Understanding Gluten Allergy and its Symptoms with Dr. Wade Wei Han

The term ‘gluten allergy’ is used to define ‘gluten intolerance’. Gluten is a kind of protein found abundantly in grains such as wheat. The allergy to gluten is precisely a kind of gastrointestinal reaction of body to gluten.

There are many symptoms that suggest intolerance or allergy of gluten. According to Dr. Wade Wei Han, these symptoms vary from one person to another. Hence, it is not easy to diagnose the allergy. Here is a list of some of the gastrointestinal symptoms of allergy from gluten:

• Gas
• Pain in abdominal region
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

The above listed symptoms may often lead to other problems such as abnormal weight loss, inability of body to consume nutrients, weak memory, excess weakness, chronic fatigue, problems with concentrating etc.

For gastrointestinal symptoms, the Dr. Han recommends patients to test for celiac disease. This is initiated with celiac blood tests. For positive results, the health care practitioner will prescribe an endoscopy. This is a kind of procedure that allows a doctor to have a look straight at the small intestine. The doctor can even take samples to conduct necessary laboratory test.

In negative celiac blood test result, the medical practitioner will consider a possibility of non-celiac sensitivity to gluten or some other health condition such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Wheat allergy can be diagnosed with skin prick tests. Blood tests may also be recommended by doctors to check antibodies.

Apart from gastrointestinal symptoms, one may show other symptoms for gluten intolerance such as joint pain, skin irritation, muscle cramps, seizures, headaches, and neurological problems such as numbness, tingling in hands or feet etc.

Wade Wei Han MD feels that if left undiagnosed or untreated for a long time, gluten allergy may ultimately lead to problems such as diabetes, anemia, osteoporosis, bowel cancer, etc. Hence, it is better to speak to a doctor if you observe gluten allergy symptoms.

To know more on food allergy, read - All about Food Allergy by Dr. Wade Wei Han

Allergy vs Sinusitis-Dr. Han Helps Out

Allergy and Sinusitis have a lot of common symptoms. Oft people confuse Allergy for Sinusitis and vice versa, and in the process suffer. Dr. Wade Han, who specializes in Otorhinolaryngology, & has a vast experience in treating both sinusitis & allergy. He says that it is very important for patients to ascertain whether it is Allergy or Sinusitis in order to get the right treatment. Hence, he explains the difference between the two here.

What is Sinusitis?
Around our nasal cavity, there are air filled spaces called sinuses. They serve as a potential site for infections. Infections of the sinuses leads to their inflammation. This is what they call as sinusitis.

What is allergy?
Allergy is an immune mediated reaction which does not involve any infection. Dr. Han told me that there are various types of allergies.

How they differ?
Of the various allergies, allergic rhinitis can be confused with sinusitis. But Sinusitis is due to an infection while allergy is immunologically based. In-fact, sinusitis can occur as a complication in a poorly treated allergic rhinitis.

How they present?
•    Allergic rhinitis presents with a watery nasal discharge with no peculiar smell. Sinusitis can also have a nasal discharge but according to Dr. Wade Han, it is more of a thick, foul smelling, often yellow or green discharge.
•    Sinusitis often has severe headache. This is not frequently true of allergic rhinitis.
•    Allergic rhinitis can have several associated allergic  conditions like dermatitis or Asthma. Sinusitis is not associated with these, unless it results as a complication of allergic rhinitis.
•    Sinusitis can have problems like osteomyelitis or bad breath odor. These are not seen in allergic rhinitis.

The treatments of both?
•    Allergic rhinitis requires a number of tests to detect the cause of the allergy. Then, sensitization can be tried. If it does not work, avoidance of allergen is preferred. Symptomatic treatment of the intermittent episodes is often enough.
•    Sinusitis, on the other hand, may require culture of the discharge. Antibiotic treatment is needed. Some advanced cases may need surgery on the sinuses.

But Dr. Han warns that your allergy could also be allergic rhinitis. To find out the difference between the two, read - Difference between Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis, Explains Dr. Han

Dr. Wade Wei Han shares the Importance of taking Hearing Tests

Dr. Wade Han has an experience of around 16 years in this field. He also has an expertise towards the treatment of hearing loss. He has a license to practice medicine in Florida.

Dr. Han states that hearing loss is twice as common in adults as compared to people of younger age. It is an under-recognized complication of the major disease called diabetes. The disease is a significant contributor to the problem of hearing loss.

A hearing test is necessary for patients with diabetes or for those who have trouble hearing. A hearing test is an evaluation of the person’s sense of hearing and is performed by an audiologist. Some other tests may also be involved in the evaluation of the ear.

Dr. Han suggested that people with diabetes should consider having their hearing tests as soon as possible or it may lead to permanent damage of the ear cells. The connection between hearing loss and diabetes is evident in all types of frequencies in the hearing tests.

Diabetes is a group of diseases and is recognized by high blood sugar levels in the body of the person. The disease is also a major cause of heart attack all over the world.

A survey has been conducted in which half of the participants aged between 20 to 60 years of age were assigned to have their hearing tested with a questionnaire regarding hearing and diabetes. Using the hearing test data, hearing impairment is measured in different ways and the result of the survey was that diabetes may cause hearing loss in the patient.

