Histamine is a molecule responsible for several essential tasks, including transmitting information to the brain, releasing stomach acid to aid digestion, and activating the immune system in response to damage or an allergic reaction. Histamine intolerance is not a sensitivity to histamine but rather a sign of an excess of it. When histamine levels are excessively high or cannot be broken down adequately, it might interfere with regular body activities. This is often the result of inadequate diamine oxidase (DAO), the principal enzyme responsible for breaking down digested histamine.
Certain foods can elicit symptoms of histamine intolerance, although this condition is distinct from a food allergy. Some signs of histamine intolerance resemble an actual allergic response. However, the cellular reaction of the body is distinct; thus, skin and blood allergy tests will be negative. It may be difficult for a medical practitioner to define and diagnose histamine intolerance. This might be because the symptoms can present themselves in many different body parts and overlap with those of other conditions. Those with histamine intolerance did, however, exhibit symptoms comparable to allergic responses that can be used to identify and diagnose the illness.
Headache and Migraine
A headache is defined as a painful condition characterized by discomfort in the head or face. When it comes to headaches, there is a wide range of pain characteristics, intensity levels, occurrences, and treatment options. This is because brain tissues have no pain receptors; hence, brain cells don’t experience pain. However, a headache may originate in other regions of the head.
When histamine levels rise in the brain, and the tissues around it, pressure increases, and pain is felt. These brain regions are densely populated with histamine H3 and H4 receptors, making them a common site for histamine compound deposition. Due to the abundance of histamine receptors in the brain, histamines play a critical role in maintaining proper nervous system function; nevertheless, their excess leads to issues. Depending on the receptors being stimulated, headaches may cause pain in a specific area of the head or across the whole head. Moreover, diamine oxidase is the primary enzyme responsible for disintegrating histamine. Insufficient levels of this enzyme have been linked to migraines in many persons. In conclusion, reducing the body’s natural chemical production may alleviate histamine-related headaches. One straightforward strategy is to adopt a low-histamine diet.
