Is this an allergic reaction?

Medical question: I've had this weird allergic reaction after eating a lot and then exercising. Help.?

• Hi, I'm a 16-year-old boy who loves all types of physical activities. I'm am allergic to nuts and peanuts so I can tell what an allergic reaction is. Plus that, I have asthma so it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between there is bloating in my throat which makes it harder for me to breath or simply that i need to use my pump. But recently in the past few months, I've had two weird reactions and I don't know what caused them. Here are my two stories: 1. I was at school, I had just finished eating at the cafeteria. I was really full and so i started to get that bad feeling after you eat too much. Then, I went outside to go play soccer with my friends. After a while, I stopped playing since I was so full. I sat down and watched my friends play. I felt the need to go blow my nose so i went in the bathroom. I was in there for at least 30 minutes still blowing my nose. Then, I felt like i had to go use my asthma pump ( I started to panic a little because i thought it was an allergic Reaction to something I ate at the cafeteria even tho i had already eaten what i had eaten that day). The bell rang so i went to go get my stuff for class with a leaky nose and with difficulty to breath. Once I got to class at least 3 people asked me if i was ok because my face was all bloated and tears were coming out of my eyes. I ask the teacher to let me go to the bathroom to blow my nose. Once i got to the bathroom and saw how bad i looked i went to my locker to take my asthma pump and then went to the infirmary. They were persuaded that it was something I ate because I had all the symptoms a person who had an allergic reaction. What was bizarre was that i felt perfectly fine after I took my pump even though I still looked messed up. 2. I ran to my friends house (about 6.5 Km) I was fine until I stopped running once i got there and the same reaction I got a few months ago came back. We then started running to the gym. I had to stop running and start walking. We walked for about 30 minutes I was getting pretty bad like last time. Once we got there, I stayed in the locker room but this time i had no pump which made me panic but i got it under control after being in the locker room for another 30 minutes. My face was still bloated and i was wheezing a bit but i felt much better. and my nose was not leaking anymore but it was full ( i had to breath from my mouth). Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that (second story) i had just got home, and i had to leave shortly after i got home so i ate a lot to make sure i wouldn't get hungry at the gym. The only pattern that I can see is eating a lot and then physical activity. I also thought that maybe I was allergic to my own sweat but that was impossible since I played hockey twice a week and on the ice i was covered in sweat from head to toe. Plus that I sweat more that the average person. SO, Can someone please help me figure out what it could be. I don't want it to happen again. Thank you.

• Answer:

  From my research on the web, it could either be exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA), or a milder condition, known as cholinergic urticaria. EIA is "a multi-systemic allergic reaction, meaning that the allergy manifests itself through a spectrum of symptoms affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or other vital systems". The symptoms may include "a tingling sensation, itching, or metallic taste in the mouth", "hives, a sensation of warmth, asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth and throat area, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness". 35 percent of cases "involve a combination of food and exercise". Cholholinergic urticaria a similar, but unrelated condition where small hives "spread fast, and are extremely itchy, and symptoms usually clear up within an hour after exercise.” Your case sounds more like EIA. I recently (last night) experienced a condition that may be either. I'd see your doctor about it. It could be either a curiosity you rarely experience, or something that could get really bad.