PodcastDX25 Nov 2025

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome MCAS

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is when you have unexplained episodes of severe symptoms like swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, flushing and itching. Unlike allergies that happen with a specific exposure, MCAS episodes happen without a clear trigger.

In some cases, mast cell activation can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic condition that can be life-threatening. It can cause you to have trouble breathing and drop your blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Call 911 (or your local emergency service number) or go to the nearest emergency room if you're experiencing severe anaphylaxis.

Mast cells are a type of immune cell responsible for immune reactions. For instance, conditions like allergic rhinitis and asthma, allergic reactions (like anaphylaxis to drugs or food) and mastocytosis all activate mast cells. This causes them to release proteins that give you symptoms that are bothersome at best, and dangerous at worst.

Other common conditions can also cause unexplained symptoms. It's important to discuss your concerns with your provider. They'll make sure you get a complete workup with a specialist, like an allergist. An allergist is a type of doctor who can diagnose and manage many types of allergic conditions.

But mast cell activation syndrome is rare. Healthcare providers diagnose mast cell activation syndrome if:

You have repeated symptoms of possible anaphylaxis without a clear trigger
You have more than one body system affected at the same time
Tests show signs of mast cell activation
Mast cell medications provide relief from your symptoms

(CREDITS: Cleveland Clinic)

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(440)

EECP The Most Underutilized Therapy in Medicine

Retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Jack Clifford joins PodcastDX to share how severe chronic angina once limited even everyday activities and left him facing the possibility of triple...

25 Aug 44min

Diary of An Epileptic

In this episode of PodcastDX, we speak with Allany Muniz, founder of Diary of an Epileptic, about the realities of living with epilepsy beyond what most people see. Allany shares how her diagnosis cha...

18 Aug 28min

Memory Villages

Memory Villages explores the promise and the questions surrounding dementia villages—care communities designed to feel more like neighborhoods than institutions. We discuss how familiar surroundings, ...

11 Aug 17min

Ebola

In this PodcastDX episode, Lita and Jean Marie unpack Ebola as a severe but not casually spread viral disease, explaining that infection requires direct contact with blood or other body fluids or cont...

4 Aug 23min

Sunscreen

In this week's episode of PodcastDX, Lita and Jean Marie break down why sunscreen is about far more than avoiding a bad sunburn—it's everyday cancer prevention. They explain how UV damage happens whil...

28 Jul 17min

Vagus Nerve Reset

In this solo PodcastDX episode, Lita introduces the concept of the vagus nerve and explains why it has become such a focus in wellness, neurology, psychiatry, and online health spaces. She describes t...

21 Jul 17min

When Seconds Matter

"When Seconds Matter" is a strong, urgent PodcastDX episode. It is a personal story about emergency response and the critical minutes before help arrives. It's focused on recognizing danger early, ca...

14 Jul 14min

Heart, Brain & Immunity: New Clues After a Heart Attack

After a heart attack, the story doesn't end in the arteries. In this episode of PodcastDX, Lita and Jean Marie explore new science showing how the heart, brain, and immune system talk to each other du...

26 Mai 19min