Since the start of the year, we've been going over different triggers that may be at the root of your histamine or mast cell mediated issues. Today, we visit yet another trigger to consider when histamine or mast cells seem to be in mayhem: Hypoxia.
Knowing your personal triggers is the key to resolving what is potentially driving your symptoms.
Hypoxia: What is it?
Hypoxia is when not enough oxygen makes it to your cells and tissues. Oxygen fuels your cells, allowing you to make energy. You can only survive for a short period of time without it.
Oxygen comes in to your body when you breathe air into your lungs. Your lungs are uniquely set up with tiny sacs called alveoli that pass the oxygen from your lungs into your bloodstream. From there, oxygen travels through your blood vessels to reach cells everywhere in the body.
There are several reasons this process of oxygen transport can get disrupted, resulting in hypoxia.
Causes
Damage to lung tissue: asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Underdeveloped lungs: complication of preterm birth
Heart attack or stroke: insufficient blood flow
Obstructive sleep apnea: intermittent hypoxia
Signs You May Have Hypoxia
Shortness of breath while resting
Cough or wheezing
Wake up out of breath or gasping
Feelings of choking
Bluish or bright red colour to skin
Rapid heart rate
Why You Need To Know About It
Yes! It’s another one of the possible triggers for mast cell activation.
Take another look at those causes and signs listed above.
Do they sound familiar for you at all? If you have experienced any of the causes or signs listed above, you first need to talk to your doctor or health care provider immediately.
Further Reading
If you think you have obstructive sleep apnea, have a look at Are You Getting Enough Oxygen While You Sleep.
Struggling with asthma? Read Breathless.
Want to know more about COPD and mast cell involvement? Check out Shout At the Top of Your Lungs.
Could This Be You?
This is our sixth article on triggers. For you to get your mast cell situation under control, you need to identify and eliminate all the triggers that are driving your mast cells. Maybe you only have one trigger, but you may also have more than one. These triggers are at the root of why you have MCAS. An important step to getting better is figuring these out, and addressing all of them.
How Histamine Haven Helps
Our dietary protocol is designed to do multiple things at once. The foods we include are deeply nourishing to support your mast cells, and to also support repair of lung and circulatory tissue. Unlike a low histamine diet, which is just removing one of the food triggers, Histamine Haven is designed to regulate your mast cells and immune system, support gut and barrier tissue health and deeply nourish you.
Stop wasting your breath! It’s time to take action now!
Not sure where to start? Come join us in our Online Community. Gather some resources to help you find your way; take our Histamine Connection master class to better understand what is happening in your body; and join the conversation with others navigating through the histamine and mast cell question. It's free to join us! Click here when you're ready.
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