinephrine auto-injector at all times. Although she’s learned ways to live with her food allergies, Sarah’s journey continues—with MedicAlert by her side.

“When I was three years old, I got my first real piece of jewelry,” says Sarah. “It was a silver and gold bracelet, customized just for me. There was nobody else in the world who could wear this bracelet, and I felt special.”

She continued, “My MedicAlert bracelet has remained on my wrist for more than twenty-one years. It has seen me through every dance performance, breakup, sleepover, and most importantly, allergic reaction. While the styles, allergies, and chain length have changed over the years, one thing remains clear—this bracelet is my lifeline.”

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About Allergies

Learn more about this condition on the medical conditions page.
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Other Conditions

Read about other conditions that our MedicAlert members live with.
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Growing up with life-threatening food allergies

“To make it easier, I’ll start at the beginning,” Sarah said. “When I started preschool, my pediatrician explained to my parents the importance of having a MedicAlert bracelet. So they got me one right away.

“That MedicAlert ID provided me with my first major life lesson and feeling of identity. I was taught to flip the bracelet over upon meeting an adult. Point to it for them to read, and say ‘no nuts for me.’ Simple, but it worked! And quite honestly, you can’t expect much more from a three-year-old. I was perfectly trained.”

Sarah’s first allergy was to tree nuts. Not to be confused with peanuts (a legume), the most common tree nuts that trigger food allergies are walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts.

Sarah is so sensitive to tree nuts that she’s at risk for anaphylaxis, a severe rapid-onset allergic reaction that can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Tree nuts are found in some very unexpected places including breakfast cereals, condiments, candy, frozen desserts, and cookies. These are all the things kids and teens (and let’s face it, adults too) love.

To stay safe, Sarah takes extraordinary measures to avoid her allergy triggers. But because tree nuts are found in so many common foods, avoiding them can be difficult. Accidental exposure is always a risk.

That’s why Sarah’s parents made sure she had a MedicAlert ID. When people around your child know they have severe allergies, they can help your child avoid contact with those allergens. And in case of an allergic reaction, a MedicAlert ID engraved with “anaphylaxis risk, allergic to tree nuts food” alerts the people around your child about their life-threatening condition.

Sarah explained how it made a difference for her and her family.

“While I was growing up and still too young to fully communicate my allergies this bracelet provided my parents with peace of mind.

“My bracelet, which looked way too nice for any child to otherwise be wearing, was very apparent upon seeing me. At school, dance class, rehearsals, or playdates, the bracelet remained a constant. A constant voice that would be available if something were to go wrong.”

My MedicAlert bracelet and protection plan allows my health information, physicians, and loved ones to be linked to my account. If something were to happen, I find great comfort in knowing that all the right people could be reached."

Sarah, MedicAlert Member since 1999

Embracing my MedicAlert medical ID

“Once I reached my teenage years, I wanted to find the aspects of my food allergies I felt like I could control,” explains Sarah. “My MedicAlert bracelet was the only thing I could think of.”

That lead to some experimentation. “As a result, I sometimes took it off, just to see if anyone would notice and if something bad would happen. When I did that, I always felt nervous knowing that if something went wrong, I wasn’t helping myself.

“My parents tried to turn it into something special, showing me all the styles and allowing me to pick out my very own [medical ID],” says Sarah. “As jealous as my sister was of me picking out the styles, I was more jealous that she didn’t have to wear one at all.”

In high school, her ID sometimes made her feel different from other teenagers. “I looked around the hallways and saw the bare wrists of my classmates,” Sarah recalls, “feeling like this bracelet had huge arrows pointing to it with big flashing lights. In reality, nobody noticed it except for the people who were trained to. I wish I realized that sooner.”

Now she knows just how important her MedicAlert ID is for her safety. “I think my pediatrician said it best when he said, ‘In the event something happens, food allergies would be the last thing someone thinks of when it should be the first.’ With food allergies, treatment needs to be immediate—there is absolutely no time to wait.”

“After that,” says Sarah, “I never took my bracelet off again.”

Empowered by MedicAlert

If you’re living with life-threatening food allergies, a MedicAlert medical ID is your 24/7 companion. In case of a medical emergency like anaphylaxis when breathing is difficult, MedicAlert will be your voice. It provides first responders with the information they need to give you faster, more accurate treatment.

“I’ve had a number of conversations with people who think they no longer need a MedicAlert bracelet as they get older,” says Sarah. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. As I now work to educate others about the importance of MedicAlert, I point out the incredible benefits that often go unrealized.”

In addition to communicating your allergies, a MedicAlert ID bracelet links health professionals to the information they need to assist you in a crisis. MedicAlert’s health profile stores all your important medical history, as well as contact information for physicians and emergency contacts.

“If something were to happen,” says Sarah, “I find great comfort in knowing that because of my [MedicAlert] bracelet, all the right people could be reached.”

Facts About
Food Allergies

1 in 13 children have a food allergy.

More than 15% of school-aged children with food allergies have had a reaction in school.

The majority of fatal food allergy reactions are triggered by food consumed outside the home.

Source: FARE Food Allergy Facts and Stats

Sarah's MedicAlert bracelet

Today, Sarah wears a sterling silver MedicAlert bracelet that’s rhodium-coated to resist scratches and tarnishing. This classic embossed bracelet is also available in 10-karat gold and stainless steel. The globally-recognized MedicAlert emblem is prominently displayed on the front, with Sarah’s allergies, Member ID number and MedicAlert emergency hotline engraved on the back. Custom engraving on all MedicAlert medical ID products is free.

