5 Ways to Prevent Anaphylactic Shock

When you have allergies, anaphylaxis can be a legitimate and serious concern. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that’s prompted by a severe allergic reaction. It’s most commonly associated with food allergies along with latex, insect, and medication allergies.

During anaphylaxis, your body releases a large amount of a histamine chemical in reaction to the allergen. Symptoms include swelling, wheezing, hives, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. Sometimes anaphylaxis progresses slowly, but in other cases, it can escalate quickly and cause anaphylactic shock. 

Anaphylactic shock is a serious stage of anaphylaxis where your blood pressure drops dangerously low, causing symptoms such as extensive swelling, dizziness, and a weak pulse. This stage requires immediate medical attention as it can be fatal.

Thankfully, there are many things you can do and plans you can put in place to lower your risk of anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock. Our team — led by allergist Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, at the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, provides five practical ways to prevent anaphylactic shock.

1. Avoid allergens

Avoiding known allergens is the best thing you can do to prevent anaphylaxis. If you don’t know your triggers, you need to undergo allergy testing and even keep a journal to track any allergic reactions you may have. 

If you have food allergies, be diligent about preparing your foods carefully, and ask about food preparation when you eat anywhere that’s not your own home. 

For insect allergies, never walk barefoot in the grass, and avoid wearing strong perfume or bright colors with floral patterns when you’re outside. 

If medication or latex triggers you, make sure all medical providers know so they can offer an alternative.

2. Read food labels carefully

If you (or your child) have food allergies that can cause anaphylaxis, read food labels carefully. When you have such severe reactions to food, even the smallest amount of an allergen can lead to anaphylaxis. Be a food label detective, and when in doubt, don’t consume it.

3. Try immunotherapy

In some cases, avoiding the allergen is going to be nearly impossible. If you’re allergic to insect stings or even some medications, immunotherapy can help desensitize you to the allergen and reduce your risk of having such a severe reaction should you encounter it. 

During immunotherapy, you’re given a series of injections that contain trace amounts of the allergen. Over time, the dose is increased until you reach a maintenance dose. You then receive this dose of injection for 3-5 years. This not only helps with managing current allergies but also reduces the risk of developing new ones.

4. Use food allergy medications

Taking food allergy medications — known as oral immunotherapy (OIT) — can help desensitize you to any food allergens, similar to how immunotherapy works. Instead of injections, OIT requires you to ingest very small amounts of your food allergen to build up your tolerance. You may still react to the food, but it shouldn’t be nearly as severe.

5. Have treatments on you at all times 

If you end up getting exposed to one of your allergens, totally avoiding anaphylaxis may not be possible. So, it’s important to carry an epinephrine injector with you everywhere you go, and you may even consider wearing a medical identification tag so others around you know how to respond. This helps reduce your risk of the anaphylactic reaction escalating to the point where it threatens your life. 

To learn more about how to prevent anaphylaxis or to discuss any of our allergy treatments, schedule an appointment with our team by calling our office or booking online today.