What are high histamine symptoms?

Here at Alloy, “high histamine” symptoms in midlife often look a lot like allergy flare-ups. Common ones include sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose, sinus pressure, itchy or watery eyes, hives, itching, eczema, and more sensitive or irritated skin. Some people also notice headaches, flushing, shortness of breath, or worsening asthma symptoms.

Histamine can affect the gut too, so it may show up as new food sensitivities, itching after certain foods, bloating, or digestive pain. In perimenopause, these symptoms can flare when estrogen is rising, because estrogen can make mast cells more likely to release histamine.

If you want the fuller explanation, this article from here at Alloy is the best place to start: The histamine-estrogen loop: why you’re suddenly allergic to everything.

If symptoms are new, getting worse, or interfering with daily life, it’s worth speaking with a clinician. Severe swelling, trouble breathing, severe asthma symptoms, or signs of anaphylaxis need urgent medical attention.

This answer was created using the following resources: