Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: A phase 4 trial demonstrated an 87% cure rate for moxifloxacin in treating Mycoplasma genitalium. A researcher said it is “not surprising” moxifloxacin performed better than azithromycin. A study that compared the efficacy of moxifloxacin vs. azithromycin in treating Mycoplasma genitalium — an STI with a rising resistance to antibiotics — showed that moxifloxacin was the clear winner. In the phase 4 randomized trial, a 10-day regimen of moxifloxacin yielded a significantly higher microbiologic cure rate compared with a 6-day regimen of azithromycin (87% vs. 61.2%; absolute risk difference, 25.8%; 95% CI, 16.5%-35.2%), supporting moxifloxacin as an empiric first-line treatment. Data derived from Rossotti R, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2026;doi:10.1093/cid/ciag317. The study pointed out, however, that azithromycin “showed comparable efficacy” among heterosexual participants. “It is not surprising that moxifloxacin performs better than azithromycin in a population largely composed of” gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), the study’s lead author, Roberto Rossotti, MD, associate professor of infectious diseases at University of Verona in Italy, told Healio. “But it is surprising that this performance is comparable to that observed with the resistance-guided approach, saving 4 days of treatment and one class of antibiotics.” M. genitalium is a common STI that causes a burning while urinating and discharge from the vagina or penis, according to the CDC.eatment has become tricky due to a macrolide resistance to azithromycin, once a first-line treatment, with resistance rising from 10% before 2010 to 51% in 2016-2017, researchers reported. Rossotti and colleagues conducted the trial in a tertiary care hospital located in Milan from January 2018 to June 2024. They randomly assigned 358 patients (median age, 36 years; 96.6% men; 94.1% gay, bisexual and other MSM; 5.9% heterosexual) to moxifloxacin (53.9%; n = 193) or azithromycin (46.1%; n = 165). Moxifloxacin was administered as a once-daily 400 mg dose for 10 days, whereas azithromycin was given as a 500 mg daily dose for 6 days. In addition to the main finding, the study showed a success rate of moxifloxacin in retreatment. Specifically, 96.8% of participants (30 out of 31) who failed an initial round of azithromycin were cured with moxifloxacin, whereas a second round of azithromycin only cured 60% of individuals (nine out of 15; P = .003). The study also found that co-administering doxycycline did not enhance treatment outcomes in either group. “A 10-day course of moxifloxacin may achieve 90% microbiologic success even if a resistance test is not available,” Rossotti said. M. genitalium is a leading cause of non-gonococcal urethritis in men and linked to cervicitis in women, the CDC reported. Meanwhile, Rossotti said the study gives clinicians hope in treating the stubborn infection. “We may be reassured about the everyday clinical management of (M. genitalium) based on a relatively short course of quinolone therapy alone,” he said. For more information: Roberto Rossotti, MD, can be reached at infectiousdisease@healio.com. Perspective Back to Top Management of M. genitalium remains challenging for many reasons, including limited access to macrolide resistance testing despite a high prevalence of resistant infections. The results of this study comparing monotherapy for M. genitalium with azithromycin vs. moxifloxacin illustrate the consequences of this prevalence; rates of azithromycin treatment failure roughly correspond to reported rates of macrolide resistance in Europe. U.S. and U.K. guidelines only recommend azithromycin use when M. genitalium susceptibility is confirmed, and after a preceding week of doxycycline. This strategy enables successful use of azithromycin in M. genitalium treatment while avoiding de novo resistance, and stewards moxifloxacin, currently the only other widely available therapy for this infection in the U.S. Where resistance testing is not available, sequential therapy with doxycycline and moxifloxacin remains the standard for patients who are not pregnant. The utility of doxycycline (and other agents) as a part of moxifloxacin-based M. genitalium regimens merits further study, especially as rates of quinolone resistance rise. The relatively small number of patients receiving doxycycline in this study limits conclusions as to its role (or lack thereof) alongside moxifloxacin. Future efforts to improve M. genitalium therapy need to address access to macrolide (and potentially fluoroquinolone) resistance testing and rigorously compare treatment strategies that minimize antibiotic exposure and steward available agents without sacrificing efficacy. Jacob McLean, DO Adult Infectious Disease Physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine at New York Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Disclosures: McLean reports no relevant financial disclosures. Published by: Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Source link

