Q. I am 30 year old female and was reading one of your letters and it said "people with panic disorder usually develop food allergies, etc." Would you please tell me if salted peanuts (dry in shell) could "help" cause one of these awful panic attacks? Once, I went to the E.R. (thought I was having a heart attack (ate peanuts before). Tonight, I ate peanuts about 30 min. before I had another one. What do you think? I have two children and it scares me.

A. People with an anxiety disorder can develop allergies, but these allergies do not usually trigger panic attacks and/or anxiety. On the other hand, some people with or without an anxiety disorder are allergic to peanuts and some people can have a very strong allergic reaction.

Can you ask your doctor to be tested for an allergy to peanuts. It is better for your doctor or allergy specialist to run the test just in case you are allergic to them and do have a reaction.

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