What is histamine?

What Does histamine Mean

As a neologism is how we can classify the term histamine that we are dealing with now, whose etymological origin is found in Latin and Greek. And it is the result of the sum of two components of these languages:

-The Greek noun “histos”, which can be translated as “tissue”.

-The Latin word “amine”, which is the result of the union of the radical “am-” and the suffix “-ina”, which is used to give names to certain chemical products.

Likewise, we have to underline that the first time the term was used as such was at the beginning of the 20th century. Specifically, it was in 1910 when it was spoken of under its current name by British scientists Patrick Playfair Laidlaw (1881 - 1940) and Henry Hallett Dale (1875 - 1968).
It is believed that they gave it that name taking into account the term histadina that a few years before had given to another scientist, specifically the German Albretch Kossel (1853 - 1927).
A histamine is an amine released by certain types of cells in the framework of an immune reaction . The amines , in turn, are substances derived from ammonia formed by the replacement of at least one the hydrogen atom or aliphatic aromatic radicals. An immune reaction , on the other hand, is a response of the body to the action of an antigen.

In short, histamine is released by some cells while the body develops an immune reaction. The neurons of the nervous system are usually responsible for their synthesis and release; Once outside the nervous system, histamine acts in various physiological processes.
Histamine can be said to be a molecule produced by biological agents. It is manufactured by humans in neurons, but also in mast cells , platelets, and other cells. The histamine present in the body of a person can also be made by bacteria found in the food consumed or in the intestinal flora: the sources of histamine for the body, in this way, can be internal or external.
There are several functions that histamine fulfills. On the one hand, the body releases histamine in tissues and blood when it detects an “enemy” (a bacteria, a virus, an allergen, etc.). On the other hand, histamine participates in the production of hydrochloric acid and acts as a neurotransmitter with a key role in adaptation to the environment and in the sleep-wake cycle.
If the amount of histamine in the blood is excessive , whether due to an allergy, food poisoning, illness or other reason, various disorders can be generated from the binding of histamine to its receptors: from nasal congestion and migraine to arrhythmia , tachycardia , itching , diarrhea and muscle aches . To prevent these conditions, a doctor may give an antihistamine medication that works to prevent histamine-receptor binding.

It is important to know that eating fish can suffer scombroid poisoning, which is what causes the histamine that is present in that food and which is a toxin. Specifically, it is usually present in fish that belong to the Scombroidae family such as mackerel, tuna or even mackerel.
Sweat, redness of the face and even a noticeable inflammation of the eyes are some of the main symptoms that indicate the aforementioned histamine poisoning.