What You Put in Your Body Affects Your Health Greatly

Being allergic to certain foods is obviously not very fun. But your food allergies don't have to leave you in constant fear of dining out. If you are proactive about communicating your allergies to others and have a plan for how to respond if something does go wrong, you should be able to live a perfectly normal life without fear of your allergies. Here are three steps you can take to give yourself a bit of confidence that you can successfully stamp out an allergy-related reaction if one should arise.

Carry Two Doses of Your Medication With You Always

Doctors often prescribe medication to those with significant food allergies. The medicine will vary depending on the allergy, but the bottom line is that most of these pills or sprays are designed to get things back under control if an allergic reaction occurs. Get a pill box or something else that you can use to carry two doses of medicine with you at all times (two just in case the reaction is especially severe and you need help immediately.)

Write Down a Plan and Take It With You

When suffering an allergic reaction, it can be difficult to think clearly. This is where a written plan can come in handy. Write down the steps you should take in the event that something goes wrong. This will likely start with taking that medicine you are carrying with you but can then include things like calling your doctor or remembering to take a sample of the food you were eating with you to the hospital so that the exact problem can be identified. Make sure others close to you are aware of this plan in case you are ever incapacitated. 

Identify Yourself

Speaking of being incapacitated, you should always have special identification on you that lets emergency responders know about your allergy issue. You could carry a card in your wallet or purse but an emergency responder might not check these areas immediately upon arrival. A better idea is a medical ID bracelet because it's easier to notice and most paramedics are trained to look for these anyway. The bracelet should list everything you are allergic to so that someone can glance at it and quickly make a decision on how to treat you.

If you have significant food allergies, it's a good idea to always be prepared for a worst case scenario. For more information, contact Hinsdale Asthma & Allergy Center or a similar location.