Several things you may encounter outdoors can trigger symptoms for people with MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome).

Respiratory issues that can be seen in some people with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) and HSD (hypermobility spectrum disorder) often go unrecognized. Here’s what they can look like, and management strategies that can help improve quality of life.

Chronic illness can profoundly reshape the future you once imagined and the one you still long for.

Proper hydration is essential for managing POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) symptoms, and our bodies often give us subtle hints when we’re not well-hydrated. Let’s decode these signals.

What may seem like a harmless leftover could contribute to a worsening of MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) symptoms. Here’s why that leftover you trust could actually be causing you trouble—and ideas to help you stay ahead of it.

Many people with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) or HSD (hypermobility spectrum disorder) are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years or even decades—not because their symptoms are invisible, but because they’re misunderstood or simply ignored. As a clinician, I’ve seen each one of these misattributions:

Brain fog or cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) where thinking feels cloudy or slowed down. This is what it can look like:

I’ve lost count of how many times, as a clinician, I’ve seen “stress” blamed for physical symptoms, only to later find that POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), EDS/HSD (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorder), and/or MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) is the actual cause.

Countless people living with chronic illness are experiencing real symptoms but haven’t yet received a diagnosis. “Normal” test results or the absence of a medical label doesn’t mean something isn’t wrong. The healthcare system doesn’t always catch every condition right away. 

Considering a layered approach can be a helpful mindset for managing MCAS, as each component builds upon the others to create a comprehensive plan that promotes stability and long-term improvement. 

Today (May 12) is ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Awareness Day. ME/CFS is more than just feeling tired—it’s a life-altering medical condition with no known cure that affects nearly every system in the body. 

GI issues seen in those with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) can significantly impact daily life. They are a common but often overlooked part of hEDS for many people.

When receiving a POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) diagnosis, you might feel lost trying to figure out where to start, and that’s completely normal.

Being dismissed repeatedly can silence even the loudest voices. Medical trauma isn’t just what happens to someone’s body—it’s being told they’re wrong, even when they know their body best. Sometimes, it’s in the small, quiet ways the system fails to listen.

When people think of MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), they often picture hives, a rash, flushing, or itching, but MCAS can exist without any skin symptoms at all.

Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) can be incredibly challenging, isolating, and exhausting. People often go years without a diagnosis or proper care—which is why awareness of these conditions is so important—so that healthcare providers, educators, and communities can recognize these conditions sooner. Every person with EDS/HSD has a story worth hearing.

Chronic illness may require you to budget your energy carefully—go over your limit, and your body sends the bill in the form of exhaustion, pain, or flare-ups.

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) doesn’t always give instant feedback—sometimes the effects show up a day or two later.

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) can make it difficult to sleep at night for many different reasons. Histamine levels in the body follow a natural daily rhythm, often peaking in the early morning (overnight) and decreasing throughout the day. For those with MCAS, a rise in histamine overnight can trigger symptoms and significantly disrupt sleep. 

People with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) or HSD (hypermobility spectrum disorder) often experience joint subluxations, which are partial dislocations that can occur suddenly, painfully, and often with little to no warning.