50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. And a serious allergy attack could mean hospitalization or the need for medical intervention.
In this article, we’ll discuss when you need to seek urgent care for a severe allergy attack.
Don’t try and grin and bear it. Know when it is time to see a professional and get yourself evaluated.
When Mild Allergies Won’t Leave You Alone
Do you suffer from mild allergy symptoms, especially in the springtime? Mild allergy symptoms can include symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, a runny nose and feeling like you might have a cold.
If you’re fed up with seasonal allergies, you can get evaluated at urgent care. You don’t have to be in dire straits to see a doctor immediately.
Many urgent care facilities will conduct allergy testing on you to see what it is exactly that is bothering you. The facility can then help you work out a course of action.
You may be referred to your primary care doctor for a follow-up. Or you may simply have medication prescribed to you that will help clear up your allergies for good.
If You Notice a New Symptom
If you notice a new symptom that seems tied to allergies, you should see a doctor immediately. Some of these symptoms include reddening of the skin, stomach issues like nausea and vomiting or diarrhea, nasal congestion, nasal swelling, sneezing, sore throat and swelling around the eyes.
You should see a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms appear out of the blue.
When to Go to the Emergency Room for an Allergy Attack
In some cases, you should skip urgent care and go straight to the emergency room. This should occur if your allergy is life-threatening.
If you or a loved one has severe food allergies and has been exposed to the food, you should seek emergency medical treatment or call an ambulance. In some cases, the individual may carry an Epi-Pen. If this is the case, it should be administered in a timely manner. However, many individuals may need more intervention than one dose, and seeking emergency medical attention is key.
If you have an allergy in which your heart rate speeds up or your blood pressure drops, this is also life-threatening. You should rush to the emergency room or call an ambulance, as this could be a symptom of shock.
Anaphylaxis may set in if you or someone you loved is not treated promptly for an allergy. This is the swelling of the airways that can eventually lead to death. It can also lead to shock if not treated properly.
If you suddenly have trouble breathing and/or feel extremely anxious or tired, you should seek help immediately. Your allergy attack could be causing your body to shut down.
Seeing a Doctor at Urgent Care
Some people skip going to urgent care because they erroneously believe it will be more expensive than going to their “regular” doctor. This is not the case. Instead, it may be cheaper to have yourself evaluated during an allergy attack at urgent care rather than having a doctor order a myriad of tests.
For more information on when to visit urgent care, visit our website.