If you are conscious, your doctor will ask you about contact with substances you may be allergic to. Then your doctor will examine you for symptoms of shock by checking your blood pressure, heart rate (pulse), breathing, skin color & condition, and alertness or mental status.

Your doctor may recommend tests to determine the cause of your condition and its seriousness.

Treating yourself:
If you have a known severe allergy, such as to bee stings or a food such as peanuts, which you might accidentally contact, ask your doctor about carrying EpiPen. EpiPen is a single-dose injection kit of epinephrine. With the kit you can give yourself a shot of medicine to counteract the allergic reaction until medical help arrives. While you wait for help, lie down and raise your legs above the level of your chest to increase the blood flow to your heart and brain.

Treating someone who is having a severe allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis requires emergency medical attention. If you suspect someone is having a severe allergic reaction, call 911.

Check to see if the person has stopped breathing or if his or her heart has stopped beating. If so, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the person is breathing and has a pulse or until paramedics arrive.

If the person is conscious and breathing, make sure the person is lying down comfortably. If the person is conscious and has a clear airway (has nothing in his or her mouth or throat), raise the person's legs above the level of his or her chest to increase blood flow to the heart and brain. If they are vomiting or feel like they are going to vomit, they need to be on their side to prevent choking on vomit.

See if they are carrying a medical card or wearing a bracelet or necklace that has information about their allergies.

When a doctor or paramedic arrives, he or she may give the person a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) right away after verifying anaphylaxis or a less severe allergy reaction. In addition, the doctor may:

• give the person drugs such as antihistamines or cortisonelike drugs, usually into a muscle or vein
• give fluids through the veins to increase fluid volume inside the blood vessels
• hospitalize the person for observation to be sure that his or her blood pressure and heartbeat are restored to normal levels and that the symptoms do not recur.