Mast Cell Disease
Mast cell disease is a chronic condition where mast cells—the immune cells that normally help defend against infections and heal injuries—become overactive and release chemicals inappropriately. This can lead to a wide range of symptoms including flushing, hives, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, low blood pressure, and even life-threatening anaphylaxis. Triggers vary widely and may include foods, temperature changes, stress, medications, or environmental exposures, making the condition unpredictable and challenging to manage.
What you will learn:
Understand what mast cell disease is and how it’s diagnosed.
Explore treatment options—from antihistamines and stabilizers to emerging therapies.
Learn to recognize and manage triggers like food, stress, and medications.
Discover daily management strategies, including low histamine diets and carrying emergency meds.
Gain insight into living with mast cell disease and what new treatments may bring.
Podcast Episodes about Mast Cell Disease
Curated for you! We’ve organized our episodes to start with the basics and go deeper as you listen.
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An introduction to mast cells and the crucial role they play in the immune system. This episode explores what happens when mast cells misfire, the differences between mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndrome, and hereditary alpha-tryptasemia, and how genetic mutations like KIT can trigger disease.
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Discover why mast cell disease can affect multiple organ systems and how both environmental and emotional factors play a role in flares.
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Discover the step-by-step diagnostic journey for mast cell disorders, from confirming true anaphylaxis to timing fast-sensitive blood tests, leveraging longer-window urine tests, and using skin or bone marrow findings when needed.
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Explore why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in mast cell disease treatment and see how the “try-and-see” method—from H1/H2 blockers to Xolair and TKIs—helps personalize care.
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Understand why a low-histamine diet may not always help mast cell disease unless you're cutting out your own triggers—and how stress control plays a crucial role in stabilizing symptoms.
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Tune in as Tammie shares how navigating systemic mastocytosis calls for perseverance, therapeutic relationships, mental health care, and the careful mix of digital and in-person connections.
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Discover how hematologist-oncologist Dr. Douglas Tremblay uses bone marrow biopsies and KIT mutation insights to guide diagnosis and emerging treatments for systemic mastocytosis.
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Discover why early detection matters as Dr. Kremyanskaya breaks down how advanced systemic mastocytosis with or without hematologic malignancy evolves and affects organs.
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Learn how a recent study reveals a gap between patients and providers on how well indolent systemic mastocytosis symptoms are managed—and why bridging that perception gap matters for care.
Nativating Health Insurance
Health insurance affects everyone with a chronic condition. These episodes break it down.
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A breakdown of how to choose the right health insurance plan, including key terms to know, understanding coverage for allergy care, and tips for navigating open enrollment with confidence.
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A practical guide to navigating insurance denials, including why medications get rejected, how to file an appeal, and what to ask your doctor to strengthen your case.
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An overview of health insurance essentials for doctors, including how coverage decisions are made, tips for navigating claims, and why understanding insurance helps improve patient care.
The Impact of Climate Change on Environmental Allergies
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Understand how climate change drives new health challenges, from increased pollen exposure to longer allergy seasons and rising respiratory risks.
