Do You Have a Swollen Lip? It Might Be Due to a Food Allergy

An allergic reaction to a specific food is caused by an adverse response of the body's immune system to a certain component in that food. This component is usually a protein, an essential building block for nutrition and health.

Many people will not even realize they have a particular food allergy until it manifests itself into a rash, sores or swollen areas of the body. If you notice your mouth begins to itch or a swollen lip after trying a new food product, it may be due to an adverse reaction to something in the product.

Hypersensitivity to foods can happen to almost anyone and they may not even realize the cause could be attributed to a particular food or ingredient in the item they are eating. If you believe the reason behind the swollen lip and itching sensation cold be the result of a food reaction, it is best to relieve the area by using cold compresses until the swelling has subsided. Call a doctor immediately for further instruction.

While the sensation is understandably frightening, it is important to stay calm and take inventory of the meals you had up until that moment. The food that caused the issue may not be the one you just ate, so be focused and detailed on everything that was ingested that day. If you had not eaten anything out of the ordinary, it may have been an ingredient in the "special recipe" from the provider or transfer from another food into yours.

Swollen lips can be just one type of response your body signals to having a particular issue. Other common reactions include; bloating, rash or hives, intestinal distress and breathing issues (Anaphylaxis) in extreme cases.

If you do not have a sensitivity to a particular food, you may never even notice or care what ingredients are in your food bar or drink that has just hit the shelves. But, for those who know all too well the dangers of food allergies, they are well aware of the foods they cannot have and are very diligent in reading food labels and asking questions from food server in restaurants. This practice is not foolproof but it goes a long way in keeping them safe.

In summary, most food sensitive people have only minor reactions to foods and can pretty quickly identify them so they can be avoided in the future. It is important to understand that food allergies should be taken seriously, and only a doctor and allergy testing is the proper way to identify the offending food or ingredient.