Antihistamines should be near the top of your list of things to try for #LongCovid.
Yes, allergy and heartburn medication have provided *substantial* relief for many.
How does it work, and how do you get started? 🧵
Yes, allergy and heartburn medication have provided *substantial* relief for many.
How does it work, and how do you get started? 🧵
1/ How does it work?
Histamine is in all of us, and plays a role in:
- Regulating sleep-wake cycles, temperature, and blood pressure
- Stimulating production of mucus and gastric acid
- Inflammation
It's in food, and it's also produced by your body. Too much is bad.
Histamine is in all of us, and plays a role in:
- Regulating sleep-wake cycles, temperature, and blood pressure
- Stimulating production of mucus and gastric acid
- Inflammation
It's in food, and it's also produced by your body. Too much is bad.
Enter Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (#MCAS).
In an allergic reaction, your immune system alerts your mast cells of an invader, and, among other things, they produce histamine to help clear things out.
Sometimes, they're too easily stimulated and flood the system with histamine.
In an allergic reaction, your immune system alerts your mast cells of an invader, and, among other things, they produce histamine to help clear things out.
Sometimes, they're too easily stimulated and flood the system with histamine.
Some #LongCovid symptoms, including tachycardia, low bp, flushing, shortness of breath, and congestion, overlap heavily with MCAS.
Another hint that MCAS could be at play: antihistamines can provide substantial relief.
Another hint that MCAS could be at play: antihistamines can provide substantial relief.
2/ How to get started
There are some tangible things you can do today.
As always, this is not medical advice, and check with your doctor before making changes to your care.
There are some tangible things you can do today.
As always, this is not medical advice, and check with your doctor before making changes to your care.
2.1/ Avoid Triggers
Some potential culprits:
* Foods and additives (e.g. sausages, sulphites, corn syrup)
* Drinks (e.g. wine, cider)
* Artificial scents
Everyone can have different triggers. Pay close attention to try and identify yours.
More here: mcas.ie/wp-content/upl…
Some potential culprits:
* Foods and additives (e.g. sausages, sulphites, corn syrup)
* Drinks (e.g. wine, cider)
* Artificial scents
Everyone can have different triggers. Pay close attention to try and identify yours.
More here: mcas.ie/wp-content/upl…
2.2/ Find antihistamines that work for you
Mast cells have H1 and H2 receptors, and you'll need to "block" both. You'll probably need some trial and error to find the right one for each. Based on the latest research, here are good starting points
- Zyrtec for H1
- Pepcid for H2
Mast cells have H1 and H2 receptors, and you'll need to "block" both. You'll probably need some trial and error to find the right one for each. Based on the latest research, here are good starting points
- Zyrtec for H1
- Pepcid for H2
2.3/ Try a low-histamine diet
It's also important to lower the amount of histamine in your system ingested via food. Here are some to avoid:
- Packaged rice/pasta meals
- Fermented foods
- Strawberries
- Processed meats
More here: mastcell360.com/low-histamine-…
It's also important to lower the amount of histamine in your system ingested via food. Here are some to avoid:
- Packaged rice/pasta meals
- Fermented foods
- Strawberries
- Processed meats
More here: mastcell360.com/low-histamine-…
2.4/ Take supplements to improve your histamine processing.
Vitamin C, Zinc, Quercetin, Niacin, and Selenium are all worth considering
More in this great video by @gezmedinger and @DrTinaPeers here:
Vitamin C, Zinc, Quercetin, Niacin, and Selenium are all worth considering
More in this great video by @gezmedinger and @DrTinaPeers here:
3/ More resources
A nice talk highlighting treatment strategies, including antihistamines
A nice talk highlighting treatment strategies, including antihistamines
Antihistamines were among the top treatment in one of @longcovidpharmd's recent surveys (and was one of the most popular treatments, too)
https://twitter.com/organichemusic/status/1592852928267956225
A testimonial from a user that saw benefit (there are tons of these out there!)
https://twitter.com/PinkedOff/status/1521872260440727552
4/ If you're thinking of trying antihistamines, you can use Eureka to see how it impacts your congestion, tachycardia, HRV, and more.
Plus, you'll be helping the community learn what works on who.
Click to get started today:
eurekahealth.com/plan/antihista…
Plus, you'll be helping the community learn what works on who.
Click to get started today:
eurekahealth.com/plan/antihista…
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