Martin's Point Hosts May 14 Food Allergy Awareness Event at Shaw's in Brunswick

Event part of National Food Allergy Awareness Week

BRUNSWICK, Maine - Martin's Point Health Care is hosting an awareness event May 14 on food allergies and anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that sometimes occurs following exposure to allergy-provoking substances.

The event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 14, in the Shaw's Supermarket near Cook's Corner in Brunswick. This activity is designed for parents with concerns for their children as well as people with food allergies who are at risk of suffering life-threatening breathing problems as a result of a severe allergic reaction.

Anita Huey, a registered dietitian at Martin's Point, and members of its food allergy support group, including parents, will be available to provide resource materials and discuss food allergy and anaphylaxis. For additional information, call the Martin's Point Health Education Center at 828-2497.

More than 6 million Americans have a food allergy, and that number is growing. Statistics show that between 150 and 200 people die each year because of severe allergic reactions to food. Better education and awareness about how to manage these allergic reactions are the keys to keeping food-allergic individuals safe, Huey said.

Anaphylactic shock can occur within minutes of exposure to a food allergen. Symptoms, which can come on suddenly and can last a few minutes to several hours, include feeling faint, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, nausea, hives and swelling of the lip, tongue or throat.

Someone who suffers a severe allergic reaction needs emergency medical attention, said Jan Wnek, M.D., medical director at Martin's Point Health Care.

"When vital organs cannot function properly, your body goes into shock," Wnek said. "This is a life-threatening situation that must be dealt with quickly. But with education and understanding, severe allergic reactions can be avoided or, at the least, dealt with properly once they occur."

People who have had anaphylaxis in the past are often prescribed a self-treat kit that contains oral Benadryl and injectable Epinephrine to help reverse the allergic reaction until emergency care can be provided. In the case of patients who experience severe reactions, persons should use their kit immediately and call 911, or have someone take them directly to an emergency room, Wnek added.

The best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction is to find out which substance causes it and avoid that food, chemical, drug or other substance. For example, persons who are allergic to shrimp should not eat shrimp or shrimp sauce. Also, a Medic Alert bracelet can be worn to warn of an allergy and explain what to do in case of an emergency.

Sometimes use of oral agents such as antihistamines, inhaled corticosteroid and other medications can moderate a patient=s response to allergies. Another option is immunotherapy, which involves gradually exposing the immune system to the toxic substance to make it less harmful. Immunotherapy is very effective for insect allergies but not for food or drug allergies.

Martin's Point hosts a Food Allergy/Anaphylaxis Support Group that meets on the second Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Martin's Point Health Care facility (6 Farley Road) at Cook's Corner in Brunswick.

"This is the only group of its type in Maine," said Leigh Kirchner, a Certified Health Education Specialist at Martin's Point. "For people who have this condition, or are related to someone who experiences this severe reaction to food, this support group offers guidance in meeting their everyday challenges."

Martin's Point, with headquarters in Portland at 331 Veranda St., is a not-for-profit health care organization with facilities in Portland, Brunswick and Windham, Maine, and in Portsmouth, N.H. It has a staff of more than 300 health care professionals and serves 50,000 patients under all major health plans and insurance, including HealthSource, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Community Health Plan, Aetna, Maine Partners, Cigna, Anthem, Champus and Tricare plans.

Established in 1981, Martin's Point serves patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology, mammography and other fields. For additional information, visit online at http://www.martinspoint.org.

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