About the Pathophysiology of Angioedema?

This post describes the pathophysiology of angioedema. If you or any of your friends or family is a victim of this deadly disease you must read this post and learn what the biochemical, physical and chemical changes that angioedema can cause are. This will be a great help in angioedema treatment, especially hereditary angioedema treatment.

Acquired angioedema is not as hazardous as hereditary angioedema (HAE) and does not cause much damage.

However, hereditary angioedema which is caused by the C1 inhibitor deficiency can be lethal and extremely hazardous. There are three types of hereditary angioedema: Type I caused in response to decreased levels of C1 inhibitors which is nearly 85% of the original, while in Type II C1 inhibitors stay at normal levels but decreased function which is nearly 15% and Type III is caused due to an X-linked leading fashion so it mainly affects females.

Various drugs, alcohol and foods can be the trigger for angioedema.

That’s all about angioedema pathophysiology. Next week I will post some great tips for safety from angioedema, a must-read for sufferers.

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How To Stay Safe From Angioedema – Some Simple Tips?

Angioedema is a painful and life threatening disease and unfortunately its treatment is also very difficult. If you are prone to angioedema or have a family legacy of this ailment, you need to be extra vigilant because hereditary angioedema treatment is the most difficult of all.

Those individuals, who have a family history of angioedema, should consult an angioedema specialist at a younger age. When they are young the treatment can be easy and the disease will respond well to the medication. Avoid the allergens, triggers and causes that may result in the outbreak of angioedema. Stress and some mechanical occupations can also cause angioedema, if you are prone to angioedema avoid such activities.

Angioedema swelling is usually painless, however, in some cases it can be painful. If you want to know how you can reduce this pain, read my post next week.

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Is Hereditary Angioedema Treatment possible?

Of course it is possible, but it is not as easy as one would wish.

Epinephrine has been a great cure in the case of acquired angioedema, but its results are not so good when dealing with hereditary angioedema treatment. However, you may have an allergy test at your Doctor. You may also get urine and blood tested in order to find out, if you have angioedema or not. If the results are positive, it can be cured with certain therapies or antihistamines. If you experience difficulty in breathing, try to go in the open air and breathe slowly and consult a doctor immediately. The most important thing is avoiding any other drugs when you are affected by angioedema.

Want to learn more about hereditary angioedema treatment? Read here.

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Before explaining the details of hereditary angioedema treatment, let us understand what this skin disease is and how it can affect you.

Hereditary Angioedema

Angioedema is a rapid swelling of skin, possibly due to allergic as well as non-allergic causes. If this disease is hereditary and has been progressing in your family, then it is called hereditary angioedema or familial angioedema. It is an extremely rare auto-somal dominant disorder of C1 inhibitor; for example, C1-INH deficiency manifested by painless swelling. This disease must be paid serious attention as it can be life threatening.

Hereditary Angioedema Symptoms

The most common and obvious symptom is swelling, which can develop abruptly on the eyes, lips, tongue and throat. However, it is not limited to these areas only, and any other part of the body can also be affected, such as the hands and feet. The swelling may result in itching, burning sensation, and pain. Urticaria (hives) may also develop along with it. Sometimes, the patient may also have difficulty breathing.

Hereditary Angioedema HAE

HAE is the acronym for hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary Angioedema Diagnosis

As symptoms of hereditary angioedema resemble those of other common disorders, it can go on for a long time without detection. Its diagnosis is typically made by visual examination and when routine blood tests are performed. The tryptase levels of mast cells may be lofty if the attack was due to an acute allergic reaction.

Hereditary Angioedema Treatments

Unlike acquired angioedema, hereditary angioedema treatments are difficult. Epinephrine has been a great cure in case of acquired angioedema, but its results are not always positive when treating hereditary angioedema. However, you may have an allergy test for diagnostic purposes. You may also get urine and blood tested in order to determine whether you have angioedema. If the results are positive, it can be cured with certain therapies or antihistamines. If you experience difficulty breathing, get fresh air, breathe slowly, and consult a doctor. It is important to avoid any other drugs when you have angioedema.

Hereditary Angioedema Attacks

If you experience hereditary angioedema attacks periodically, consulting a doctor and getting the disease properly diagnosed is imperative.

Hereditary Angioedema Emedicine

Emedicine is one of the largest online clinical knowledgebases with valuable information about certain disorders, including angioedema. It is searchable by keywords, such as hereditary angioedema.