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Q. Doug, when a person says that they are "allergic to cold" ... can that really be true?
Doug: Absolutely! A person can have an allergic reaction to "cold" as in cold weather and cold water! The condition is known as "cold urticaria" or cold allergy. Exposure to the cold can release the chemical "histamine" in our skin. Histamine is the culprit that is responsible for the annoying symptoms such as skin redness, itching, hives, swelling, and in severe cases...shortness of breath.
-from Health Minute, WCCO and Cub Pharmacy, Doug White RPh
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