Welcome to a new series of podcasts focusing on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). It is part of our ongoing “Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations” podcast. In this first podcast episode, co-hosts Kortney Kwong Hing and Payel Gupta, MD, dive into understanding CSU by addressing what each term means. They also describe CSU symptoms to watch for in terms of diagnosing the disease.
You can listen to the podcast recording on YouTube or download the podcast on ITCHPODCAST.com for listening anytime, anywhere. The podcast can be downloaded at:
The podcast series is sponsored by Novartis.
What to Know About Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Join Kortney and Dr. Gupta as they make sense of the complexities surrounding CSU. They start by explaining “urticaria,” or hives, and what sets CSU apart from other types of hives. Dr. Gupta and Kortney discuss the role of itch in CSU and they dig deeper into what causes itching and why scratching feels so good.
Dr. Gupta clarifies that, unlike other urticarias, CSU does not involve triggers. She shares the various factors that can worsen a CSU flare-up, from stress to medications.
In addition, Kortney and Dr. Gupta look at whether certain populations are more affected by CSU. They shed light on how autoimmune conditions play a role in the prevalence of CSU.
Key takeaways from this podcast episode
- Get a clear understanding of chronic spontaneous urticaria
- Get insights into its symptoms and why they occur
- Learn about histamine’s role in causing hives, the itch and scratch paradox, and what can exacerbate CSU.
- Find out who is most affected by CSU, if there’s there a cure, and how long symptoms might last.
Podcast Timestamps
- 1:10 – Defining urticaria: hives
- 3:30 – Defining chronic spontaneous urticaria
- 4:16 – Exploring allergic reactions’ role in CSU
- 5:18 – Understanding chronic inducible urticaria (CINDU)
- 6:40 – Variations of hives in different people and skin tones
- 8:29 – The biological mechanisms behind hives
- 9:07 – Histamine’s role in urticaria
- 9:50 – Investigating the significance of itch in urticaria: pruritus
- 10:50 – Analyzing the paradox of itch and scratching
- 12:54 – Unpacking angioedema in CSU
- 14:20 – Identifying factors that exacerbate CSU
- 14:58 – Examining the role of autoimmune mechanisms in CSU
- 15:28 – Pinpointing common culprits that trigger flares
- 17:52 – Assessing the impact of CSU on different populations
- 18:55 – Addressing the longevity of CSU
- 20:45 – Knowing when to seek medical attention for CSU concerns
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