Anderson Reporter

Histamines are commonly known for the key role they play in allergies, but they have recently been linked to medical ailments like depression and rare diseases.

Scientists are beginning to discover that histamine may play a role in an extensive array of body processes, while immunology is proving an effective treatment against allergies.

“We still do allergy shots," Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center told the Anderson Reporter. "Also, another form of allergy treatment or immunotherapy is what's called sublingual immunotherapy. Rather than doing shots, you can do this at home, where you put a drop or two under your tongue once a day. It has the same effect as allergy shots, generating antibodies that block the allergic response occurring in the first place. And it's the way allergy treatment has been done in Europe for decades, but it's fairly new to the United States. The other advantage to not having to go in for allergy shots, the inconvenience of all that. This can be done at home and the systemic reaction rate with it is so small, it almost doesn't occur. So it's a lot safer and quicker. You're done usually in three years, as opposed to five or six for allergy shots.”

WebMD recommends trying home remedies for sinus headaches. Knowing what you’re allergic to involves getting tested for allergies. Allergy medications (both prescribed and over the counter), alternative treatments and immunotherapy or allergy shots are treatment options, though there is no known cure for allergies.

Allergen immunotherapy is the process of desensitizing the body to allergens by gradually increasing exposure. Subcutaneous immunotherapy is highly effective, especially against seasonal allergies, according to Current Treatment Options in Allergy.

Using computer-mined data from the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, scientists have concluded there are more than 25 rare diseases related to histamine physiopathology.

Histamine is also responsible for an astonishing number of processes in the body, according to SelfDecode. Its levels have both positive and negative effects on mood, motivation and stress management.

Histamine begins the body's reaction to sinus allergies, according to WebMD. During this process, patients might feel the familiar postnasal drip and possible sneezing. Further in the process, histamine causes inflammation of the nose, which signals to the body to produce even more immune responses to fight the allergen.

Research reported by Science Daily may be on the verge of a breakthrough in medical and psychological science. Imperial College London and the University of South Carolina conducted a study on mice and concluded there is a direct correlation between serotonin, the feel-good molecule, and histamine in the brain.

Statistically speaking, about 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

To learn more about the information in this article or to take a sinus assessment, visit Indianapolis Sinus Center.