Hearing loss can also be a common problem that can be caused by age, disease or noise. Around 36 million people report some degree of hearing loss problem. It is directly related to the age as well. There can be many other diseases that are directly linked to the problem of hearing loss like metabolic diseases, digestive problems and hematologic diseases.

A healthy diet and a healthy environment can protect the person with diabetes with a controlled blood sugar level.

Is Diabetes Causing Hearing Loss in you? Read more on it - Dr. Wade Wei Han – Diabetes Leads to Hearing Loss

Dr. Wade Wei Han on Allergy Tests that might be used by Doctors

More than 50 million people in the United States are suffering from allergies. Dr. Wade Han explains about various allergy tests used by doctors to understand your problem better. Moreover, thanks to latest technology, allergy tests are convenient and accurate than before. Detailed medical history is sometimes not enough to understand specific allergy triggers. At such times, these tests can come in handy. An allergy test confirms if you have allergy along with the substances to which you are allergic.

Skin Prick Test
This test is usually done at first while looking for allergens. The skin is pricked with a tiny amount of suspected allergen to check the reaction. If you are allergic to that particular allergen, then skin will become itchy and a swollen mark may appear too. This painless and safe test can get you results within 20-30 minutes.

Patch Test
The patch test is done to check the reaction of skin after direct contact with a specific substance or chemical. Suspected substance/chemical is added to special metal plates. These plates are then taped to your skin for 48 hours. This test is carried out at a dermatology department in a hospital. If there are allergic antibodies in your system, your skin will turn itchy and irritating.

Food Challenge
Food or Oral challenge is known to be the most accurate way to diagnose a food allergy as stated by Dr. Wade Wei Han. During this test, the patient is given certain food items in increased amounts to check the reaction. Only one food item is tested in each session and it confirms which food items act as allergy triggers.

Blood Test
The blood test for allergens is also known by two popular names – lgE test and RAST test. This test is used to measure the number of lgE antibodies, produced by immune system in response to a suspected allergen, in the blood. The main advantage of this test is that it can be done at any time. Allergy blood test is preferred for infants and young kids.

Intradermal Test
Dr. Wade Wei Han explains this test as a small amount of allergen is injected just under the skin after proper cleaning of skin.

To know more on type of allergies, read - Common types of Allergies as suggested by Dr. Wade Wei Han

Know about Swollen Tongue Allergy from Dr. Wade Wei Han

An allergy is a reaction by your immune system to substances that may be harmless to many other people. Allergic reactions are caused by allergens which are substances that are foreign to the body. Examples of allergens include pollens, molds, dust mites, animal proteins, foods, and even medications. According to Dr Wade Wei Han, there is a greater risk of developing allergic conditions if a person has a family history of allergy.

Dr. Wade Wei Han MD is highly educated and a specialized surgeon from the Harvard medical school. He has worked in many hospitals and has years of experience treating patients with various types of allergies. He can also be looked upon as an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist, allergy testing and treatment expert and can also resolve issues regarding hearing loss and hearing aids. He continues to educate people on types of allergies and how to tackle them.

One such type of Allergy is Swollen toungue. The tongue can swell for a number of reasons like medications, allergies, and medical problems. A swollen tongue is an abnormal condition in which the entire tongue, or a part of it is enlarged, distended or bloated.  The swelling may be referred to as angioedema, which leads to swelling beneath the surface of the skin. Sometimes, it is not only the visible part of the tongue which swells, but also its back, the mouth or gums, and occasionally the larynx or voice box, says Dr. Wade Wei Han, MD, of the Florida Ear Nose Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Centre.

Angioedema and hives on the tongue, like other allergic reactions can be triggered by food allergies, drug allergies, pet allergies, a sting from an insect, or almost anything else that can trigger the allergies. The symptoms can be difficulty in breathing or swallowing, tongue pain, tongue lesion, difficulty in chewing, change in texture, rash, itching in the throat or mouth leading to severe problems and immediate treatment may be required.

Dr Han, who is an experienced allergy expert, stresses the importance of identifying the different allergens. The patient should be aware of the cause of his swollen tongue and the allergies behind it. He should take necessary precautions and get the proper treatment as soon as possible.

To know more on common types of Allergies, read - Common types of Allergies as suggested by Dr. Wade Wei Han

U. S. Based Dr. Wade Han and His Various Publications

Dr. Wade Wei Han is a popular name in the medical field who has earned the reputation for providing top-notch facial plastic surgery services and successfully treating various types of illnesses associated with nose, ears and throat. He is a United States based doctor who is currently practicing at the popular Florida Ear Nose Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Center and showing patients a way to a more rewarding living. He is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and has also acquired a certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology.

He worked dexterously and assiduously on various publications which are aimed at enlightening the people about different advancements and explorations being carried out in the field of plastic surgery and Otolaryngology. One of the most popular publications by Dr. Wade Wan is “Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery” which is in collaboration with Jung DH, Chang GU, Shan L, Liu DL, Wong ZJ, Tian HJ, Chen C and Han WW. Another publication which has earned Dr. Wade many accolades is “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” which is in partnership with some of the most popular names in the medical field, Jung DH, Kim BR, Choi JY, Rho YS, Park HJ, and Han WW.

Other famous publications by Dr. Han are “Association for Research in Otolaryngology”, “Laryngoscope”, and “Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery”. He is one of the most learned medical practitioners in this field who is proficient and at the same time compassionate.