It has been just revealed the fact that the mast cell activation syndrome is a mysterious disease that is often missed. Check out the following reports about this below.
Mast cell activation syndrome
Itching, hives, brain fog, and fatigue are bothersome symptoms that can be caused by a condition called mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
MCAS is a type of immune system overreaction that leads to inflammation and various other unpleasant symptoms.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 17 percent of the general population was affected by MCAS. However, some experts believe that in the post-COVID era, this percentage may increase to as much as 25 percent, with an even greater rise among those with pre-existing health conditions.
Despite being quite common, MCAS is often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, which can take a long time, up to 10-20 years, to get a correct diagnosis.
Dr. Jill Carnahan practices functional medicine in Louisville, Colorado, and has identified a significant gap in medical education. While most doctors are familiar with the rare mast cell disease, mastocytosis, they are not informed about MCAS.
Dr. Neil Nathan, a renowned authority in Lyme disease and MCAS, and the author of “The Sensitive Patient’s Healing Guide,” admitted to The Epoch Times that he had not heard of MCAS until 2016.He explained: “Once it entered my awareness, I began to realize I had been seeing it for years without making the right diagnosis.”
Many doctors who specialize in integrative and functional medicine are familiar with MCAS and are able to treat it effectively.
However, there is disagreement among experts about how to diagnose this condition. This is because mast cells are present in every system of the body, which makes it challenging to recognize symptoms.
Additionally, symptoms can overlap with those of other conditions and vary greatly from person to person.
One telltale sign of MCAS is the presence of histamine-related symptoms such as itching, hives, palpitations, brain fog, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and bloating.
According to Dr. Nathan, an expert in the field, these symptoms are especially indicative of MCAS when they occur instantaneously and inconsistently.
Unlike allergic reactions, which typically occur consistently with each exposure and take a few minutes for symptoms to appear, mast cell reactions depend on the activation status of the mast cells. Dr. Nathan explains that “with mast cell activation, it depends on how reactive those mast cells are at the moment.”
This means that the cells may not react if a patient is not currently experiencing a flare-up. It is important to note that stopping the activation can prevent subsequent reactions.
Other symptoms of MCAS include the following:
Irritated eyes, nose, mouth, or throat.
Headaches, neuropathies, and cognitive issues.
Anxiety and mood disorders.
Bone, joint, and muscle pain.
Joint laxity or hypermobility.
Sensitivities to chemicals and electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Early detection is crucial in preventing the continuous release of inflammatory chemicals from activated mast cells. This could lead to severe consequences and contribute to chronic health problems.
