Did you know more than 15 million Americans live with food allergies? Of them, nearly six million are children under the age of 18. That's one in every 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom. Plus, did you know there is a convenient, covered-by-insurance blood test available that can help your doctor diagnose allergies for you? Joining us on The Balancing Act to discuss all you need to know about allergies is immunologist Dr. Lakiea Wright and a California mother with her son, who is allergic to peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame. An allergy is when your immune system reacts to something that's normally harmless to most people. If you come into contact with a substance that your immune system views as a threat, called an allergen, it responds by releasing a chemical called histamine and other substances. The release of these substances is what causes your allergic reaction. Just about anything you encounter in your environment can trigger an allergic reaction in someone who is all
