Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis has the potential to hijack your everyday life but it is possible to create a positive path forward.

Anaphylaxis can be terrifying. It can make people severely ill and in rare cases it can be fatal. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing and swallowing, rashes, vomiting, collapse and loss of consciousness. Every person's allergic reaction is different and the symptoms can also be different depending on which allergen they come into contact with. They might only suffer a mild reaction at first, but the reactions may become severe over time.

Ruth Holroyd, who is severely allergic to nuts, dairy and other foods, has a lifetime of experience of anaphylaxis. Through research and her first-hand experience she has compiled a self-help guide for people living with the condition, their family and their friends.

In Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide, you will discover information, help and support to face this frightening condition with confidence. Ruth shows you how to:

• Get a diagnosis swiftly and how to come to terms with it

• Recognise the other factors that can affect the severity of a reaction, including exercise and medication

• Put together an Anaphylaxis Action Plan with day-to-day tips and strategies for staying safe at home and at work, eating out, holidays and dating

• Assess possible treatments, therapies and resources

• Cope with the psychological impact of living with anaphylaxis and severe allergies

• Take action when you're feeling depressed or anxious, or experiencing panic attacks

• Create a positive and resilient mindset, and reframe the condition to feel less excluded and more in control