Is it a “real” thing? How is it diagnosed?
In: Biology
Histamine intolerance is very much a real disorder, albeit not very common.
Histamine is a chemical naturally produced in your body as part of the immune response. It is particularly relevant with regards to inflammation; many itch creams are contain anti-histamine chemicals to help relieve the itching and pain. Histamine is normally broken down by your body after it has served its purpose, but some people’s bodies do so very slowly or not at all. We call this disorder histamine intolerance. It can be triggered by eating certain foods, somewhat similar to an allergic reaction, but it isn’t an allergic reaction.
It is diagnosed by talking to a doctor and describing your symptoms. Common symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, nausea or vomiting, headache, runny or stuffy nose, and itching or rash.
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