It's an ambulance and I was in it. March 11, 2016, during the Eagan Speech tournament, was the first time I almost died. I haven't had any seizures, strokes or even heart problems. No, I ate an almond. Seriously, I ate an almond. I quickly found myself in the nurse's office where police officers, paramedics and my trainers crowded around me. Needless to say, the whole situation is truly scary. That day I learned I had anaphylaxis, more commonly known as a life-threatening allergy. However, I have discovered that I am not alone. Millions of people around the world suffer from allergies, and 2016 studies by the Hopkins Medical Research Center showed that 1 in 50 people have a life-threatening allergy, the same number of people who have red hair . As anaphylaxis becomes more prevalent in our society, it is important that understanding and familiarity with this condition increases so that people like me can be safe when leaving their homes. Today, we will learn about the complexity and prevalence of anaphylaxis in three ways: First, by understanding how anaphylaxis works, then by examining how our community coped with the recent uprising, before finally examining how airlines have reacted in recent years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay 1st point: Let's start by explaining how anaphylaxis works. As I quickly learned, eating something you're allergic to isn't the best idea. My body immediately rejected the almond protein and went into anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a process in which your body overreacts to a foreign antigen, resulting in a sudden and potentially fatal allergic reaction. When the allergen is inhaled, touched or swallowed, your body releases chemicals that in small amounts protect you, but during anaphylaxis too many of these chemicals are released, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties and low blood pressure. As the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America explains in its 2015 article aptly titled “Anaphylaxis,” these symptoms can appear within minutes or even hours of exposure to an allergen. When your protective cells overreact, your body panics. Many first responders believe that this initial reaction is the first and only stage of anaphylaxis. However, there are two different types of anaphylaxis that can affect a person's body. These are the most common: allergen-induced anaphylaxis and exercise-induced allergies. So, if a person has an exercise-induced allergy, they are basically allergic to sports, even if it seems like the perfect excuse for talking kids to quit gym class, as Huffington writes Post in his article titled “No Runny Business – Why it”. It Matters » People can actually experience an allergic reaction to exercise. People usually associate working out with an increase in heart rate and a rush of endorphins – not hives, fainting or itching. According to studies from the University of Michigan, up to 11 percent of young adults, more often men, suffer from this form of anaphylaxis. When a person experiences anaphylactic shock, regardless ofis the cause, there is only one known way to treat it: epipen. The epipen provides the correct amount of epinephrine to the individual, as the amount of medication changes depending on whether you are a child or an adult with the correct epipen. Epinephrine relaxes muscles and helps increase blood flow to the brain and other organs. Epipens are an essential device for anyone suffering from anaphylaxis. The chances of you meeting someone who needs an epipen are increasing, but unfortunately, so are the prices of the epipen. In 2007, epipens cost an average of $97, but today they cost more than $600. As Forbes noted in an article on January 3 of this year, the price has inflated 450% in just 11 years. This price increase has made it even more difficult to obtain the life-saving device, even though the need for epipens has increased. 2nd point: Even though the first time I had anaphylaxis, I had eaten an almond , now since my allergy has progressed, even if my skin comes into contact with a nut, I could have a reaction. Allergies progress over time, you are more sensitive on the second and third exposure since your body has identified the allergen as dangerous and is ready to attack it. Staying away from an allergen may seem like a simple task. However, this can be especially difficult in large public settings like schools, where the cafeteria is overflowing with school and home-cooked meals. It is increasingly important to be aware of concerns about anaphylaxis as anaphylaxis is becoming more common. The American College of Allergies and Asthma found a 377% increase in anaphylactic reactions, from 5% to 22%. In the mid-1990s, 1 in 250 school-age children suffered from a food allergy; this ratio increased to 1 child in 13, or approximately 2 in each class. Scientists aren't sure what's causing this surge in anaphylactic reactions, but there are many different possibilities. Fortunately, there are many known ways to raise awareness and create a safe environment for everyone. One of the ways the community gets involved, even those who don't have food allergies, is the Teal Pumpkin Project. The blue pins on the map represent places offering allergy-friendly Halloween treats. An easy way to tell if a home is participating is to look at a teal-colored pumpkin outside their door. The Teal Pumpkin Project has skyrocketed in recent years and lets the community know which homes are allergy safe. The community is also working to become more allergy-friendly in schools. Massachusetts became the first state to adopt guidelines for managing food allergies in schools, calling for "peanut-free" tables in the lunchroom. And post peanut-free classroom signs around the building. Although the different lunch table for students with allergies may seem like overkill, restaurants are taking the same approach. In 2015, Panera Bread Co. released an allergy action plan that, as a test, allowed 40 percent of its locations to add an "allergy-safe" table where meals without the 5 major allergens could be served safely. This new addition to restaurants has proven to be a success and by 2020, Panera plans to have almost all of its locations adding the allergy-friendly table. It is important that the community is involved and aware of these changes, as anaphylaxis is increasingly common. Point 3: Air carriers have a long tradition of serving peanuts on board flights and often do not serve anything. other..