Listener Q&A with Dr. Tania Dempsey — Mast Cell Matters

In this episode of 'Mast Cell Matters', Dr. Tania Dempsey addresses a variety of listener questions about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and its impact on mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog. She explains that these symptoms may result from brain inflammation caused by mast cells. Dr. Dempsey emphasizes the importance of identifying and eliminating triggers, which can range from environmental pollutants to emotional stressors, and managing symptoms with antihistamines and other treatments. She discusses the complexity of MCAS and its varied manifestations, including food sensitivities and physical triggers, and touches upon the potential of emerging therapies, like GLP-1 agonists, in addressing neuroinflammatory symptoms. She also elaborates on conditions like Kounis Syndrome, which involves coronary artery spasm due to mast cell activation, and explores the connections between MCAS and other conditions like POTS and venous compression syndromes. Throughout, Dr. Dempsey stresses the need for a personalized approach to treatment, given the wide variability in symptoms and triggers among patients.