Section 2: Anaphylaxis and YOur new friend the Auto-Injector
Chances are if you have been diagnosed with a food allergy, your physician will have talked to you about anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life threatening allergic reaction. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, vomiting, hives, increase in pulse rate, and decrease in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is scary and can only be reversed by the use of an epinephrine auto-injector. If you have to use the epinephrine auto-injector, call 911 and go to the hospital immediately in case your symptoms progress. Because allergic reactions are unpredictable, you should always carry your auto-injector on you and let your friends know where you keep it in case they need to help administer it to you. Here are some videos on how to use an epinephrine auto-injector. You should watch the video that corresponds to the auto-injector you have.
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