Allergic shock Allergic Shock Most of us think of an allergy attack as causing sniffling, sneezing or itching. But for some people, allergies can be deadly. Up to 40 million people in the United States may be in danger of dying from their allergies, according to researchers in New York. The most likely allergens to cause anaphylaxis are foods, medicines, latex and insect bites. When people who have severe allergies to these substances comes in contact with the substance, their body's immune system reacts like there's a dangerous invader.
Blood pressure drops, and breathing passages swell.
One food that causes these dangerous reactions is peanuts. Peanuts can be hard to avoid because peanuts and peanut oil are in so many products. Even products that don't contain peanuts may be processed in plants where peanuts are used, so there is a risk of these products being contaminated. People with this allergy must be careful to read food labels and ask about ingredients. Others shouldn't feel that a little bit won't hurt and downplay peanut content in foods because a little bit can be deadly.