LOCALIZED WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES AND ADDICTIONS
The first stage of negative reaction, minus-one, includes all of the localized withdrawal symptoms. In other words, these are physical problems which only occur in one distinct part or organ of the body. There are six major kinds of localized reactions:
1. Upper Respiratory Symptoms. These include inflammation of the nasal membranes (rhinitis), sinus problems, conjunctivitis and other eye or ear diseases, and problems associated with these, such as coughing, frequent clearing of the throat, raising of excessive phlegm, postnasal drip, and nasal obstruction. Other eye problems include an abnormal sensitivity to light (photophobia), blurring or dimness of vision, and excessive crying or itchiness around the eyes. Ear problems may include discharge from the ear, earache, deafness (especially of the intermittent kind), and inner or middle ear problems, such as vertigo, dizziness, lightheadedness, giddiness, or floating sensations.
Intense itching of the nose, palate, eyes, and ears, as well as profuse mucus production from the nose, eyes, throat, and sinuses, is often the result of some specific food allergy. Itching of the eyes, on the other hand, more frequently indicates susceptibility to particles in the air, especially pollen. Nasal polyps are often the result of drug sensitivity, especially, it seems, to aspirin.
2. Lower Respiratory Symptoms. The lower respiratory system includes
the vocal cords (larynx), the bronchial tubes, and the lungs. Vocal cord symptoms
range from hoarseness to periodic voice loss. Coughing and bronchitis often
occur and can be either seasonal or year-round, constant or intermittent, mild
or severe.
Some respiratory symptoms can be the forerunners of bronchial asthma. One of these is a form of difficult breathing called “sighing dyspnea” in which the patient experiences difficulty or distress in breathing, frequently accompanied by sighing-type noises. This condition often is regarded as the sign of a neurotic or nervous person. However, it also characterizes the patient with chemical or food allergy and can be the prelude to asthma.
The most common causes of hoarseness and loss of voice are reactions to specific foods. Tobacco smoke, however, is a very common cause of persistent coughing in patients who do not have asthma. Even nonsmokers can be affected in this way if subjected to someone else’s smoke. Bronchial asthma may also be caused by exposure to inhaled particles, chemicals, animal danders, or drugs.
3. Dermatologic (Skin) Reactions. This category includes such problems as eczema, itching, and hives. Many cases of eczema are caused by environmental exposures and most are characterized by itchiness. Exceptions are some cases of acne, psoriasis, and certain rare skin diseases which may or may not respond to ecologic management.
The most common sites for skin problems caused by food allergy are the neck, ears, and, in general, the folds of the body. Reactions to ointments are a common source of skin problems, which is ironic, since many ointments which are used to treat skin problems actually induce contact-type reactions.
Hives, or wheals, are commonly caused by drugs, and somewhat less frequently by specific foods. This type of reaction to drugs, such as penicillin, is of course common and well known. Less well known are similar reactions to chemical or biological drugs, which can be caused by both the active ingredient in the drug and by dyes, chemical preservatives, or other constituents.
4. Gastrointestinal Problems. Such illnesses include problems of the stomach or gut, such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, abdominal distress, nausea, vomiting, ulcerative colitis, and regional ileitis. In fact, any chronic or intermittent stomach or intestinal problem of unknown origin may have its basis in the environment, particularly in the foods one eats.
Peptic ulcers, which kill almost 6,000 Americans a year, can be either caused or perpetuated by responses to particular foods. There is no universal diet that can be given as a mass prescription for this problem: the proper diet for the individual depends on his particular response to foods. For example, milk, which has often been given as a treatment for ulcers, frequently turns out to be a cause of such reactions.
Specific food responses may also mimic gallbladder disease, appendicitis, and even intestinal obstruction. Colitis and ileitis are most often caused by food allergies. It is tragic to remove parts of the digestive system by surgery before food allergy has been ruled out in each and every case.
Genitourinary System Symptoms. These symptoms include urgency or frequency of urination, proneness to urinary tract infections, and some prostate trouble. The most common cause of such problems is foods. Specific foods can also cause an excessive discharge from the female organs, in cases where infection is not involved. (As a side note, the presence of infection does not rule out the parallel problem of allergy. The two problems can and do occur together, since allergic irritation can prepare the ground for a subsequent infection by microorganisms.)
Cardiovascular System Symptoms. The cardiovascular system includes the heart and the circulatory system. The principal problems encountered include edema (swelling), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats), and hypertension. Swelling and water retention, especially when it is generalized through the body, tend to have an allergic basis. Some local swelling can also occur: For example, edema around the eyelids is fairly common, resulting in the characteristic “allergic shiners” and a lacklustre appearance of the eyes.
High blood pressure (hypertension) and cardiac irregularities have long been associated with reactions to specific foods. Less commonly, they are caused by environmental chemicals and drugs. The cardiovascular effects, although localized to one anatomical system, take place through the body. They thus serve as a kind of bridge between localized and systemic reactions, which we shall consider next.
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