Medical Center Explains Why the Teal Pumpkin Project Could Save Lives This Halloween

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Clik here to view.Each year on Halloween, millions of children head out to trick-or-treat with friends and family. With fun costumes and scary decorations come lots of laughter and candy, but not all children can fully enjoy the delicious candy of the holiday.

Food allergies can impact kids and their parents each day, but they’re of particular concern during holidays like Halloween when kids will come into contact with irresistible food at school and during trick-or-treating.

Food allergies are a common cause of childhood sickness, and some parents go many months or even years until they find out a child’s problem is an allergy. It’s important for kids to receive regular checkups at a family medicine facility like Pro-Care Medical Center to catch allergies as soon as they begin impacting a young person’s life.

The Teal Pumpkin Project

To further combat potential health problems resulting from food allergies, the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) organization created a national campaign in 2014 called the Teal Pumpkin Project.

According to the organization:

“Launched as a national campaign by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014, the Teal Pumpkin Project™ raises awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season.”

During the inaugural year of the Teal Pumpkin Project, families in all 50 states, as well as seven countries around the world pledged to participate in the project.

FARE is asking households around the country to pledge their participation in the Teal Pumpkin Project by choosing to offer a choice of non-food treats for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. The organization also requests that participants paint a pumpkin teal and place it in front of the home.

Participants may also choose to donate to FARE to support a variety of programs supporting allergy-awareness, as well as research and education on food allergies. The organization even offers families a sign for printing and downloading.

What are the Dangers of Food Allergies?Image may be NSFW.
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It’s common to hear people say they have an allergy to milk or lactose, or that they’re unable to consume common foods like soy, wheat, or eggs. In fact, FARE reveals that the number of Americans suffering from allergies could be as high as 16 million.

That translates to as many as 1 in every 13 children under the age of 18 suffering from an allergy. To put that in perspective, that’s at least two kids in every classroom around the country. Food allergies impacting children cost the country almost $25 billion a year, which is astounding.

Here are some symptoms of food allergies as described by The Mayo Clinic:

• Abdominal pain or diarrhea
• Dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness
• Hives, eczema, or itchy skin
• Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth
• Nausea or vomiting
• Severe nasal congestion
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing

It’s not always immediately clear that a child or adult is suffering from an allergy when he or she experiences one of the common symptoms. An allergy test with your family practice is a readily available option for figuring out the cause of mysterious symptoms.

Unfortunately, many people have food allergies that are so severe that life-threatening allergic reactions may occur when they come into contact with various foods. The reaction is called “anaphylaxis,” and immediate medical assistance is required because it may result in coma or death.

Some of the symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness and lightheadedness that leads to unconsciousness
• Rapid pulse
• Shock and a severe drop in blood pressure
• Swollen throat or the feeling of a lump in the throat

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Getting an Allergy Test

The first step to remaining healthy and free of life-threatening conditions associated with a severe food allergy is getting an allergy test. Doctors have a few methods they can use to conduct an allergy test, and it’s possible to test for a wide variety of potential allergens.

If you suspect that you, a loved one, or your child has a food allergy, it’s important to make an appointment with a medical center in San Antonio or an Austin medical center like Pro-Care Medical Center. The first step in living safely with an allergy is knowing what food causes the allergy, and your doctor can help you answer this question.

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