Understanding the Serious Implications of Severe Allergy

Allergy affects the lives of millions of people daily considering it is simply triggered by common dust, dander, pollens, and other airborne particles. It’s also possible that food can trigger severe allergy in some people as caused by fish, peanut and other seafood. Usually, allergies can be temporarily treated by taking over-the-counter drugs such as anti-histamines. However, anti-histamines act as a relief for mild to moderate allergy symptoms. Severe allergy usually calls for medical attention since a life-threatening situation known as anaphylaxis can happen. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening since its manifestation include constriction of air passageways which makes it very difficult to breathe. Also, blood pressure dangerously drops since anaphylaxis shocks the body’s system which is really very life-threatening. Allergic reactions such as swelling, eczema, itching, vomiting and shortness of breath seem common at first. Later, the body reacts violently when the person cannot breathe anymore properly. The only effective and fast-acting solution when the body goes into anaphylactic shock is a dose of epinephrine. However, this can mean urgent medical attention since a doctor or health professional would only be the only one to properly administer this treatment. Notably, these severe allergy reactions happen just because the body’s immune system overreacts to the invader or foreign substance.

Severe allergy can happen even if people are just exposed to traces of allergens. Limited exposure to allergens can also lead to anaphylaxis such as :

• OTC medications and prescriptions

• Insect stings caused by bees, ants, wasps

• Food and its by products such as peanut, soy, dairy and seafood

• Blood transfusion• Rubber ( latex)

Aside from the given list other allergens can possibly cause severe allergy depending on the body’s immune system. It is necessary for people with severe allergy to be cautious in selecting food to eat especially when dining out since some restaurants may include ingredients like peanut that can cause severe allergy. Slight exposure to pollen during changing of seasons can trigger severe allergy so vacuuming and housecleaning is also preferable. In fact, severe allergy can be prevented by people too. People with severe allergy just have to pay attention to any possible allergen around them.