Can Histamine Levels Rise During Panic Attacks?

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The Connection Between Histamine Intolerance and Anxiety

Can histamine levels rise during panic attacks? If you have panic disorder, you may notice that breathing can become labored, almost like when you’ve had allergic reactions. This connection is very real. Histamine intolerance and panic and anxiety disorders share a close interconnection. At times, they can even cause one another to worsen.

Catalina Behavioral Health is Tucson, Arizona’s top mental health provider and has helped innumerable clients recover from anxiety and panic attacks.

Untreated anxiety symptoms can lead to further issues, such as cognitive and mood disorders, or even have physical health consequences. Our holistic approach offers you the ideal solution to help you enjoy a more enjoyable, healthier life.

Please continue reading to learn how your central nervous system can trigger systemic chronic inflammation and wreak havoc.

Connecting Histamine Intolerance, Mast Cells, and Anxiety Symptoms

Histamine is a neurotransmitter involved in many of the body’s immune response. The body has a white blood cell called mast cells. The mast cells release histamine when an allergen triggers them. It is a natural part of the immune response, designed to protect the body from potential harm. The neurological signals carry messages to histamine receptors throughout the body, causing an allergic reaction.

The body, however, sometimes mistakes harmless things, such as pollen or particular foods, as threats. In those cases, they send the chemical messengers in what is essentially a false alarm. Research to understand why this happens is constantly evolving and is ongoing.

Histamine intolerance occurs when the body’s response is insufficient, and it cannot process it properly.

Research in 2022 found that 35.4% of patients with anxiety disorders also had histamine intolerance. It suggests that providers consider histamine’s role as a neurotransmitter in the body’s stress response. This greater understanding of the connection between panic attacks and histamine release could open up new avenues of treatment.

These include consuming a healthy, low-histamine diet, proven stress management techniques, along with other evidence-based treatments.

Histamine and the Fight or Flight Response

When you experience danger or an extremely stressful situation such as a nervous breakdown, your body releases histamine and other mood-altering neurotransmitters. Histamine acts in conjunction with the central nervous system and nerve cells, preparing you to either:

1. Fight the threat (fight response) or
2. Escape from the danger (flight response).

When someone has histamine intolerance or an overly active mast cell response, that excess histamine can cause chronic illness, like anxiety or panic attacks.

These individuals require an integrated treatment approach to manage brain histamine levels and the sympathetic nervous system, which dictates whether one chooses fight vs. flight.

Histamine Intolerance Symptoms

Histamine intolerance falls on a spectrum. For some people, they feel relatively minor. Others have reactions more pronounced symptoms.

Some might even liken these responses to (or mistake them for) severe allergic responses or food allergies. Here are some of the symptoms that histamine plays a role in:

Gastrointestinal Issues and Excess Histamine

When the mast cells release histamine at the wrong time, it can lead to a disrupted gut microbiome, eventually contributing to leaky gut syndrome. It may also cause bloating, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or constipation.

These digestive system disruptions can come from too much histamine, a virus, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or other opportunistic bacteria. You should see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis if gut health issues are ongoing.

Unresolved stomach pain and issues can lead to dehydration and other significant health challenges, as well as decreasing your quality of life.

Skin Reactions Related to Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Histamine intolerance can cause your skin to get a red, blotchy appearance, flushed, or develop a rash in times of heightened anxiety. Have you ever felt your neck or face redden when you had to stand up to speak in public? That’s a mild panic attack example most have experienced at least once.

These reactions happen when normal blood vessels expand into widened vessels as a direct response to the release of histamine. They are bothersome and can be unsightly but usually clear up as the chemical compounds restore to typical levels or after taking an antihistamine.

Hives are less common but a more severe skin issue. The raised, itchy welts can appear suddenly in response to an allergy. They are common with food sensitivities but can happen with any elevated histamine levels. Get help to reduce symptoms immediately, as they can lead to life-threatening swelling in the throat.

A doctor will prescribe antihistamine medications and may also add mast cell stabilizers, especially if you have other related conditions, like asthma or allergies to other environmental factors.

Excessive Histamine and Heart Symptoms

Histamine intolerance can also lead to cardiovascular or heart symptoms, often after an anxiety or panic attacks.

