first aid

Allergic reactions are quite common in people where the triggers are varied and the symptoms, varied. There are some rare cases where the victim may suffer from one of the most severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. When you suffer from anaphylaxis, you experience a severe allergic reaction that spreads quickly and causes life threatening symptoms in the body. The victim usually finds it difficult to breathe, and may experience shock that leads to death.

For anaphylaxis to start in the body you have to have been exposed to the trigger previously; this is referred to as sensitization. This means that though a bee sting may not cause severe allergic reactions at first, a second sting may lead to anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis usually occurs within seconds of exposure to the trigger; however sometimes it may also be delayed. Sometimes you may have been exposed numerous times to the trigger, without any reaction only to end up with anaphylaxis the next time you are exposed to the same trigger.

It is when the body’s immune system overreacts to an antigen on recognizing a foreign substance in the body that anaphylaxis occurs. The white blood cells produce antibodies when reacting with the antigen; and these antibodies circulate the bloodstream to attach to some cells of the body. Once the antibodies come in contact with an antigen, other cells start producing chemicals called ‘mediators’. An example of such a mediator is histamine. And it is this effect of these mediators that causes an allergic reaction in the body.

There are many triggers for anaphylaxis; and only a trace amount of this trigger is sufficient to start a severe allergic reaction. These triggers to severe allergic reactions may be prescription and over the counter medications, venom of stinging insects, food additives, substances like latex, some foods like shellfish, nuts and mil, dyes used in radiology procedures and transfusion of blood or blood products.

There are situations where the trigger of severe allergic reactions is not known too. It is usually people who suffer from hay fever, asthma and eczema who are more likely to suffer from anaphylactic reactions than those who don’t suffer from them. The most threatening symptom to severe allergic reactions is difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness that is due to swelling and/or spasms in the airways. Loss of consciousness here arises with low blood pressure, and is referred to as ’shock’. In very rare cases, the heart may stop pumping and breathing can stop.

When suffering from severe allergic reactions, you should not try to ‘wait it out’ at home. Instead, go to the nearest emergency department or ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance, you have to remain calm, try to identify the cause of the reaction and take an antihistamine if you have no difficulty swallowing. If you have an epinephrine kit, inject yourself or have someone do it for you.

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As the winter months are passing, springtime begins to erupt and surface. The sound of birds singing with their babies chirping, squirrels running here and there collecting food and every other creature coming out for the warmer weather, so are the allergens in the air. There are many things in the change in seasons that will possibly affect a person who suffers from allergies or hay fever. Cotton trees send forth those little white and fuzzy pieces that seem to float, until landing on whatever is in its path. Now, this may seem harmless, but, for the allergy or hay fever sufferer, this can become an enemy. As soon as the person who is allergic to cotton will open the door to the outside, many things will occur as a result of the cotton in the air. The nose will begin to stop up as the throat begins to burn. Eyes will water and become weak. The person may also have a tough time with breathing and have a thickness in the throat, which makes it difficult to swallow. This could all lead the person to an attack with asthma. These are just a few symptoms that can arise from simple little things like cotton. Drink a lot of water and some green tea during this time and flush the body. Doctors can help with this.

Poison ivy is a plant that can grow anywhere, and all it takes is a little touch or brush against it. Maybe it is in the backyard next to that tree or bush that needs to be trimmed. Or, it could be in the park next to that bench that was easily accessible to sit on, while waiting for someone. Perhaps the poison ivy is in the woods near that deer stand.

When coming in contact with poison ivy, the skin will itch badly and have lots of red blisters that makes a person want to scoot around and scratch like crazy. And, the more the area is scratched the more it spreads to the new area of the body.

If the rash does not clear up on its own or the blisters are appearing in the genitals or face, a doctor will be able to treat it more effectively.

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When it rains outside, the air becomes damp and moist. Depending on the time of season, the temperatures will either be cold or hot, sometimes in between. Once the rain is over, the air can seem to be muggy and quite humid in certain areas. This dampness and humidity is what affects many people. For individuals who suffer with allergies, a rainy day can make them feel very tired and fatigued, weak, nauseated, start to sneeze, cough and wheeze. Some of these symptoms can worsen and should be monitored, because it can easily turn into an asthma attack or something else. An antihistamine is usually what will be needed, but for someone who has asthma or other allergies, a doctor needs to be the one to approve of medication before taking it. Having regular physical checkups and learning what triggers a reaction to the allergies in the first place is beneficial to the person who is experiencing the symptoms.