Ep. 148: How Do You Know Your Chronic Hives Are Under Control?
Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank Novartis for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
Chronic hives that come and go without warning are exhausting physically and emotionally. But here is something many patients don't realize: feeling "okay" is not the same as being well controlled.
Kortney and Dr. Gupta are joined by Dr. Tom Chacko, a board-certified allergist and immunologist based in Atlanta, to discuss what good hives control actually looks like and what to do when you are not there yet. From "just living with" your condition to managing a bad flare, tracking your symptoms, and preparing for your follow-up appointment, this episode gives you the tools to stop just coping and start getting better care.
What we cover in our episode about what chronic hives control looks like:
Chronic spontaneous urticaria. The plain-language definition of CSU, including why hives appear without a clear trigger and what angioedema is.
The trap of normalizing symptoms. Why patients adjust their lives around hives without realizing it, and how to spot the signs that your condition is not actually controlled.
How to track your hives. Why symptom tracking helps with diagnosis and better care, and how to use tools like the UAS7 score.
What to bring to your follow-up appointment. The concrete information your doctor needs to work with you to find the best treatment plan. This includes information about sleep, daily activity, and medication side effects.
How to ask for more help. What to say when antihistamines are not enough, and what newer treatment options exist for CSU patients today.
About our guest
Dr. Tom Chacko is a board-certified adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he leads a practice of [8–10 or 14?] locations across the area. A former president of the Georgia Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society and repeatedly named one of Atlanta's Top Doctors, Dr. Chacko sees patients of all ages across all areas of allergy and immunology, with a particular focus on hives, asthma, and food allergy.
Follow Dr. Chacko on Instagram
More resources about chronic hives
Allergy & Asthma Network chronic urticaria resources
More episodes about hives
Timestamps
Our episode shares tips on how to track your hives and how to get the most out of your follow-up appointment
01:46 What is chronic spontaneous urticaria
02:37 What does normalizing a chronic condition mean
05:00 How chronic hives affect quality of life
08:08 What does good hives control actually look like
10:47 Why follow-up appointments matter
15:11 When to schedule your next follow-up
17:11 How to measure if your hives are under control
23:26 How to get the most out of your doctor's appointment
27:06 What your doctor needs to hear from you
