Histamine: The Stuff Allergies are Made of

Histamine is the stuff that allergies are made of. Why do we have such an annoying chemical, and what can be done about it? Click "SHOW MORE" for video outline and links.

Histamine can help our immune system fight foreign invaders, like parasites. But with allergies, histamine make you sneeze, itch and tear up. Most worrisome is when histamine contributes to anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that is potentially fatal.

The NIH and specifically the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are studying allergies and how we can better manage and prevent allergic symptoms.

You can learn more at medlineplus.gov:
Allergies:
Food Allergies:
Hay Fever:

NIAID Research:


Accessible version of video at MedlinePlus:


Video Outline
0:27 Prevalence of allergic conditions
0:50 Histamine’s role as a signalling molecule
1:14 Histamine’s role in the immune system
1:25 B-cells and IgE antibodies
1:39 Mast cells and basophils
2:03 Immune response in allergies
2:12 Common allergens
2:17 Allergy symptoms
2:36 Anaphylaxis
2:53 Allergy treatment
3:19 NIAID

Video by Jeff Day
Narration by Jennifer Sun Bell

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