Managing Food Allergies requires a multi-pronged approach with strict avoidance of your trigger foods as the cornerstone. This means carefully reading food labels and understanding hidden ingredients. When labels say "may contain" or "processed in a facility with," caution is advised. Planning meals and snacks in advance ensures you have safe options readily available. Open communication with friends, family, and restaurants is crucial. Inform them about your allergies and inquire about ingredients when eating out. Opt for simpler dishes where you can understand the components and avoid buffets or shared plates where cross-contamination is a risk.

Living with Food Allergies also involves being prepared for emergencies. Carry an epinephrine auto-injector prescribed by your allergist and know how to use it. If you accidentally consume your trigger food, assess the severity of the reaction. For mild symptoms like rash or nausea, antihistamines might offer relief. However, for severe reactions like wheezing or trouble breathing, immediate medical attention is critical.

Allergy Shots are regular injections over a period of time, typically around three to five years, to help stop or reduce allergy attacks. Immunotherapy is a treatment in the form of allergy shots. Every allergy shot contains a trace amount of the specific substance or substances that trigger allergic reactions. These triggering substances are called allergens. Allergy shots contain just the right amount of allergens to stimulate your immune system - but not enough to cause a full-blown allergic reaction.

Gradually, your doctor will increase the dosage of Allergens in each of your allergy shots. This desensitizes your body to the allergens, so you get used to them. Your immune system establishes a tolerance to the allergens, causing your allergy symptoms to diminish over time.

During the build-up phase, you may notice a decrease in symptoms, however it may take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to see an improvement. If allergy shots are deemed successful, maintenance treatment is typically continued for three to five years. Allergy shots work similar to a vaccine: your body reacts to the amounts of a specific allergen by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen.