While many people associate the term anaphylactic shock with allergic reactions caused by bee stings, the truth is that it relates to any reaction to substances that is life threatening. This can be a deadly reaction to foods, chemicals, animals or even natural substances. While some allergic reactions can be prevented or easily treated, anaphylactic shock is an extreme case that can lead to death unless it’s treated right away. This type of shock is created when the immune system mistakes a common substance for something that is extremely dangerous. This overreaction to the substance causes the body to go into a critical shutdown mode and the lungs and throat can begin to close up almost instantly.
In very serious cases the body will begin to distribute an overdose of immunoglobin E which can have untreatable effects on nerve tissue and cause cell damage. While this is only evident in extreme cases, almost all instances of anaphylactic shock force the release of histamine into the bloodstream. It is the presence of this histamine that essentially obliges the throat to close which makes breathing extremely difficult. Other adverse effects can be pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting and a drastic reduction in blood pressure which can lead to a patient going unconscious. If you think that someone may be suffering from anaphylactic shock, the first noticeable sign is swelling on the skin and rashes.
There is a plethora of substances that can trigger this reaction and one of the most common is insect bites and stings. Other common causes can be food such as nuts or drugs like morphine. While a number of people have problems with allergic reactions, very few of these are life threatening and may just lead to a runny nose or a cough. Anti-histamines will easily treat and prevent these reactions as it decreases the amount of histamine that the body produces at these times. The problem is that these treatments can take up to an hour to reach the bloodstream and in cases of anaphylactic shock, this is far too long. An adrenaline injection is needed to combat the dangerous effects while the anti-histamine has the chance to enter the bloodstream.
The adrenaline injection gives a person’s body the strength to fight against the dangerous reaction that is occurring. The injection forces the heart to beat faster and opens up the body’s air passages. This makes it much easier to breathe and can counteract the effects of the immunoglobin E. If people are aware that they may be susceptible to anaphylactic shock then they usually carry around an Epi-Pen which is a handheld and easy to administer adrenaline injection. In serious instances though, this adrenaline is not enough to save the life of something that is entering into extreme anaphylactic shock. Even after administering the injection it is very important to get to the hospital or get the person who is suffering to the hospital as fast as possible.
© Insider Health
In very serious cases the body will begin to distribute an overdose of immunoglobin E which can have untreatable effects on nerve tissue and cause cell damage. While this is only evident in extreme cases, almost all instances of anaphylactic shock force the release of histamine into the bloodstream. It is the presence of this histamine that essentially obliges the throat to close which makes breathing extremely difficult. Other adverse effects can be pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting and a drastic reduction in blood pressure which can lead to a patient going unconscious. If you think that someone may be suffering from anaphylactic shock, the first noticeable sign is swelling on the skin and rashes.
There is a plethora of substances that can trigger this reaction and one of the most common is insect bites and stings. Other common causes can be food such as nuts or drugs like morphine. While a number of people have problems with allergic reactions, very few of these are life threatening and may just lead to a runny nose or a cough. Anti-histamines will easily treat and prevent these reactions as it decreases the amount of histamine that the body produces at these times. The problem is that these treatments can take up to an hour to reach the bloodstream and in cases of anaphylactic shock, this is far too long. An adrenaline injection is needed to combat the dangerous effects while the anti-histamine has the chance to enter the bloodstream.
The adrenaline injection gives a person’s body the strength to fight against the dangerous reaction that is occurring. The injection forces the heart to beat faster and opens up the body’s air passages. This makes it much easier to breathe and can counteract the effects of the immunoglobin E. If people are aware that they may be susceptible to anaphylactic shock then they usually carry around an Epi-Pen which is a handheld and easy to administer adrenaline injection. In serious instances though, this adrenaline is not enough to save the life of something that is entering into extreme anaphylactic shock. Even after administering the injection it is very important to get to the hospital or get the person who is suffering to the hospital as fast as possible.
© Insider Health
