Approximately one out of every five women, men, and children in the U.S. has some type of allergy. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance that normally would be considered benign. Symptoms of allergies can include:
Almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction, from the food you eat to the air you breathe. If you’ve had allergies for a while, you may have learned to grin and bear them. But if your symptoms are uncomfortable, impair your quality of life, or suggest a more serious condition such as anaphylaxis or asthma, you should call 911, or get urgent medical care.
They physicians at Rose Family Practice and Urgent Care in Battleground or Vancouver, Washington, recommend medical evaluation for your allergies in the following circumstances:
If you suspect the severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, call 911 or come to Rose Family Urgent Care right away. Untreated anaphylaxis can shut down your airways and send you into life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
If you have an epinephrine pen, use it as soon as you start experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis. Repeat after 5-15 minutes if your symptoms haven’t improved. Get to Rose Family Practice and Urgent Care or to the ER as soon as possible, whether your symptoms resolve or not.
If you’ve been exposed to a toxin, such as poison oak or ivy, or another allergenic substance, such as cat dander, you may develop an itchy rash, bumps, and red, scaly skin. Some allergic reactions cause your face to swell and your skin to peel.
Symptoms such as swelling and a rash might also indicate anaphylaxis. If you have a rash, hives, or swelling, call 911, or come to Rose Family Practice and Urgent Care as soon as possible.
Untreated allergies can irritate your bronchial tubes, which are the branches in your windpipe where the air you breathe passes through to reach your lungs. If you’re allergic to dust or pollen, you may develop inflamed, mucus-filled bronchial tubes that can cause an asthma attack. Even being allergic to certain kinds of foods can trigger asthma.
Anaphylaxis may be marked by trouble breathing. Women, men, and children who are allergic to bee stings or peanuts are particularly susceptible to anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock.
If you have trouble breathing, call 911, go to the emergency room, or to Rose Family Practice and Urgent Care immediately. Your doctors alleviate symptoms of your anaphylaxis or asthma so you can breathe freely again. They also conduct tests to help determine what triggered your allergic reaction so you can avoid the allergen in the future.
Even minor allergic symptoms, such as sneezing and a runny nose, can make daily tasks more difficult and life less enjoyable. If you have food allergies, you may be embarrassed or uncomfortable due to frequent trips to the bathroom.
The experts at Rose Family Practice and Urgent Care administer tests to determine what’s causing your allergies. They then devise a treatment plan to help you avoid substances that trigger your allergies and to control symptoms when they do arise.
You don’t have to live with allergies anymore. Call us today, or book an appointment online.
