Hives Symptoms – Causes and Treatments
Twenty percent of the population comes down with hives symptoms at some point in their lives. Hives refers to the condition that causes welts or red bumps to appear on the trunk, arms, hands, legs, feet, face, and ears. Basicly, they can appear anywhere on your body. Often, hives occur because of an allergic reaction. In most cases, it is difficult to determine the underlying cause of hives outbreaks.
Hives goes under the medical term “urticaria.” Any person, regardless of age, gender, or race can contract hives.
Hives Symptoms
Hives creates itching, and in some instance, may lead to stinging and burning. The bumps differ in size, from the diameter of a pencil to large blotches on the skin. Sometimes, hives merge on a large patch of skin to form plaques. The bumps appear red or a pale color, which some people mistake as mosquito bites.
However, unlike mosquito bites, the size of the bumps or welts from hives keeps changing. The location of the outbreak on the body may also change.
The medical community categorizes hives as acute or chronic. Acute hives occurs over a short period and can last from few hours up to six weeks. It may happen in association with angioedema and can be caused by an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of angioedema include an outbreak underneath the skin around the lips, cheeks or eyes. As mentioned above, hives and angioedema can occur simultaneously. Acute urticaria also relates to anaphylaxis which is life-threatening type of allergic reaction that affects the entire body.
Chronic urticaria occurs repeatedly, and lasts more than six weeks. In some cases, chronic urticaria can persist for months or years
What Causes Hives Symptoms to Occur?
Hives develops when blood plasma leaks out of tiny blood vessels in the skin. This leakage is caused by the chemical called histamine.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia writes on its website that prescriptions, over-the-counter medications or allergic reactions to food, animals, or insect bites can result in the release of histamines. In addition, illnesses, viruses or internal disease can also cause the release of histamines.
What to Do with the Symptoms
Recommends that anyone afflicted with hives symptoms should see a physician under the following circumstances:
- The condition does not respond to treatment
- Experience of severe discomfort
- Symptoms last for more than two or three days
Furthermore, the individual should seek emergency medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Swelling in the throat
- Feeling lightheaded
- Trouble breathing
- Severe tightness in the chest
Conventional Hives Treatments
The key to avoiding out breaks of hives lie in staying away from drugs or foods that causes allergic reactions. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, medical treatments for hives include
- Antihistamines for recurring attacks
- Etrizine (ZYRTEC) or Hydroxyzine (ATARAX) for cholinergic hives
- Cyproheptadine (PERIACTIN) for cold-induced hives
If hives symptoms fail to respond to antihistamines, the physician may prescribe corticosteroid medications to along with the antihistamines.
An Effective Natural Hives Treatment
Many people who suffer from chronic hives cannot afford expensive conventional medications or simply prefer a holistic alternative for treating hives.
Thirteen years ago Dr. Gary M. Levin, a surgeon who has practiced traditional medicine for over three decades, concluded – after he spent some time working with a holistic practitioner – traditional pharmaceutical drugs were not always the most effective methods of treating a patient.
Dr. Levin researched and conducted studies on natural medicine, while operating a clinic and teaching and supervising resident doctors at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, in California. Focusing his investigation on hives, he found that traditional treatments, which alleviate hives symptoms, failed to address the root cause — poor nutrition.
He decided to take the information he learned and developed a 100 percent natural treatment for hives. He has made this information available in an eBook called “Natural Urticaria (Hives) & Angioedema Treatment.”
Most of Dr. Levin’s patients have experienced a significant improvement in their condition. Anyone who has suffered from this debilitating disease, without a cure in sight, may want to give this option a chance.
Leave a Reply