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Questions & Answers

A Brief Introduction To Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Mast cells are white blood cells found throughout the body. Mast cells are found in the connective tissues, the skin, the lining of the intestines, the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and reproductive system.

Mast cells are long-lived cells located at junctions in the body. For example, they can be found right on the border of blood vessels, or the edge of the gastrointestinal lining. Mast cells live very close to the border of organs such as the heart. This location allows the mast cells to release substances into the body.

Mast cells are very reactive cells. They respond quickly and release chemicals into the lymphatic channels or the bloodstream, depending on the location of the mast cells. The chemicals released by mast cells include histamine, cytokines (including interleukins), and other compounds with potentially powerful effects on the body.

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The chemicals released by the mast cells initiate responses in other areas of the body. This is different from other white cells, such as neutrophils, which tend to have more localized effects. Mast cells can be beneficial to the body, but when there is excessive release of chemicals by these cells, a syndrome called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is one of the possible results. Essentially, the mast cells are overreacting to a perceived “threat” in the body. The excessive chemicals released by the mast cells can then trigger multi-system symptoms. The symptoms triggered by mast cells can be life-threatening at times. For example, MCAS can trigger anaphylaxis.

In my experience, there are more and more cases of mast cell disorders. Many people believe that the increased rates of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) are related to environmental toxins, molds, stress, and overpopulation. I would agree. I also link MCAS to a poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

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Questions & Answers, Yeast Infection Signs And Symptoms

Presenting Features Of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) describes a condition in which a type of white blood cell (mast cells) releases chemicals into the body. These chemicals have a variety of effects, including increasing the permeability of blood vessels. This increased permeability leads to swelling, congestion, inflammation, and pruritus (itching).

Chemicals from mast cells can also increase mucus production. When histamine is released, it stimulates mucus production leading to problems with sneezing, congestion, sinus blockage, and post-nasal drip.

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Another set of chemicals released by mast cells are called cytokines. Interleukins are a type of cytokines that can be either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Some interleukins stimulate the contraction of smooth muscle. One of the possible results of the muscle contraction is cramping pain in the digestive tract. It can also lead to problems with the bowels or bladder. Due to the discomfort caused by the smooth muscle contraction, some people mistakenly believe they must have a gut bug. They are worried about Candida or parasites when, in fact, it is MCAS causing their problem.

Other typical signs and symptoms of mast cell activation syndrome include the following:

  • Skin rash and hives (very common)
  • Swelling and edema
  • Flushing, itching, and prickling of the skin
  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Wheezing and shortness of breath
  • Heart palpitations and tachycardia
  • Anxiety
  • Poor concentration
  • Low blood pressure
  • Fatigue
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dizziness, fainting
  • Red eyes

The large number of symptoms associated with MCAS means that it can be easy to confuse it with other health conditions. I recall thinking that a patient had adrenal fatigue, when in fact is was MCAS.

Treatment of MCAS often requires a change to both the diet and the physical environment. I discuss MCAS treatment in greater detail in a subsequent article.

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Questions & Answers

High Stool Calprotectin: What Are The Causes?

Calprotectin is the inflammatory protein that can be measured in the stool. A calprotectin level below 60 is considered normal.

If the calprotectin level is 150 or higher, significant inflammation is present in the body. It needs to be checked out further with a colonoscopy and an assessment by a gastrointestinal specialist. Some of the conditions that can cause high levels of calprotectin include inflammatory bowel disease, certain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS). High blood pressure can also elevate calprotectin levels. Remember to get your blood pressure checked if your calprotectin levels are high.

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Get blood and stool tests to check for the levels of other inflammatory markers such as lysozyme and c-reactive protein. These and other additional tests can help distinguish between irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.

Questions & Answers

A Brief Introduction To Calprotectin

Calprotectin is an inflammatory protein that can be measured with stool testing. Levels up to 50 to 60 are considered normal. If your level is between 60 and up to 150, it’s considered to be moderately elevated. If your levels are over 60, further investigations to identify the cause of the inflammation is recommended.

Blood levels of c-reactive protein give some indication of the extent of inflammation in the body. However, fecal calprotectin is a more sensitive measure of gastrointestinal inflammation.

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It’s essential also to check lysozyme, the other inflammation marker found in stool. I also suggest looking at the levels of beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria when assessing for gut inflammation.

Calprotectin levels increase if the gut contains high levels of harmful bacteria, such as Klebsiella. High levels of bad bacteria are often present in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Other causes of elevated calprotectin levels are celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer.

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Questions & Answers

Blood in the stool: Next steps

Many people, at some stage of their life, will pass some blood through the stool. For most people, it won’t mean much. It will only be a small amount of blood. Common causes of blood in the stool include hemorrhoids or certain types of intestinal infections such as parasites.

If you are passing blood in your stool regularly, it definitely warrants further investigation by your doctor. This is particularly true if you have other symptoms like profound fatigue, rectal itching, brain fog, and poor immune function.

If you have blood in your stool, it could be due to one of 100 different things going on. It could be something as simple as hemorrhoids, which are very common. But it could also be something more sinister, like a stricture or a problem with the colon. There could be polyps inside there. There could even be bowel cancer.

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Colon cancer or bowel cancer is much more common than you think. For this reason, I highly recommend you always strive to eat very healthy foods. Some of the factors associated with bowel cancer are heavy alcohol use, consuming large amounts of red meat, obesity, and high stress.

Sometimes blood in the stool isn’t apparent. However, it can still be detected using a fecal occult blood test. If the test comes back positive it means that you are passing some blood in your stool, even if it isn’t visible to the naked eye. Other tests you should do are a complete blood count (CBC) and your ferritin levels, which is a measure of your iron stores. If you have been losing blood in your stool for a long time, your ferritin level may be quite low. I also recommend measuring your B12 and folate levels.

If you’re concerned about the possibility of bowel cancer, you can also ask your doctor to test for a specific bowel cancer marker found in the stool. This test is referred to as the M2-PK test.

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