“I am well into my twenties and I still look forward to picking out a new bracelet,” says Sarah. “I’ll continue to wear my MedicAlert ID to keep me safe.”

For people like Sarah living with food allergies, MedicAlert is an important part of their safety toolkit. See how MedicAlert protects people with food allergies here.

Waiting for a Heart Transplant

MedicAlert — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:38:36 +0000

HEART DISEASE

Waiting for a Heart Transplant

Like many social workers, Chrissy, a MedicAlert member since 2018, has a big heart full of compassion for people in need. Over the years, she has given her time and energy to help victims of rape and domestic abuse in New York.

Chrissy used to be the Director of Social Service for a center that received as many as 900 patients every year. She is also busy with raising two teenage sons. Her goal in life is to help people and make a difference in the world.

While her heart for serving others remains strong, her physical heart cannot keep up. First diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) in 2011, Chrissy is now waiting for a heart transplant.

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In need of a heart

Her health journey affects not just her life, but the lives of her two teenage sons. They are both helpful and attentive to their mom’s medical needs, but Chrissy’s diagnosis creates a lot of anxiety in the household. One of her sons admits that sometimes he still has nightmares about his mom’s condition. Chrissy is determined to not let her medical needs take away from their childhood and teenage years. “I try to be as independent as I can,” she says. At the same time, she explains, “I don’t want any surprises.” She continues to keep her sons in the know about her condition and encourages them to talk to her doctors.

Because her heart condition is related to genetics, she wants to make sure her children stay as healthy and informed as possible.

Her condition may be dangerous, and it may be a long wait until she receives her heart transplant, but Chrissy is still optimistic and ambitious. Living in Queens, New York, she is in her last year of studying for her Masters Degree in International Crime and Justice. She originally wanted to move to her mother’s native Trinidad and Tobago to work with childhood sexual-abuse cases. Although she is waiting for her new heart, she hasn’t given up on this goal.

“When I get my heart—and I’m hopeful, I follow my coordinator’s directions—I’m going to be all over!” she laughs.

“If first responders call MedicAlert, they'll know what do do...that means I can live my life without so much worry.”

Chrissy, MedicAlert Member since 2018

Facts About Heart Disease

3,817 heart transplants were performed in 2021 alone

600,000 patients in the U.S. live with advanced heart failure

Over 60 million women (44%) in the United States are living with some form of heart disease.

Source: American Heart Association

Congestive heart failure explained

When a person’s heart is weakened and can’t pump blood as well as it should, this is called congestive heart failure. The heart is made up of muscle. Damage to this muscle or problems with its structure can lead to the heart becoming enlarged and weakened even more. It can be a life-threatening condition, and the only cure is a heart transplant.

There are many health concerns that can lead to congestive heart failure. This can include heart disease like coronary artery disease, infections, autoimmune problems, some chemotherapy drugs, and hereditary causes (genetics).

Chrissy’s CHF is mainly due to genetics, although a 2011 pregnancy made the condition worse. Things took a devastating turn when her baby died in labor. Her CHF stayed stable until 2017, when she started to feel crippling stomach pains. Her gastroenterologist ordered an endoscopy. Ulcers were found on the test, but the gastroenterologist was not convinced that was the only problem.

In February 2018, Chrissy had a stroke that landed her in the hospital. Then, she was hospitalized again for shortness of breath a month later. Doctors found that she was in Class IV heart failure, also known as end-stage heart failure. In April, she received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to support her heart’s ability to pump blood.

A bridge to heart transplant

An LVAD is a device that is surgically implanted to help a weak heart pump blood. Part of the device is attached to a chamber of the heart called the left ventricle. This chamber is where the heart pumps blood into the body. Another part of the pump is attached to a controller outside the body, which means that Chrissy must carry this device with her everywhere she goes, recharging it at night.

While this sounds like an inconvenience, it has improved her quality of life. Before the implant, her diagnosis meant she was out of breath frequently and had difficulty speaking because her heart struggled to get oxygen to her body. Now, she speaks normally and has more energy.

LVADs are not a cure for congestive heart failure. But they do help people with the condition live longer. Some people use an LVAD for the rest of their lives, but for Chrissy, it’s a “bridge to transplant” while she waits to receive a new heart. Donor hearts are already difficult to come by, and because she is 6’1”, Chrissy needs a heart from a taller person.

Like other people who use LVADs to support their heart, Chrissy must watch for complications like infection at the site of implantation, blood clots, and possible device malfunctions. She also must be sure her family, friends, and any medical providers are aware of the device and what to do in an emergency.

Greater peace of mind with MedicAlert

Chrissy is determined to stay as independent and active as possible while waiting for her heart transplant. When she’s out and about, it is especially important for Chrissy to have a safety net.

For her, wearing a MedicAlert bracelet is more than just a precaution. In an emergency, it could mean the difference between life and death.

“People can’t even tell I have this machine,” she says about her LVAD. “Let’s say I pass out, from medication or dehydration, or let’s say the battery dies. You can’t do CPR because you could break the LVAD. These are things that people need to know.”

After receiving her LVAD, Chrissy started to research how she could let people know about her particular medical needs in case she is ever unconscious. One of her cousins is a police officer, and they explained to her that first responders are trained to look for MedicAlert medical IDs.

Because of the LVAD, Chrissy does not have a natural pulse. In an emergency, it would be easy to mistakenly think she was dead. She also cannot receive treatment with an automated external defibrillator (a device that shocks the heart) because of her LVAD.

“If they call MedicAlert, they know what to do,” Chrissy says. “And that means I can live my life without so much worry.”

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