Was at a recent conference where the faculty and I went out for dinner at a restaurant with beautiful views of the Petronas twin towers. At such heights, it can instill a feeling of awe and even dizziness.
A faculty member has food allergy but thankfully from due diligence, no accidental intake occurred during dinner. Did you know that dizziness can be an early sign of allergic reaction? The low blood pressure from anaphylaxis can make a person feel lightheaded, dizzy or drowsy. In this situation, you should lie down flat so that your blood pressure can equalize. This will allow blood to be able to circulate to the brain and can prevent fainting.
Do remember that the use of adrenaline or epinephrine is the main treatment for anaphylaxis. It works quickly and effectively and addresses all the pathways of anaphylaxis. Everyone always reaches for antihistamines but it is a complementary treatment; adrenaline and epinephrine works within minutes while antihistamines may take up to an hour to work.
