Chronic Hives Are Not Something You Just Have to Live With
In this episode of the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast, we take a closer look at living with chronic hives, also known as chronic urticaria. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a type of chronic hives. We explore what it means to “just live with” your hives vs. having a well-managed hives.
Our hosts, Payel Gupta, MD and Kortney, are joined by Tom Chacko, MD, a board-certified allergist and immunologist based in Atlanta. Together, they talk about how to know if your hives are well controlled, what to do when a bad flare hits, and how to make the most of a follow-up doctor appointment. Dr. Chacko shares practical tips so you can walk into your next doctor’s visit prepared and confident.
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Any mention of brands is also informational and not an endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical questions or concerns.
Thank you to Novartis for sponsoring this podcast episode.
Key Takeaways About Living with Chronic Hives
One of the biggest challenges with chronic hives is called “normalizing.” When you live with a condition long enough, you stop noticing all the ways that your life has changed around it. Choosing different clothes to wear, skipping going to the gym, and not sleeping well are not inconveniences. They are signs that your hives may not be well controlled.
- Chronic hives are not your fault. Chronic hives are caused by an internal immune process, not something you ate or did, and it often appears out of nowhere.
- You do not have to just live with it. If your hives are affecting your sleep, your activities, or your daily life, that is a sign your treatment may need to change. There are many options, so you do not need to settle with the first one you try.
- Tracking your symptoms gives you power. Using a tool like the UAS7 turns your experience into data your doctor can actually use to help you faster.
- Your follow-up appointment matters. Coming to your doctor prepared, with concrete examples of how hives have affected your life, leads to better conversations and better care.
- It is okay to ask for more. If antihistamines are not working well enough, there are newer treatment options available, and you deserve to know about them.
Timestamps for Our Episode on Living with Chronic Hives
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
More Resources About Chronic Hives
- What is Chronic Urticaria?
- Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
- UAS7 Urticaria Activity Score worksheet
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