3 more days to my first paper...i'm so excited!! can't wait for hols
Foods that harm
HUMANS eat food to get the energy required for the activities of daily living. Many people eat more than the daily requirements. This, together with the lack of exercise, leads to the obesity epidemic that is spreading globally.
The body recognises most food items as “friendly”. However, some people have food allergies. Their body’s immune system identifies specific food items as “foreign” and produces antibodies, called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which attack the food item. The chemicals released in the process cause unpleasant side effects. The body’s response is rapid and is potentially life-threatening.
Food allergies are common in children, affecting about 5% overall, but with a higher incidence in younger children. In general, children outgrow their food allergies by the time they start formal schooling. However, only a few outgrow peanut allergies. When a sufferer reaches adulthood with a food allergy, the latter will probably be life-long.
It is not known why food allergies occur but the risk is increased if a person or his or her family members have other allergic conditions like allergic rhinitis, asthma or eczema.
Food intolerance
Food allergy is different from food intolerance. The former involves the body’s immune system but the latter does not. Food allergic reactions occur with the smallest amount of the food item. Food intolerance is usually dose related, that is, small amounts of the food item are tolerated by the body but larger amounts lead to a reaction which may mimic food allergy. Food intolerance is of slower onset than food allergy and is not life-threatening.
Allergens
Any food can cause an allergic reaction. The common allergy-provoking food in children includes cow’s milk protein, egg, soya bean, wheat, peanuts and fish. The common allergy-provoking food in adults includes nuts, mushrooms and seafood such as fish, prawn, crab, shrimp, clam and squid.
Food allergies have also been attributed to certain food additives and preservatives but this is disputed by some experts. The additives and preservatives include monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium benzoate, sulphites and tartrazine.
Some young adults may suffer from localised oral allergies. They have an itchy throat and mouth when they consume certain fresh fruits (such as apple or cherry), vegetables (carrot or celery) and nuts.
Consequences
The individual who has a food allergy may be affected in more ways than one. Although the clinical features are generally mild, an anaphylaxis may occur which can be life-threatening. The non-consumption of certain foods without a substitute food can result in nutritional deficiency with its attendant consequences, including poor growth in a child.
A food allergy usually occurs within minutes of consuming a small amount of the food item. The clinical features include itching, particularly around the mouth; swelling of the mouth and/or throat; generalised body rashes; wheezing; nausea; diarrhoea; vomiting and occasionally anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is an extreme allergic reaction which may occur at any age but rarely in babies. It usually starts with the clinical features in the previous paragraph but progresses to breathing difficulties; marked swelling of the mouth and throat; rapid pulse rate; severe abdominal pain, vomiting and/or diarrhoea; weakness or dizziness due to a sudden drop in blood pressure; collapse and unconsciousness.
An anaphylaxis is life-threatening and usually occurs rapidly, although the clinical features may sometimes occur up to an hour or so after consumption of the food item.
Management
A consultation with the doctor is essential if a food allergy is suspected. The doctor will take a history which would include details about the reaction and whether there is a family history of other allergies (for instance allergic rhinitis, asthma or eczema) and conduct a physical examination. A referral to a specialist may be made by the doctor.
The keeping of a detailed diary of all foods consumed, together with the clinical features of any reaction, for about a fortnight prior to consulting the doctor would be helpful in the elucidation of the causative agent. The diary should contain details of all foods, drinks and medicines, including food supplements, consumed. The clinical features of any reaction, its intensity and timing in relation to the food consumed should be recorded. The food diary would be helpful in directing allergy tests.
Skin-prick testing involves placing drops of various diluted foods on the arm and then introducing the food drops into the body by pricking the skin with needle or lancet. A positive reaction is indicated itchiness, redness and swelling at the site of the prick. This test is safe. The accuracy of the test depends on whether the reaction is negative or positive. If the result is negative, the results are about 90% accurate but if it is positive, it is about 50% accurate.
Tests done on a blood sample to detect antibodies to specific foods provide information about the likelihood of an allergy to the foods. Negative results are about 90% accurate, but positive results are about 50% accurate.
The gold standard in food-allergy testing is challenge-testing, which involves the consumption of a small amount of the suspected food item under the supervision of a specialist in a hospital. The reason for this precaution is because of the likelihood of an anaphylaxis. A diagnosis can be made if a reaction is observed. Challenge-testing is time-consuming, costly and cannot be done on those with asthma or other allergic reactions.
