Overview
Breathing difficulties also affect individuals who are very sensitive to some varieties of medications, nuts, shellfish and insect bites. These individuals can suffer an allergic response known as an anaphylactic shock. This reaction arises within minutes of exposure to the allergen which causes the allergy. Throughout this type of allergic response, the airways contract, making it hard to breathe. Almost immediately, the heart pumps faster and blood pressure decreases. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal if an individual is not treated within several minutes.
Breathing difficulties from certain things might need emergency care.
With kids they include:
- Out of breath;
- Croup, an infection with a “growling cough” common in young kids;
- Epiglottitis, which is swelling of the fold of tissue at the back of the throat that shuts off the windpipe;
- Diphtheria, which is an infectious throat infection; and
In kids and adults they include:
- Severe allergic responses;
- A face, nose, head or lung injury;
- Severe chemical injuries in the air passages;
- Poisoning;
- Bronchitis and pneumonia;
- Choking;
- Asthma; and
- Overdose on drugs.
Prevention
- Avoid allergic materials or agents that prompt asthma, if you have it.
- Do not jog, run or walk on roads with lots of traffic and motor vehicles.
- If you own a gas furnace, have it tested every year for any leaks.
- Make sure inoculations against childhood illnesses, particularly diphtheria, are done.
- Lock up all medicines and poisonous materials so small kids can’t get to them.
Prevention Procedures
For individuals affected by pollen or air pollution:
- Use a face mask that shields the nose and mouth.
- Avoid smoking, including second-hand smoke.
If you or anybody in your family has severe allergies, it is a great idea to wear a medical ID tag.