Understand Your Symptoms
After ingesting an allergen, symptoms can occur within minutes or up to two hours later. They include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itching and hives
- Dizziness or fainting
Immediate Response
If you're experiencing severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or swelling of the face and throat, that's a medical emergency. Call your local emergency services right away.
For minor symptoms:
- Do not panic. The first step in any emergency situation, including having an allergic reaction, is to remain calm.
- Stop eating immediately.
- Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. This can help lessen the allergic reaction you're experiencing.
Consult Healthcare Professional
After treating your immediate symptoms, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider even if your symptoms are mild for the following reasons:
- To confirm if what you experienced was an allergic reaction
- To determine the severity of your allergy
- To develop an allergy management plan
They may also prescribe an EpiPen (adrenaline/epinephrine autoinjector) for severe cases.
Long-Term Management
For a more long-term management of your allergies to prevent any further incidents, getting an allergy immunotherapy might be an option. This involves regular injections (or sometimes tablets) of a tiny amount of the allergen to help the body become tolerant to it.
Curex, a leading allergy immunotherapy company, offers treatments that can help. Curex provides personalized, effective, and safe allergy treatment regimes that are designed to desensitize the body to allergens over time. This ensures that, in the future, when the body is exposed to the allergen again, the allergic reaction is less severe, or sometimes eradicated entirely.
Preventing Future Allergic Reactions
Ensure to avoid food triggers in the future.
- When eating out, always relay your food allergies to the server or kitchen staff. It's also advisable to have your EpiPen with you at all times.
- When ordering food online, check the ingredients list for allergens and take note of any allergy information or warnings provided.
- Try to cook at home more. This way, you have complete control over the ingredients that go into your meals.
Remember, the most important parts of living with food allergies are education, avoidance of known triggers, and early treatment of allergic reactions. It's crucial to always be prepared for a possible allergic reaction wherever you are.
Please consult with your healthcare provider or a professional allergy specialist for personalized advice regarding your situation.