A positive diagnosis of food allergy can only be made by taking into consideration the history, physical examination and the results of tests. If the identification of the food item is not possible but food allergy is suspected, an elimination diet will be suggested. This involves non-consumption of certain food items and gradual reintroduction into the diet. A food diary is kept with a record of any clinical features of an allergic reaction. The test is usually done under the dietician’s supervision in order to avoid any nutritional deficiency.
Although there is no cure for food allergy, it can be managed by avoiding the causative food item. The diet consumed has to be planned to ensure that it is nutritionally balanced. In addition, advice will be provided on the checking of food labels so that specific food item can be avoided.
There are special milk formulas for babies who are allergic to milk and/or soya. The doctor may prescribe medicines depending on the severity of the food allergy and the patient’s individual circumstances. The commonly prescribed medicines are anti-histamines which counteract the histamine release in an allergic reaction. Anti-histamines are suitable for mild allergies but are unsuitable for small children and patients who have fits. They cannot be used to manage severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.
Severe food allergies or anaphylaxis is managed with adrenaline which keeps the airways open and reverses any drastic fall in blood pressure. The adrenaline comes in the form of auto-injector pens. Treatment should be sought at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department of a hospital after using an adrenaline auto-injector pen. It is recommended that children with food allergies should carry two doses of adrenaline as more than 10% of children who present at A & E departments with severe food allergies or anaphylaxis receive a second dose.
It is essential that children, their carers and teachers are provided with information on the usage of the medicines prescribed.
Prevention
The prevention of food allergies is possible if the causative food item is identified. However, it is easier said than done. General measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of food allergies. Exclusive breastfeeding especially in the first four to six months of life has been reported to reduce the incidence of allergies. Patients who have a strong family history of allergies are usually advised to avoid smoking during pregnancy and to breastfeed exclusively.
Parents should be careful and introduce new food one at a time to the baby’s diet. If there are any clinical features of an allergic reaction, the doctor should be consulted. When a food allergy has been confirmed by tests, the most effective way of prevention is to avoid the food item altogether.
It is important to remember if all potentially allergy-provoking foods are avoided after the baby has stopped breastfeeding, it is more likely to cause malnutrition. A nutritionist would be helpful in providing advice on alternative food items that have similar nutritional value. Whenever there is doubt, it is advisable to consult the doctor.
Coconut's Singing
I cant remember what was the second song. But this is good!
Flying into a sweet dream :P
Frozen, Bedtime Song
I enjoyed the first session of bedtime songs, even if the first one failed. Hehe...what was the song? I think is this one :)
BC's Fav
Good for exercising. Listen to it when you feel lazy to exercise. Listen to it if you want to win in Othello. BUT never listen to it when you are driving!
"This song can make a fat man like me shave 1 min off my 2.4km timing! omg! it works! yesterday run 13:03, today run 11:47...haha.." -BC-
今天你要嫁給我
This video is so cute. I can understand the meaning of the song. Nice translation.
My laptop's a bit weird today. Maybe it's telling me not to play so much and go study. Hmph..next week's going to be very hectic. Three tests and 2 are considered as finals. So much to study :S And this time for investment analysis, we are only allowed to bring formula sheet. No more notes. Sad sad..
And they are cutting the trees at the bus stop. Noisy!!
Win People Over Rather Than Win Arguments
I found this fascinating quote today:
Winning an argument is tempting for most people working in a team. Who does not wish to be right? Who does not want to have the last say and feel victorious? But if your focus is on the team’s progress and not on personal whims, sometimes it is better in the first place not to get into an argument. The best way to get your message across to people is to win them over instead of winning an argument with them.deepimpactonline.com, Win People Over Rather Than Win Arguments, Mar 2010You should read the whole article.
Test test test
Yay! My 2 Finance CAs are over. Open House is also over! Now need to concentrate on my Molecular Biology CA this coming Friday. Argh..so many tests.
"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
...
Just finish one CA this morning. I can't wait for the next one to be over too. Just 3 hours and 30 mins to go...
The semester so far...
Recess week. It didn't really feels like recess week this time since it coincides with Chinese New Year. After coming back from Malaysia, there are many assignments that need to be completed and handed up when school reopens. So the next few days were spent trying to complete as much as possible. I volunteered for Chingay this year, so I was at the F1 pit building both Friday and Saturday. Although I enjoyed myself, I really think there's a lot of room for improvement especially avoiding time wastage.
Since uni resumes, I have already complete 3 out of 6 midterms and CAs. So half more to go. The next two will be next Saturday which is the same day as NUS Open House :P Good excuse for me not to be there.
This semester is really packed with assignments and projects. We just completed of FIN3102A presentation on Monday and the lecturer told us that we still have another project to do! I thought the group reading was the group project. Totally unexpected. I hope this coming one will be much easier compared to the group reading, or maybe just like our mini-case study will be good.
