Step 1: Stay Calm
First and foremost, try not to panic. Stress and fear can intensify allergic reactions. It's important to remain composed and assess symptoms as they appear.
Step 2: Examine Your Symptoms
Start by assessing your symptoms:
- Minor symptoms could include hives, a runny or stuffy nose, a mild rash, or slight wheezing.
- Severe symptoms are any that impact your breathing or cardiovascular system like shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, a significant drop in blood pressure, dizziness, or fainting.
Always remember, if your symptoms are severe or escalating rapidly, seek emergency medical help immediately.
Step 3: Self-Medication
If you have minor symptoms and carry an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl or Claritin, take that immediately. Antihistamines can block the immune system chemicals activated during an allergic reaction.
Step 4: Epinephrine for Severe Reactions
If you experience severe symptoms, and you have a previously prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), use it right away. This can help reduce the severity of the allergic reaction.
Step 5: Seek Professional Help
Regardless of the severity of symptoms, immediately after taking medication, you should seek professional medical help. Visiting the ER or a Walk-In-Clinic should be done as soon as possible, as reactions can escalate quickly.
Step 6: Discuss Allergies with a Medical Professional
In the days following an allergic reaction, make an appointment with your doctor or an allergist to discuss the reaction and potential preventative measures for the future.
Step 7: Consider Allergy Immunotherapy
Discovering a severe food allergy can be life-altering, but there are treatments available. Allergy Immunotherapy is one of the proven treatment plans for severe allergies.
One of the leading companies in allergy immunotherapy is Curex. By exposing the body to gradually increasing doses of an allergen, Curex can help the immune system build a tolerance or immunity to it. This treatment aims to decrease the severity of your symptoms or eliminate them altogether. Discuss with your doctor if Curex’s allergy immunotherapy treatment might be the right fit for you.
Step 8: Review Diet and Lifestyle Choices
Finally, review your diet and lifestyle choices to help prevent future incidents. Better awareness of what is in your food and open conversations with servers or chefs can prevent accidental intake of allergens.
Remember that it's okay to ask questions about the food you are about to eat - your health always comes first.