There are millions of people in the U.S. who are at risk for analphylaxis, an allergic condition that can cause life-threatening symptoms. As the incidents are severe, immediate emergency response and life saving measures are required.

Someone suffering from anaphylaxis needs to take adequate preventative measures. This involves being aware of those foods and substances that tend to bring on its onset. There are no current statistics about anaphylaxis, but in the U.S., there are millions of people prone to its dangers, through such substances as penicillin, peanuts, insect bites and bugs, shell fish, latex, and surprising, exercise.

Penicillin is an antibiotic, often used to treat a variety of infections. Although successful, with a long history of fighting infections, about 10% of Americans are allergic to this medication. Also, women tend to be more allergic to this drug than men. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology reports that penicllin causes approximately 400 incidents of fatal anaphylaxis each year. In terms of the sheer number of victims, this is the most deadly allergen found.

Peanut allergy is another dangerous allergy that causes many trips to the hospital each year. A peanut allergy episode involves IgE antibodies, which react to the protein in peanuts. Histamine is involved, and a variety of symptoms can occur. When this allergy becomes anaphylactic, the following symptoms may be observed: swollen lips, breathing difficulties, a fall in blood pressure, throat swelling, and more. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology reports that around one hundred lives are lost in the U.S. each year from peanut allergies.

Millions of Americans have allergic reactions caused by insect bite, some of which result in anaphylactic shock. While very rare, the reaction can be quite serious. During an anaphylaxis episode, victims can go into shock, have heart irregularities, and also lose consciousness. The most common emergency treatment for someone have this type of attack is self-injected epinephrine, commonly known as the EpiPen. Of course, if the victim is unconscious, the life-saving injection will be provided by emergency personnel. If needed, oxygen can also be administered. Statistics on this allergy vary, but up to 400 deaths per year are attributed to this allergy.

Of all the shellfish, the one that presents the greatest allergy danger is shrimp. Shrimp falls under the crustacean category, which includes crabs and lobsters. Shellfish allergy symptoms include hives, nausea, diarrhea, labored breathing, itching eyes, swelling of the throat, eczema, wheezing, abdominal pain, dizziness, and vomiting. These symptoms can appear seconds after ingesting shrimp or may even surface several hours after eating. Between 2-3% of Americans are allergic to seafood, but the incidence of shrimp allergy in particular is currently unknown.

You might be surprised by the number of latex products that we come into contact with each day: auto parts, paints and markers, tennis and basketballs, adhesive bandages, bath mats, cosmetics, condoms, earphones, underwear, nipples used to feed infants, feminine pads, gloves, food storage bags, watering hoses, envelopes, cycling helmets, pantyhose, writing implements, socks, and the list goes on! While a seemingly useful product, latex contains a number of proteins that tend to cause serious allergic responses, including anaphylactic episodes. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, hundreds of anaphylactic incidents, as well as several deaths, are associated with this allergy each year. Fortunately, there are alternatives for latex products, and with a little effort, you can make your home environment latex free.

Cockroaches are also considered a dangerous allergen, causing asthma attacks in children. Children with this allergy are much more likely to be hospitalized. Attacks are often caused by inhaling or touching the cockroach allergen. While the symptoms of cockroach allergy vary among patients, some of the more common symptoms include sinusitis, frequent ear infections, skin problems, and the worsening of an already present asthma problem.

Many of us know that exercising is good for our health. However, there is a very atypical form of anaphylaxis related to exercise, referred to as exercise-induced anaphylaxis. The attacks of exercise induced anaphylaxis, look very similar to attacks caused by other anaphylaxis related allergens. When a people experience this type of allergic reaction, that might feel a pronounced itch, notice eruptions on their skin, or experience swelling on different areas of the body. They may also have trouble breathing, and in the more extreme cases, lose consciousness. The attack can happen within a very brief time period and persist for several hours. Because they may not occur with each session of exercise, these types of attacks have confounded doctors. One significant fact about an exercise-induced anaphylaxis, is that it’s been associated with certain foods, such as wheat and bananas, but the significance of this association is unclear. Authoritative statistics with regard to this dangerous condition are currently not available.

The problem of treating anaphylaxis, lies in the fact that currently, orthodox medicine doesn’t offer many options for long-term treatment of the underlying cause of anaphylaxis. While it may be possible to receive allergy shots in some cases, this is short term, at best. But, there seems to be hope on the horizon. NAET, a new energy-based allergy treatment, seems to offer some hope for eliminating both food and environmental allergies. This approach claims it can treat anaphylactic allergies quite effectively. Read more about NAET and other natural allergy treatments today.