Corporate Finance. We'll need to do a tutorial every fortnight. The questions are really hard. Luckily its group work or else I'll probably get wrong for every single question. There's also a case study the need to be done by 19th March. I have yet to look at it since he haven't post the questions yet. Anyway, we have more than enough work to occupy ourselves with. Tutorial 3 will be due next Friday and this Thursday, which is tomorrow, we need to submit a critique for the report done by the other 3 groups. Hmm..I think the lecturer is too lazy to read their super long report so he asked us to submit a 1 page critique. Haha! Or maybe it's just to make us more critical in writing our own report when the time comes.
Yesterday was Metabolism CA1. There's also a CA2 somewhere early April. I don't really understand the lecturer most of the time so we need to do some self studying or guess what he's trying to say. Sometimes, he will even tell us the wrong information :S So you'll need to be very attentive during lecture and not just copy everything that he said :)
I enjoyed the Natural Heritage lectures. It's fun to learn more about the things around us and how we can play our part to conserve and appreciate them more.
I'm starting to understand more of Molecular Biology. The first lecturer's style was really not my type so I can hardly understand what he said or rather questioned.
And yesterday was also our Management Science mid terms. I hope I do well enough for it. The test was at 8pm. I completed my revision around 6.30pm so I decided to take a short nap before going for dinner around 7pm. I didn't hear my alarm which rung 3 times and got up around 7.30pm. The frequency of our shuttle bus was much lower after 7pm and even lower after 9pm. I manage to board the bus around 7.45pm and reach the venue at 8.05pm. Luckily the lecturers were late too so the paper only started at 8.10pm. The test ended around 9.20pm and I went to get my dinner! Lesson learn - don't nap before test unless you have super loud alarm!
"Life must be understood backwards; but...it must be lived forward."
Photo Updates!
30th December 2009 - Little Guilin
Nice scenery :D
31st December 2009 - New Year's Eve (Southern Ridges)
Bright moon!
"I'm scared!!!"
5th January 2010 - Bukit Timah
"Tired!!"
1st and 2nd February 2010 - Celebrations
Presents from dear dear!
Happy New Year!
2009 is coming to an end, so is the semester break. One month of holiday seems to have past so quickly.
Right after my exams, I had to attend the Sunburst Youth Camp 2009 organised by STEP. Similar to the previous year, the friendships formed and experiences gained were invaluable.
With participants from Cambodia at the airport
Photos with our Chaperone, Abel and ACES.
Campfire Night! Organised by the ACES :)
Coach C - Group 5 and 6 ACES
At Outward Bound Singapore :DI slept for almost the whole day after the camp (although I kept falling asleep during the camp *shy shy*)
On the 16th, we went out for shopping and walk along Orchard. Nice Christmas decorations, too bad it was raining, making it not so nice to walk. But it was enjoyable anyway. Photos in a separate post :)
I took a plane for the first time to go back to Malaysia on the 20th of December2009. It was really exciting except for the continuous delay in the flight. Attended Michelle's 21st Birthday Party and manage to catch up with my friends whom some I last met 4 years ago. Spend the rest of the time with my family, going out, visiting people and eat lots of good food.
Came back to Singapore in the 27th of December. Met up with our new RAD and discuss the activities for the coming semester. We had a mini Christmas treat by Dr. Gerald too.
On the 16th, we went out for shopping and walk along Orchard. Nice Christmas decorations, too bad it was raining, making it not so nice to walk. But it was enjoyable anyway. Photos in a separate post :)
I took a plane for the first time to go back to Malaysia on the 20th of December2009. It was really exciting except for the continuous delay in the flight. Attended Michelle's 21st Birthday Party and manage to catch up with my friends whom some I last met 4 years ago. Spend the rest of the time with my family, going out, visiting people and eat lots of good food.
Came back to Singapore in the 27th of December. Met up with our new RAD and discuss the activities for the coming semester. We had a mini Christmas treat by Dr. Gerald too.
Went to watch Sherlock Holmes at GV Max (I was so tired that I fell asleep not long after the movie started but manage to wake up in time for the climax)
Visited Bo Chao's house and his mummy cooked yummy duck + pork ribs noodles. Nice Nice. She's really a good cook.
It's New Year eve. So many things happened in 2009.
Hope you have a Happy New Year and a better 2010!
Visited Bo Chao's house and his mummy cooked yummy duck + pork ribs noodles. Nice Nice. She's really a good cook.
It's New Year eve. So many things happened in 2009.
Hope you have a Happy New Year and a better 2010!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)