What is histamine for the body?
Histamine is a chemical compound secreted by our system - the so-called a heterocyclic amine derivative of imidazole. This compound causes several reactions in the body. First, as a mediator of inflammation, it can cause a strong inflammatory reaction in some organs. It can also increase the permeability of the smallest venous vessels and dilate blood vessels. Too much histamine release - caused by a strong allergic reaction causes abundant serum exudates to tissues and edema. As a result, redness, local or general inflammation appears. Histamine may also act as a so-called neurotransmitter. Then it works on the so-called H2 receptors in our heart, causing, for example, acceleration of the heart rate and increasing the efficiency of its work. In addition, it stimulates the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach, etc. Histamine the body itself can produce it and store it in immune cells. It can also absorb it from foods that abound in this relationship.
Symptoms of disease in response to abundant histamine discharge to tissues
Histamine is a mediator of inflammation that creates a dangerous reaction to an allergic reaction. In response to an allergen - histamine is released from the granulation of some human immune cells and strongly irritates the mucous membranes of the intestines, nose, bronchial lungs and cutaneous tissue. Corresponding to these locations, it causes pathological symptoms: cutaneous urticaria, diarrhea, allergic rhinitis (hay fever, yearlong), and asthma. The most dangerous for health is the so-called anaphylactic shock that some allergy sufferers may experience after the bite of wasp or bees. During this shock, abundant strokes of histamine cause rapid vasodilatation and a sudden drop in blood pressure, which in extreme situations can lead to death. The antidote for this reaction is, for example, as soon as possible intramuscularly injected adrenaline, which a highly endangered person should carry with him.
Histamine - inhalation and skin allergy
In people with allergies, the immune system for unknown reasons "mistakes" innocent, for example, pollen, food particles and other allergens with dangerous health aggressors. Therefore, it mobilizes not only as many immune cells as possible to fight. It also produces special antibodies that mark the presence of an apparent enemy. Thanks to this, the next contact with allergen-pollen, mite feces, animal's hair, etc. is immediately recognizable and causes an avalanche reaction of ready antibodies, accompanied by the release of further abundant doses of histamine.
The histamine alert causes redness, local warming, swelling and pain - in a word, painful inflammation.
This condition widens the blood vessels and accelerates the supply of blood with oxygen, immune cells (virgins and others) from other parts of the body, complement enzymes, etc. In the case of infection, increased help facilitates the fight against viral or bacterial infection and contributes to recovery.
Histamine discharge into the blood is accompanied by allergic reactionsj
Histamine causes inflammation, for example, as a painful swelling of the nose, throat or bronchi during cold and cold. In the case of sensitization to an allergen - harmless plant pollen, mite feces, animal fur, etc., a long-lasting histamine alert is created. Chronic inflammation triggered by it causes great health damage. Histamine is responsible for the severe local symptoms in many organs, as well as causing health threats throughout the body.
He is responsible for the swelling of the nose at the allegory
Histamine, like other secreted inflammatory mediators, dilates small blood vessels and increases their permeability, resulting in local exfoliation of blood plasma and edema.This is particularly evident in post-pollen allergens that sensitize them.
Responsible for shortness of breath and cough
In asthmatics, the stroke of histamine may cause swelling of the larynx, trachea and even the lungs, which cut off the air supply. This makes breathing difficult and is the main symptom of breathtaking (allergic asthma). In turn, irritation of sensory nerve endings by histamine is the cause of pruritus and pain. As you can see, histamine is responsible for almost all complaints of bronchial asthma.
Histamine alert in the gastrointestinal tract
In the intestines, you can lead to smooth muscle contraction and increased secretion of digestive juices. Irritated mucous membrane of the small intestine reacts with inflammation that causes diarrhea. We then deal with the so-called food alergy.
When it gets into the blood - it threatens anaphylaxis
After exceeding a certain quantitative threshold, histamine gets from the tissues to the circulation and can cause dangerous systemic reactions
Symptoms of significant amounts of histamine in the bloodstream are a disease state - the so-called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis means a drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate and can lead to an extreme condition that is a direct threat to life, which is anaphylactic shock.
Chronic allergic rhinitis or asthma induce constant release of histamine
Constantly released histamine increases dramatically the permeability of the blood vessel walls, which causes edema, and irritation of sensory nerve endings causes pruritus and pain. Also in this case, histamine is responsible for almost all symptoms of allergy. They appear as a result of irritation of the so-called histamine receptors - H1. Chronic inflammation and irritant action of histamine and other mediators causes gradual degeneration of surrounding tissues
Histamine also changes the properties of the cell membrane and too much calcium and sodium ions get into the interior of the cell, which can cause excessive spasms of the bronchial muscles, and can lead to a direct threat to life.
The action of "allergy" drugs - is based on blocking the so-called histamine H1 receptors, which are stimulated by allergens to release histamine, or to stabilize mast cell cell membranes, thus preventing the release of histamine from them. Drugs that block histamine receptors are safe and most commonly used. Especially the latest generation drugs thanks to convenient dosage - once a day - have become very popular. They are a convenient alternative to kromonów in allergic rhinitis, eye conjunctiva and in cases of urticaria; in asthma they are sometimes used as supportive care.
Histamine in food
Histamine is found mainly in fish raw materials, and its high content is associated with food poisoning. Histamine contained in food does not decompose during the thermal treatment process. The food intake is largely inactivated, which reduces its toxicity. In the case of deactivation caused by, for example, genetic predisposition, drug use or alcohol consumption - histamine can cause toxic effects. In quantities from 200 to 1000 ppm causes: vomiting, headache, nausea, high fever, skin rashes, excessive sweating, difficulty in breathing. Poisoning caused by histamine is called scombrotoxism. In the case of the presence of histamine in meat in an amount above 1000 ppm caused by this food poisoning can end in death.
ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
Consultation by prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Danysz lek. med.
Literature at the Authors
