What to keep in your allergy emergency kit

6th April 2022

What to keep in your allergy emergency kit

What’s the most terrifying aspect of having an allergy? For some, it’s not too bad. A blocked nose and itchy eyes might be the worst it can get. But for others, it’s a life-or-death situation. And the scariest part of that is the feeling of being on edge at all times. People with life-threatening allergies are always on high alert.

If you’re looking to take some of that stress away, why not consider an allergy emergency kit? A first-aid bag with everything you need in an allergy attack. If it’s never crossed your mind, here are some of the items you can put in it.

Inhaler

If you’re liable to have breathing difficulties, an inhaler is a key tool to have. Anyone with asthma will already be familiar with having to carry one around. It can’t hurt to have one stored away for emergencies, too.

EpiPen

In a similar vein, an EpiPen should always be close by. If you have an allergy that can cause anaphylaxis, this can literally save your life. Consider storing two inside your kit.

Antihistamines

Not every allergy attack is a danger. Sometimes, it’s just an inconvenience. But that doesn’t mean you should suffer. Over-the-counter antihistamines can alleviate some of your symptoms, leaving you feeling a bit more comfortable. This is perfect for any hay fever sufferers this spring and summer.

Eye drops

There are a few kinds of eye drops and each serves its own purpose. So if you’re putting these in your kit, make sure they’re the right ones. Some ease inflammation on itchy eyes, and some are used for flushing out allergens.

Creams and/or lotions

If your allergies cause an outbreak of dry or irritated skin, you might want to keep a small tube of cream or lotion handy. It’s perfect for moisturising and soothing inflamed skin. People with eczema might want to talk to their doctor about stronger prescription creams they can store away.

Tissues

It’s not a medicine, but that doesn’t mean it can’t help! A small travel pack of tissues can come in handy for stuffy, runny noses or teary eyes. Alternatively, a small bag of wet wipes might also be useful for cleaning down surfaces.

Instructions

If you’re caught in a worst-case scenario, you might have to hand the allergy emergency kit over to someone else. In these cases, you’ll want clear instructions for them to follow. This might include information for administering medication, or just quick notes on what allergies you suffer from. Having it in different languages might also be useful, so keep that in mind if you’re travelling abroad.

Your allergy emergency kit will be specific to your needs. So pick and choose what you need to. Over time, you might want to make a couple to have in various places. Your home, your workplace, or even a family member’s home might be good places to store one. In the end, you might be thankful to have it close by. And even if you never use it, at least you have that peace of mind.

If you’re ever unsure, talk to an allergy specialist about managing your condition. Our friendly experts are always happy to help. You can register as a new patient, or simply call us on 02031 433 449 for advice.

The top three tips for being a better allergy ally

29th December 2021

The top three tips for being a better allergy ally

We often talk about what it’s like to live with allergies. Steps to take, advice to follow, and a supportive voice to help people with their condition. But what if you don’t have an allergy and just want to know how to help those who do.

That’s exactly what today’s blog is about: how to be a better allergy ally. You might have a child, family member, friend, or colleague who you want to help out. Or maybe you just want to be a more conscientious person. Whatever your reason, here are some tips on how to support someone living with an allergy.

Ask them questions

Step 1 – find out everything about their allergy. Believe us, they’ll thank you for it. Just showing a willingness to learn about their condition will go a long way. Try to ask them not just what they’re allergic to, but how it affects their life and how it makes them feel.

For example, let’s say they’re allergic to peanuts. It’s the most common food allergy in children and the second-most common in adults. Ask them what it’s like when they go out for a meal. Or if they ever have to avoid certain situations. Or a specific time where they were really anxious about their allergy. It’ll open your eyes to how difficult living with an allergy can be.

Learn how to treat their allergies

Being a good allergy ally means having their back at all times. For some severe allergies, sufferers have to make sure they have access to certain medications. Something like an inhaler or EpiPen.

