By Lorna Hillier

There seems to be so much confusion on allergic reactions. This article is just an effort to provide information that could save a life and dispel most of the prevailing confusion in the minds of people.

 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.

 Anaphylaxis occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an antigen acknowledging a foreign substance in the body. The leucocytes or white blood cells make antibodies when reacting with the antigen; and these antibodies disperse in the bloodstream and bind 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 and nuts, dyes used in radiology procedures and transfusion of blood or blood products.

 Severe allergic reactions can come out of the blue and attack anyone. But patients who endure eczema, hay fever and asthma are more prone to anaphylactic reactions then other people.

 Difficulty breathing from swelling and/or spasms in the airways and loss of consciousness is a most terrifying life threatening experience. Here loss of consciousness comes with low blood pressure, and is referred to as ’shock’. Both the heart and breathing can stop in rare cases.

 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.

 Try not to panic while waiting for the ambulance, settle down and attempt to discover what caused the allergic reaction. Take an antihistamine as long as you don’t have trouble swallowing or inject yourself or have someone else inject you with epinephrine if you have a kit.

 The purpose of this topic was to prove useful to you in your practical life and I know if a severe allergic reaction occasion arises you will be glad you read this article.

The huge First Aid site has an informative free report called “Preventing Home Injuries” and the site includes 15 first aid related sections, one being Allergic Reactions and another Bruises  

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Many people who begin to experience vision problems consider picking up a pair of reading glasses from their local pharmacy instead of (or before) visiting the ophthalmologist or optometrist. Some of these people may think that their vision problems are just not serious enough to warrant actually going to the eye doctor. Others think they might save a few dollars by buying low cost reading glasses at their local pharmacy in place of spending the money necessary to get an eye exam and a pair of prescription eyeglasses. While a pair of reading glasses from the pharmacy may do the trick for a short time, you may be damaging your vision even more in the long run.

Eye Exams

The first thing to consider if you are experiencing vision problems such as blurred vision, headaches, etc. is that you absolutely need to seek medical attention. You only have one pair of eyes and it’s up to you to keep them healthy. Keeping them healthy sometimes requires getting your vision screened by a professional. An eye exam will be able to diagnose any medical conditions that simply buying reading glasses would never identify. If you are concerned about the cost of an eye exam, you may be able to participate in a free eye screening program in your community. Check with your local hospital, senior center or optometrist to see if they know of any such programs.

Not Only Glasses - Treatment

Some people assume that whatever problem they are experiencing with their vision can be easily corrected by wearing eyeglasses or reading glasses. This is especially the case with people who are experiencing blurred vision or other eye problems for the first time. Unfortunately, it is just not that simple. There are many factors to consider. One of these factors is the fact that corrective lenses or reading glasses are not the answer or cure to every single vision problem that exists. This is one of the reasons it is so important to have your vision screened by an eye care professional. There are several types of eye conditions that require treatment other than corrective lenses. Some of these conditions include:

- Allergies: They cause redness, irritation, itching and excessive tearing. - Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) - Blepharitis - Cataracts - Retinal Detachment - Strabismus - Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

The only way to ensure that the problems you’re experiencing with your vision are not due to something more serious is to schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist or optometrist and get your vision and your eyes checked thoroughly.

No Two Eyes Are Quite the Same

Okay, this is not entirely true, but almost. Another important reason that getting customized prescription glasses makes more sense than getting reading glasses at the pharmacy is most people’s eyes have different degrees of sight in each eye. It is actually pretty rare that both of your eyes are equally far-sighted (or near-sighted for that matter). Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to measure exactly which strength lens is required by each of your eyes.

Most reading glasses found in pharmacies contain lenses of matching strength. Because of this, only an eye care professional will be able to prescribe the customized corrective lenses that are just right for you. In the rare event that both your eyes require the same strength lens, your doctor can tell you what strength reading glasses are best for you. Again, while you may save a few dollars by doing this, the best accuracy can only be achieved by customized prescription glasses. So, while no two eyes are quite the same, you only have one pair. So take care of them!

Polyester is a common fabric that is used when making many products. There are an innumerable amount of items that are used by consumers on a regular basis that happens to be made with polyester.

People who cannot tolerate the feel of polyester will often develop or break out in a rash in the spot the fabric is or has been touching. There can be quite a bit of red skin that is itching. The skin can also begin to swell.

The bedcovers or sheets many sleep on can also cause them to itch or feel irritated throughout the nighttime. They will awaken to skin that may feel itchy, burning or chaff. The thing to do is to avoid having contact with anything that is made of polyester. Change the bedding made of another fabric that will hopefully do better. Visit Stop Allergic Reactions

A candle is a very nice commodity to have and use. The gently aromas that seems to stimulate moods helps to bring a soothing, calm and warm feel to a home or office. Being able to choose from the many types, sizes, shapes, colors and scents will allow people to have their own preference. However, one thing is usually not thought of when it comes to purchasing a candle and that is the effect it can have on allergies.

When using a candle, the wax or gel begins to melt and produces a smell, whether it is scented or not. This smell is one of many things that can aggravate anyone who is sensitive to smoke or a fragrance. The smell will envelope the atmosphere and depending on the person, can very easily trigger an onset of an attack of allergies that can turn into an asthma attack or worse.
Visit http://allfirstaidnow.com/allergicreactions/article_list.php for great articles on allergies