The Daily Pill is a series of very short daily posts where I share the definition of a medical term I think we should all know. Read it every morning and build up your medical vocabulary.
🧬 Anti-Histamines
Continuing with this week’s topic of allergies and the immunes system and all that stuff, it is time to talk about anti-histamines. These are medications that block…. that block…. correct! histamine receptors. And hence, they prevent histamine from exerting its effects on the body.
Histamine is a chemical released by immune cells during allergic reactions, leading to symptoms like itching, sneezing, and runny nose. And by inhibiting histamine, anti-histamines alleviate these symptoms.
🤔Why you need to know:
The juicy details, the gossip, the scoop: Antihistamines are available over the counter and can be used for mild allergic reactions. There are two main types of anti-histamines: first-generation anti-histamines - which can cause drowsiness, and second-generation anti-histamines - which are less likely to cause drowsiness and sedation.
Being aware of this, and other potential side effects such as dry mouth and blurred vision, can help you better modulate your medications use. Effective management of allergies with anti-histamines can enhance daily functioning, sleep quality, and overall well-being.
For example, lets say your friend has difficulty falling asleep in general, and on top of that, whenever they experience allergies the problem gets way worse… Well, your friend may want to pop in one or two bennys (diphenhydramine - 1st gen) before bedtime and after that, its pretty much nighty night sweet prince. (This is not medical advice).
Example 2: lets say your other friend also has allergies but they have to operate heavy machinery within a couple of hours. Would you recommend them to take Benadryl? Of course not, good job superstar. (Also not medical advice - just talk to your doctor).
In any case, keep in mind that severe allergic reactions can quickly deteriorate into an anaphylactic shock - a potentially fatal condition that requires emergency medical attention, like 911-medical attention. NOT anti-histamines or your neighbor who is thinking about going to nursing school next year.
⚠️Viewer discretion: If you want to see a patient presenting with anaphylactic shock check out this video:
🧠Trivia:
The discovery of anti-histamines dates back to the 1930s. French scientist Daniel Bovet was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1957 for his work on anti-histamines, which paved the way for the development of these life-changing medications.
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