Chinese Restaurant Syndrome

Eating out is supposed to be a fun experience, but if you're prone to Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, it can become more frightening than fun. If you suddenly start wheezing or flushing, don't worry--no one poisoned your egg roll. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is scary, but not usually dangerous.

Identification

• Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is the common name for a set of symptoms some people experience after eating Chinese food. The name was coined in 1968 when these reactions were first described. Other names for the syndrome are hot dog headache, monosodium glutamate syndrome and glutamate-induced asthma.

Causes

• The most likely cause for the syndrome is monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG is a flavoring used frequently, though not exclusively, in Chinese food. But studies haven't shown a conclusive link between MSG and the syndrome.

  Many people can eat MSG without any trouble. Among those who experience Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, the symptoms are like an allergic reaction but function more as a side effect of MSG rather than an allergy to it.

  Eating food containing MSG on an empty stomach makes a reaction more likely.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome usually occur within an hour of eating the offending food. It's not typically life-threatening, though the severity of symptoms increases the more MSG was consumed.

  Common reactions include headache, nausea and vomiting, sweating, flushing, pain in the chest, pressure or numbness in the face and burning or tingling in the neck, shoulders and arms. There can be wheezing or difficulty breathing and heart palpitations.

Prevention/Solution

• Since Chinese Restaurant Syndrome looks so much like an allergic reaction, sufferers are commonly given antihistamines. These may or may not help, but they won't do any harm. Most symptoms will disappear on their own within two or three hours, though fatigue can last for a day or two.

  If you've had an episode of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, you should try to avoid food containing high levels of MSG. You may be able to tolerate some MSG if it's taken in small doses and other food is eaten first.

Considerations

• Keep in mind that many foods other than Chinese food contain MSG. If you know you have a tendency to react to MSG, read food labels carefully and don't be afraid to ask about meal ingredients at restaurants. You probably won't be able to avoid MSG completely, but you'll have to discover your tolerance level and decide how vigilant you need to be. Mild symptoms, such as headache, don't necessarily have to keep you from your favorite foods.