There’s been a great deal of information on the Internet and in the news concerning food allergies and the dangers that they can cause. According to a recent Washington Post news article many of the reactions people have to food are not truly food allergies. According to the article “Research shows that as many as 20 percent of people claim to have food allergies when the number is actually around 3 to 4 percent,” says Hugh Sampson, director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. He concedes that the number of people with milder reactions — nonallergic symptoms that flare up when they eat certain foods — is higher, but he thinks the problem is still generally overestimated. The main reason he feels that people report food allergies in higher amounts is because they do not take into account that food reactions tend to change over time. Also, many people diagnose their own food allergies and the information is widely subjective. However there are real and life-threatening food allergies that appear to be on the rise. A 2010 report comparing surveys of U.S. households in 1997, 2002 and 2008 found a steady increase in allergies to peanuts and tree nuts in children. The reasons for the trend aren’t clear. The key is to get a professional medical diagnosis to determine if there is intolerance to a certain food or an actual allergic reaction. Dr. Kim requires this information to be included in the initial medical intake form provided to every patient. Food allergies and digestive problems should be reported by patients to Dr Kim even though they are having an elective cosmetic surgery procedure. After abdominal plastic surgery including abdominoplasty and abdominal liposuction digestive issues can cause increased pain and discomfort unnecessarily. Dr. Kim and his staff are committed to helping patients have a comfortable patient recovery experience. This is made possible by sharing any information that may impact patient health and safety.