It might be worth learning all about these tools just in case you need to jump into action. Make sure you know where to find them. At home, do they keep them in a certain cupboard? Do they keep them in their purse while out and about? If you know where they are, you can retrieve them for the person in dire situations. For something like an EpiPen, knowing how to administer one could save their life.

Get used to saving labels

This tip is mainly for food allergies. If you’re ever cooking for someone with a food allergy, make it a habit of saving the labels with any ingredients on. Even better, send a picture of them to the person ahead of time. This lets them know what is and isn’t safe for them to eat.

Over time, you should get a good sense of what they can eat, meaning you can tailor any meals to their preferences. Plus, it shows you’re willing to go that extra mile for them, which they’ll be overwhelmingly grateful for.

And that’s the reason to do any of these tips. So many allergy sufferers are used to going it alone and having to change themselves to fit the world. But by following this advice, you help them feel comfortable without them having to tie themselves into knots. If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution for 2022, maybe being a better allergy ally could be it?

If you, a family member, or a friend are ever looking for advice about any potential allergies, get in touch with one of our experts. We’re more than happy to discuss your needs and give you the support you need. Reach out to our allergy experts today on 02031 433 449.

Not all wheezes require an asthma inhaler

13th January 2018

Not all wheezes require an asthma inhaler

Have you ever felt like you have itchy lungs and that you are gasping for breath? If you do and you haven’t been diagnosed, the chances are you may have asthma. This ailment can make you feel like you are unable to breathe. Almost as if you are drowning in a swimming pool. Fear not; you’re not alone. Asthma is recognised as a massive public health problem and is becoming one of the world’s most common diseases. Currently, it affects 300 million people worldwide with that looking to jump up well over an additional 100 million within the next decade. Most people think this means you’ll be travelling with an inhaler for the rest of your life.

It’s a little-known fact that not all cases of asthma are the same. In fact, there are two major types that have sub-categories of their own: allergic and non-allergic asthma.

Non-allergic Asthma

Roughly one-third of those who have asthma have this condition as a result of a viral infection or through other irritants. Some examples may include:

• Glucocorticoids resistant asthma
• Occupational asthma
• Nocturnal asthma
• Environmental tobacco smoke
• Exercise-induced asthma (EIA)
• Cough variant asthma
• Medication-induced asthma

Regardless of the type of asthma you have, it’s easily recognisable by a number of characteristics. A cough that, no matter what, you cannot shake; regularly finding yourself with a tight chest; seemingly unnecessary shortness of breath; and, of course, wheezing. It’s incredibly important to remember that not every wheeze you have means you have asthma. Nor does it necessarily require an inhaler. Some other conditions replicate the same symptoms so if you feel you may be suffering from the disease, it’s a good idea to speak to a GP first.

Allergic Asthma

While the symptoms of asthma are the same, the treatments are all different depending on the type affecting you, and so it’s essential you find out the right kind you have so that you can get to the root of the problem efficiently. This is especially true for allergic asthma, which makes up almost 60% of asthma cases: put into perspective, that’s around 180 million sufferers worldwide.

Allergic asthma is triggered by allergens and provokes the typical asthma symptoms as well as airway obstruction. Common triggers might be allergens such as pets, dust mites, pollen, or mould. Naturally, your immune system is designed to fight back against infection, but if you have allergic asthma, instead overreacts to these triggers and thus leaves you with asthma symptoms. In this case, it’s vital to identify precisely what your triggers are so that you can begin to start a course of treatment targeting that specific allergen.

The process of determining your triggers is simple and straightforward. An initial allergy diagnosis will need to be made by an allergy consultant by doing an IgE test (blood test i.e ISAC) or conducting a skin prick allergy test to determine what you are allergic to. Once established, you can begin to look at the immunotherapy options available to you. To book an appointment with one of our consultants, you can go straight to our booking form to arrange a time and date that suits you.