Late one night in January 2018, Nikki Smith, 39, was lying in bed watching television when suddenly her chest hurt, her blood pressure plummeted, and she thought she was going to pass out. Scared for her life, she went with her husband to the ER, where a battery of tests ruled out heart problems. She was sent home with advice to try to lower her stress level.
Smith, a retail manager in Kentucky, went through this several times over the next two years-doctors blamed stress and eventually diagnosed her with a panic disorder. But Smith was also plagued by a variety of gastrointestinal problems, which her doctors believed were due to complications from gallbladder surgery. Her symptoms, she says, had "no apparent triggers or rhyme or reason." Antidepressants didn't help.
Meanwhile, her seasonal allergies worsened, and one ear began to fill with fluid that felt as if it was constantly moving. Allergy tests turned up sensitivities to beef, pork, lamb, and cow's milk. Smith was surprised because she'd eaten these without incident for decades and hadn't experienced hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing, symptoms typically linked to food allergies. She left with a list of foods to avoid and a prescription for an EpiPen.
Finally, in May 2021, Smith visited a new gynecologist and mentioned her newfound allergies. The doctor suspected alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to red meat and anything containing mammalian products that is linked to, of all things, tick bites. Smith lives in a heavily wooded area. "I probably had three tick bites the summer before that January," she says. Her test for AGS came back positive.
LYME, HOLD MY BEER
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Living on our HEATING PLANET doesn't just affect our lungs, hearts, and immune systems but also can HARM OUR BRAINS' HEALTH, affecting our moods and behavior. Read on to know WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND HOW TO COPE.
SOLUTIONS Soothe a Sunburn
Expert-backed ways to ease the ouch and prevent burns in the first place.
HOW TO BUY IT Cooling Towels
These high-tech must-haves can help you beat the heat.
The Silver Palette
Complement gray hair with these tips from a makeup pro.
5 MYTHS ABOUT HANGOVERS
If last night's ale is still ailing you, you'll do anything to quench the throb. Here's the truth about the morning after, so you can recover fast.
The gut health CHEAT SHEET
Cut down on fried foods, ultra-processed foods, red and processed meats, alcohol, and sugary drinks, which can negatively impact gut health
7 WAYS to TAKE CARE of Your Gut
Research shows that people who get more sleep or have a high sleep efficiency (meaning they fall asleep quickly and stay asleep) have a more diverse mix of bacteria in their guts than people who sleep less or have more frequently interrupted sleep.
The ABC'S of IBS
THE GUT IS A COMPLICATED THE THINGS TPL PLACE, AND SOMETIMES THINGS CAN GET OUT OF SYNC THERE, leading to belly pain, mad dashes to the bathroom, and other symptoms.
Your Stomach's SECRET LIFE
YOU KNOW HOW WHEN YOU'RE YOU'RE NERVOUS you get butterflies in your stomach, or you can feel tired and logy all day when you're constipated?
All About P-BIOTICS
SUPPLEMENTS CONTAINING PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, AND POSTBIOTICS are very hot, but the truth is, these nutrients and microorganisms are available through a well-rounded diet. Here's what each P does for your gut.