Have you ever wondered why someone may feel dizzy or faint during intense fear? It’s because of a histamine release that constricts blood vessels, causing sudden low blood pressure. Conversely, histamine can impact the heart’s electrical system, causing a too-fast heart rate, chest pain, or heart fluttering sensations.

It’s almost impossible to tell if someone is experiencing this medical condition because of this overactivity of the immune system. Any heart problems are a medical emergency – the person must be evaluated immediately.

Types of Anxiety/Panic That Trigger Histamine Release

Anxiety, panic, and similar events can cause an excessive histamine release. Here are a few:

Generalized anxiety disorder

• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Specific phobias
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Histamine intolerance can make any of these more challenging to overcome and lead to shortness of breath, stomach pain, or sleep disturbances. Seeking professional help is the key to restoring balance and minimizing the impact of your anxiety-related symptoms.

Histamine Intolerance and Other Illnesses

Besides anxiety and mental health disorders, histamine may contribute to the following:

• Autism, a sensory processing disorder. Researchers continue to discover new information on this connection.
• Alzheimer’s Disease, where research shows that histamine may lead to brain inflammation and worsen its progression.
• Multiple Sclerosis, a central nervous system disease, seems to improve with certain antihistamine drugs.

These connections are still in the early stages of research but show great promise in helping impacted people lead their best lives.

Catalina Behavioral Health’s Holistic Approach to Care

Our team is dedicated to treating the whole person instead of merely masking the symptoms. Our holistic model means that we offer a plethora of effective strategies to promote your wellness.

Insurance Verification for Panic and Anxiety Treatment at Catalina

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, insurance providers have treated mental health coverage on par with physical wellness. Despite that, many feel apprehensive when it’s time to discuss their mental healthcare needs.

Our admissions representatives will gladly call your insurance provider, explain our assessment of your care needs, and get any pre-authorizations approved on your behalf. We work with most group health plans and Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS).

We always want to help you receive panic/anxiety treatment for the lowest possible cost, even zero out-of-pocket.

Call the admissions department today to get your care approved.

Medically Supervised Detoxification from Alcohol and Drugs

Many drink or use to numb their anxiety symptoms. Our sub-acute detox helps you rid harmful substances from your body in a safe, comfortable setting.

Our detox center staff will support you and minimize the discomfort of any possible withdrawal symptoms. It’s a first step toward your sobriety.

Professional Counseling in a Calm, Luxurious Setting

We provide all clients with evidence-based psychotherapy, exceeding the industry’s best practices. Every person at our treatment center receives therapy tailored to their unique needs.

Qualified, licensed therapists dedicate themselves to treating you to respect and compassionate care.

Medication Management

Approved medication management practices include benzodiazepines (when necessary) to manage anxiety symptoms and other related conditions. We prescribe these with caution and follow up with close monitoring to prevent chemical dependency.

Eating a Balanced Diet

The established link between choosing the right diet and histamine intolerance is clear. We recognize the role a healthy gut lining plays in the body’s ability to fight infection and avoid psychological issues, such as anxiety or mood disorders.

Our nutritionists will provide a low-histamine diet to support your wellness. Meal plans may include fermented foods to nourish your gut microbiome. They’ll also feature foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin D, which are both necessary for good mental and physical health.

You’ll also enjoy a diet rich in healthy fibers, which increase intestinal motility and help food particles move quickly throughout the digestive system. Feeling good because of eating well can keep you in a better mindset throughout your time at Catalina.

Introducing Healthy Sleep Habits

You probably know that the sleep-wake cycle is important to your physical health. But you might not have known how critical it is to your mental wellness.

Our structured routine will help you establish better sleep patterns. We will always follow up and address any lingering concerns about your sleep quality – slight adjustments can sometimes be necessary.

Mastering Self-care Techniques

Stress will always be present in life, so mastering self-soothing and calming techniques can help you stop panic in its tracks. You’ll discover how to use breathing techniques, visualization exercises, and journal writing to soothe yourself when you face daily challenges. These are fantastic, as you can apply them in every area of life.

Call Catalina Behavioral Health to Treat Panic Attacks

Are you ready to put anxiety and panic attacks behind you and live a more balanced life? Reach out to Catalina Behavioral Health today. We look forward to helping you work on resolving your anxiety, depression, or panic disorders and look ahead to a brighter tomorrow.

Call our team confidentially today and get treatment support options for anxiety and panic attacks now.