When you have hypersensitive sensitivity, you can feel overwhelmed by stimuli. The symptoms vary in intensity, from slight to severe, and can come on one moment and go away the next. They can also come in waves, with a stronger reaction one day, then lessening the next.
Skin (visible) symptom: Itching, flushing, or a rash may occur. Some people will develop itchy, raised red bumps called hives that appear on the body or the face. These rashes can become itchy and painful and sometimes cause anaphylactic shock, the most serious type of allergic reaction.
Itching and flushing are signs of an allergy to a food, drug, insect or latex. Usually, the itching and flushing are not life-threatening. But when the itching and flushing are severe, or when the itching and flushing are accompanied by other symptoms (see below), call for emergency medical help.
Your mouth and throat might swell too, making it hard to speak or swallow. You might have a metallic taste in your mouth, and you could feel like you are about to die.
During an anaphylactic reaction, your body is going through a sudden stress response. This can affect many different organ systems, including the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system and the respiratory system.
Anaphylaxis is a very severe form of an allergic reaction that can cause you to have trouble breathing, low blood pressure and may be unconscious. Your doctor can provide you with an epinephrine auto-injector that you can use if you start having trouble breathing and your blood pressure drops.
Other signs of anaphylaxis include swelling and redness of the mouth, tongue, throat and lungs. The lungs are especially vulnerable during anaphylaxis because they don’t have enough oxygen to work properly. Your doctor can check your lungs with a stethoscope and use a pulse oximeter to check your oxygen levels.
Anaphylaxis is a dangerous condition, so you should always be careful when using your auto-injector. You shouldn’t give it to someone else unless you know for sure that they are having an anaphylactic reaction.
It can take your body a while to heal from an anaphylactic shock. So you might have to wait for a few hours before you can return to normal activities.
When you are experiencing a hypersensitive reaction to something, it’s important to remember that you have the support of your friends and family. This is the best way to help you stay calm and stop the itchiness and swelling.
Changing the way you think about your reactions can also be helpful. For example, if you are highly sensitive to sound, you can learn to relax and not overreact when hearing or seeing something that’s new or unusual. If you are very sensitive to light, you can try to limit your exposure to bright lights or fluorescent lamps.
If you have a chronic illness or other health issue, talk to your doctor about how it might affect your reaction to things that are irritating. Your doctor may recommend antihistamines, analgesics, or a medication to reduce inflammation.
