Food Allergy Awareness with Dr. Oz
Jan 21 2010 in Food Allergy Channel, Food Allergy News by Ruth LovettSmith
Finally a show tackles food allergies and gets it right!
Dr. Oz addresses food allergies, symptoms and how to use the EpiPen in the video below.
If the video does not load, click on it again or click on Food Allergy Awareness with Dr. Oz
to go to the DoctorOz.com website. (For some reason you need to click play again after you get the message “the selected item is not currently available”, and the video will load.)
Please share this link with your friends and family to help others learn about food allergies and what to do in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
If you’d like to see more shows cover food allergies, visit my other post Vote for Food Allergy Segment on The Doctors for more information.
Edited to add: There has been some online discussion regarding several points from the above video. Dr. Oz tells the volunteer to grasp the EpiPen like a pencil or pen, when one should grasp it in their fist. Grasping it in the fist gives more control over the spring action of the needle. However, in fairness, grasping it like a pencil in theory could still work–just not as comfortably. There was also concern over the symptoms mentioned. Several people thought Dr. Oz should mention other symptoms like vomiting and stomach pain. There certainly are many different symptoms of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis. Dr. Oz covered food allergies and reactions in a short segment of his show and we feel overall that it was a good representation given the time he had. Our hope is that this will pave the way for he or another show to cover food allergies in more depth.
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chupieandjsmama said on January 21, 2010
I blogged this too!! I loved it. I thought he did a fabulous job of addressing his points and the way showed how a reaction “felt” was brilliant. I {heart} Dr. Oz :)
Stephanie Mitchell said on January 21, 2010
For a mom of a severely food allergic child who also has asthma – I say “THANK YOU” Dr. Oz!! I have experienced watching my then 3 1/2 year old son going through an anaphylactic reaction and several less severe reactions – and Dr. Oz’s demostration of what happens in an anaphylactic reaction is right on! I love Dr. Oz too! I’m posting this link on my Facbook page.
Maria Hardy said on January 21, 2010
Great! Did you catch he’s anaphylactic bee’s and he’s “lived through this” ? Wow. Thank you Dr. Oz!
Ruth LovettSmith said on January 21, 2010
Janeen–I saw your post just as I was posting mine! You were so much more descriptive! Amazing how the volunteer jabbed the EpiPen. I think a lot of people think that is what you are supposed to do. Glad he cleared it up!
Stephanie–glad you liked the video and I’m happy to hear you are going to link it. I think the more we share, the more awareness it will bring. And I think this video in particular was a great one b/c it was straight and to the point without any drama! :)
Maria–I did catch and totally forgot to mention the bee allergy. It’s funny how it always takes someone with history or experience to spread the word about allergies!
I’m just finally glad a show is covering food allergies and portraying them in such an educational and positive way.
kelly said on January 21, 2010
So grateful that Dr. Oz FINALLY covered this! I linked it on my FB site as well. I especially loved the detailed explanation of what happens during a reaction and how to treat. Yeah!!
Ruth LovettSmith said on January 22, 2010
Thanks Kelly for the link. The video really is a step in the right direction for raising awareness for the community!
chupieandjsmama said on January 22, 2010
Ruth, Just wanted to let you know that I also linked this post over at my blog on WEGO Health: http://community.wegohealth.com/profiles/blogs/food-allergy-advocates-what?xg_source=activity
Would love to get some of your suggestions on that post too!
Janeen
Kathy Kruse said on January 26, 2010
I have anaphylaxis. I get a funny feeling in my stomach, I get real hot and my upper body, hands and feet are bright red. I get severe stomach pain with uncontrollable diarrhea. I have felt like I was going to pass out or be sick to stomach. My lips and sometimes tongue swell and feel tingly.
I cannot tell what is causing the reaction. It is usually but not always right after I have eatten. I am having them more frequently and am afraid to go anywhere.
Ruth LovettSmith said on January 26, 2010
Thanks Janeen-will take a look over at wego health. Hopefully others will join in and comment there.
Kathy,
I encourage you to keep a food diary to keep track of your symptoms and when they occur and to contact an allergist immediately if you have not already. You should be keeping an EpiPen with you at all times.
Ruth
Missy @ The Marketing Mama said on October 5, 2010
I also noticed the problem with holding the EpiPen when this first came out. I met Dr. Oz today in person. I thanked him for his work to educate our country on food allergies and actually talked to him about the right way to hold an EpiPen! He was grateful that I gave him the right information. yay! :)
Ruth LovettSmith said on October 6, 2010
Thanks Missy, glad to hear it!