Anaphylaxis is a serious type of allergy that usually happens when a person takes a triggering substance that is often called allergen. The exposure and its resulting reaction, anaphylaxis, occurs when the person become sensitized to that substance.
Sometimes even if the person is exposed to allergens, even how little the allergens are and the time of exposure, the resulting allergy can really be serious and life-threatening.
Anaphylaxis attacks can happen after the substance is inhaled, injected or ingested. Physical or skin contact to the substance can sometimes also lead to anaphylaxis attacks.
Beware, because medical records around the world show that in several instances, anaphylaxis can lead to shock or anaphylactic shock that can really be fatal and deadly if untreated or uncured.
An example of a substance that can lead to anaphylaxis is bee sting. Bee stings contain minimal amounts of toxins that sensitizes a person’s immune system. If the person is exposed to subsequent bee stings, certainly, an allergic reaction will follow.
Take note that reaction to bee stings can be severe, sudden, and sometimes involving the entire body.
During anaphylaxis attacks, take note that the victim’s airways can be constricted. This reaction will sometimes be serious especially if breathing difficulties, wheezing and gastrointestinal discomfort occurs, like cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Causes of anaphylaxis
Other substances that may trigger an onset of anaphylaxis include several drugs, food allergens, horse serum which are contained in vaccines and other insect bites especially if there are stinging sensations. Insects like wasps, hornets and several species of ants can cause these sensations.
Foods that commonly cause anaphylaxis include eggs, wheat, shellfish, fish, legumes, soybeans, milk, cheese, peanuts and other nuts.
Drugs like pain relievers including diclofenac and ibuprofen, and anti-infection like penicillin and cephalosporins can trigger anaphylaxis attacks on several people.
Do you know that regular and prolonged exercises can also lead to anaphylaxis attacks? Yes, it is true because exercises affect the flow of air in your breathing system, especially if the surroundings is unclean.
Symptoms to look out for
Basically, anaphylaxis attack by constricting the passage of the airways. The disease can be indicated by respiratory distress, and low blood pressure or hypotension (the opposite of the common hypertension).
Other indications include hives or in medical terms urticaria, itching, vomiting, uncontrolled tears due to stress and difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, neck, throat and other body parts, blushing and fainting.
These symptoms can immediately show up upon exposure to triggering allergens or substances. However, in some cases, symptoms for anaphylaxis occur after about 30 minutes to up to about a few hours after the exposure or ingestion of allergens.
Take note that several of the symptoms are also symptoms for incompatible blood transfusion and should not be mistaken for such.
Treatment
Anaphylaxis attacks will require utmost and serious professional medical attention. Because the attacks involve breathing difficulties, it is important to rush the person to the hospital to avoid serious problems, especially if no one around knows some first aid treatments for such.
In several attacks, artificial resuscitation, like the methods used when first aiding a drowned person, should be administered. Drugs like epinephrine and antihistamine will also help.
Prevention is better than cure
Because prevention is always better than cure, it is important if you have a history of anaphylaxis to know and identify the triggering substances.
Avoid insect bites and bee stings, because they are the common cause of anaphylaxis. Food allergens, especially some types od sea foods should definitely scrapped from the diet.
Allergies to drugs should also be known so you will never have the trouble of treating one disease and contracting anaphylaxis in the future. Remember, presence of mind and cautiousness can save you from a lot of trouble.
Getting The Upper Hand On Asthma Allergy
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Asthma allergy is the number one form of allergy today. And since asthma allergy is inherited, one can get it at a young age. The diagnosis process for asthma allergy is a simple and very straightforward test and will immediately determine if you do have asthma and not just some other type of allergy.
Symptoms of an asthma allergy
An asthma allergy reaction can vary in degree, from mild to severe. The following are symptoms of an asthma allergy:
- Headache.
- Fever.
- Chronic coughing.
- Chest pain or tightness.
- Difficulty in breathing.
- Rapid breathing or wheezing.
- Scratchy or sore throat.
- Itchy, watery eyes.
- Runny nose.
- Continuous sneezing.
Some of the mentioned symptoms have the same indicators to conditions like pulmonary disease; sinusitis and influenza so make sure you see a doctor for a more precise diagnosis. What you thought as an asthma allergy may actually be something else.
An asthma allergy reaction that is mild to moderate in degree can be identified with tightness of the chest, spewing and coughing up mucus, having difficulty sleeping and constant wheezing.
A severe asthma allergy attack may be characterized by the person having difficulty in speaking, a bluish color to the person’s lips and fingernails, and breathlessness. When this happens, the patient must be ready with their medication.
Asthma Allergy Treatment
The asthma allergy is treated by medicines prescribed by the doctor. These medicines reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane and help normalize the air passage of the person with asthma allergy. Called “controller medicines”, they help ease the pain of the asthma allergy attack:
- Mast cell stabilizers - non-steroidal medications that control the inflammation by stopping the body from releasing inflammatory chemicals.
- Corticosteroids - another anti-inflammatory medication.
- Anti-leukotrienes - it stops the production of leukotrienes that are responsible for the increase in inflammation that causes constriction of the airway muscle and close the windpipes of the patient.
The drugs mentioned are used to help patients with asthma allergy to gain control of their asthma and keep on living a normal life. They are available in capsules, tablets and inhalers. A person suffering from asthma attacks should always bring their medicine along especially since these attacks are unpredictable.
Asthma Allergy Prevention
An asthma allergy attack cannot be prevented since doctors are not sure what causes asthma. But there are ways that a person with an asthma allergy can reduce the symptoms or totally avoid having an attack.
- Keep a clean and dust-free environment by vacuuming the house.
- If you live near a dusty road where cars frequently pass by, pour water on the road in front of your house. This will stop the dust from flying into the home.
- Regularly clean the fan, air-conditioning and other ducts that come in contact with air.
- Avoid places that have plenty of environmental allergens like molds, pollens, animal dander and secondhand cigarette smoke.
- Wear a mask when cleaning the house or going to a place full of allergens.
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.
In the end, the only way to defeat asthma is to learn how to live with the condition. Healthy living is a great way to turn one’s life around when a person has asthma. And with the help of modern science, it is not impossible to lead a productive life. Despite an allergic reaction, one should not stop enjoying life even if they have asthma.
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