Like most working moms, Gillian Russell doesn’t get a lot of time to herself. She has every good excuse to not show up to a 6:30 a.m. workout. And yet numerous days a week she shows up early to a hot yoga class. “I love room-temperature yoga too, but hot yoga makes my body feel so open and relaxed,” Russell said. “Like melted butter. It’s hard work and you have to push through some discomfort, but the reward is delightful.” Feeling like melted butter sounds pretty wonderful to me, but I’m going to need a lot more information on what exactly hot yoga is before I sign up for a class because honestly, pushing through physical discomfort in a hot room sounds not terribly inviting. I spoke with certified hot yoga instructors to get a thorough understanding of how the practice works, how it can be beneficial and what you should know before booking a class. Hot yoga has a dark past, but is now grounded in wellness Hot yoga came to be a thing in the western world when Bikram Choudhury, a controversial yoga practitioner, imported a version of the practice from India and stamped the name “Bikram” on it in the early 1970s. Long story short: Choudhury, who has been the subject of civil suits alleging sexual assault and discrimination against racial and sexual minorities, was basically just trying to build a cult and a monopoly – but Bikram Yoga is still the most popular form of hot yoga in the U.S., and it’s no longer associated with the controversial man. Bikram Yoga is a hatha-based practice, meaning it’s done slowly, with a focus on balance and alignment. Every class follows the same sequence of 26 postures and two breathing exercises in a room heated to 105° with around 40% humidity. In its original incarnation, Bikram Yoga was intended to be a pretty miserable experience, with Choudhury famously calling his heated spaces “torture chambers.” Drinking water as needed or taking a break on your terms was forbidden. “It was not handled as it should have been,” said Kelly Isaac, certified hot yoga instructor and co-founder of ID Hot Yoga, New York City. “But in 2026 these types of hot yoga classes are few and far between. The priority is now on wellness and on taking care of yourself.” The health benefits of hot yoga are there — but not necessarily unique to the practice There’s growing research suggesting that hot yoga has a number of health benefits. One study published by Sports Medicine in 2025 found that consistent hot yoga practice may improve aspects of heart and metabolic health, along with supporting bone density — all areas where women need as much help as they can get as they age. Then there’s the mounting research that speaks to the role hot yoga can play in fostering psychological wellness and stress reduction. The only issue is that there’s not much evidence to say that hot yoga does any of this better than non-heated yoga. So you could say, “Well I don’t need to bother with a hot room to get the full benefits of yoga” and nobody could rightly say you’re wrong. But they may say you’re missing the point. A big draw of hot yoga for the people who love it is the heat itself. “I tend to run cold, and there’s something very cathartic about just being in the heat,” said Laura Lusson, an E-RYT 500 and RPYT-certified yoga instructor and co-owner of The Space Between in Chicago. “I feel I can move more freely. My range of motion is greater, and I stay aware to avoid overreaching. Sweating feels good.” Hot yoga is already intense, but some studios are making it even more so Nowadays you’ll find studios and gyms offering all types of hot yoga, including vinyasa, which is more fast-paced and flow-based than hatha. You’ll even see hot pilates classes and hot HIIT classes at some gyms and studios. But aspiring hot yogi beware: There’s valid controversy around making an already challenging workout more intense with added heat. “Vinyasa is fast and hard without the heat, and the breath you use builds an internal fire,” Isaac said. “So vinyasa should not be carried out in a hot room, but it is in many studios across the world.” But some hot yogi devotees wouldn’t have their yoga workouts any other way. Russell is among them. That early morning class she never misses? It’s a hot vinyasa flow. Now, since Russell enjoys the class and is in great physical shape, there’s no reason she should quit, but until you’re acclimated to hot yoga, stick with a more traditional hatha-based class. What to know before booking a hot yoga class Curious about trying hot yoga? The next step on your journey is getting medical clearance from your healthcare provider (HCP). It may be a pain to get, but this is really the only safe way to get started with hot yoga. Note that hot yoga is not considered safe for pregnant women at any stage in their pregnancy, and your HCP may recommend a different type of exercise if you have a heart condition or are prone to high blood pressure, because hot yoga (even the slow kind) increases your heart rate. Dehydration is the most common risk associated with hot yoga, so take all measures to prevent it. “Based on my personal experience, the key is to go in hydrated but not overly full of water (which can make you feel sick) and to hydrate afterward,” Lusson said. “I like coconut water for electrolytes.” Bear in mind that hot yoga is supposed to be challenging, but not agonizing. It’s good to feel a stretch deeply but not to the point of being in pain. “My motto in teaching: If something doesn’t feel good, or if you feel ill, stop what you’re doing,” Lusson said. “The teacher will talk with you and will help.” Finally, know

Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: In patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, olezarsen reduced triglycerides compared with placebo at 12 months. Olezarsen also lowered risk for acute pancreatitis events compared with placebo. In patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, olezarsen lowered triglycerides and reduced acute pancreatitis events compared with placebo, researchers reported at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress. André Zimerman, MD, PhD, professor of cardiology and head of clinical trials at Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Moinhos de Vento Medical School, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, presented on behalf of the TIMI Study Group a pooled analysis of 455 patients (mean age, 52 years; 20% women) with severe hypertriglyceridemia, defined as triglyceride level more than 880 mg/dL, or 10 mmol/L, from the CORE-TIMI 72a and CORE2-TIMI 72b trials. Patients were randomly assigned to olezarsen (Tryngolza, Ionis) 50 mg, olezarsen 80 mg or placebo. André Zimerman “Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia are at high risk for acute pancreatitis, but randomized evidence showing that pharmacologic triglyceride lowering reduces pancreatitis events has been limited,” Zimerman told Healio. “Currently available therapies, such as fibrates and omega-3 fatty acids, have a modest triglyceride-lowering effect and have not been shown to prevent acute pancreatitis.” As Healio previously reported, olezarsen was approved by the FDA in 2024 for treatment of patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, but has not yet been approved for treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia in the U.S. At 6 months, compared with placebo, olezarsen 50 mg lowered triglycerides by 58.8% and olezarsen 80 mg lowered triglycerides by 65.5% (P < .001 for both), Zimerman said during a presentation. At 6 months, 85% of the olezarsen 50 mg group and 86% of the olezarsen 80 mg group reached a triglyceride level less than 880 mg/dL compared with 43% of the placebo group, and both olezarsen groups reached triglyceride levels less than 500 mg/dL and less than 150 mg/dL at greater rates than the placebo group (P < .001 for all comparisons), according to the researchers. Both olezarsen groups also had lower levels of apolipoprotein C-III, remnant cholesterol and non-HDL at 6 months compared with the placebo group (P < .001 for all comparisons), Zimerman and colleagues found. Acute pancreatitis events over 12 months were lower in the pooled olezarsen group than in the placebo group (RR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.06-0.43; P < .001; number needed to treat to prevent one event at 12 months = 9), Zimerman said. “Targeting ApoC-III with olezarsen meaningfully lowers triglycerides and markedly reduces pancreatitis risk in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, a population with substantial residual risk despite available therapies,” Zimerman told Healio. For more information: André Zimerman, MD, PhD, can be reached at andre.zimerman@hmv.org.br. Published by: Sources/Disclosures Source: Zimerman A, et al. Late breaker clinical abstracts. Presented at: European Atherosclerosis Society Congress; May 24-27, 2026; Athens, Greece. Disclosures: Zimerman reports receiving honoraria/expenses from Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly and Novartis and serving on a consultant/advisory board for Novartis. Zimerman also reports that at the time of the trials, he was a member of the TIMI Study Group, which received institutional grant support through Brigham and Women’s Hospital from numerous drug and device companies including Ionis Pharmaceuticals. The CORE-TIMI 72a and CORE2-TIMI 72b trials were sponsored by Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base. PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data Learn more Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Source link

Brittany Barreto, Ph.D., is a podcaster, an entrepreneur, and a molecular and human geneticist. (In other words, she’s really smart.) Read her column here each month to learn about what’s happening in the world of technology and innovation in women’s health. Trying to get pregnant can quickly become overwhelming. For many people, the process starts with a simple question, “Am I ovulating?” But fertility is far more complex than a single day on a calendar. Hormones fluctuate. Ovulation timing shifts. Sperm health matters. Cervical mucus changes. Stress, sleep and age can all play a role. Historically, understanding any of this required expensive clinic visits, bloodwork and a lot of waiting. Now, a new generation of fertility technology companies is bringing fertility tracking, hormone monitoring and conception support into the home. These tools are helping people gather more data about their bodies earlier in the fertility journey, sometimes before they ever set foot in a fertility clinic. Some are designed to identify fertile windows more accurately. Others confirm ovulation, monitor sperm health or support at-home insemination. Together, they reflect a broader shift in women’s health. Consumers increasingly want proactive, personalized health information they can access privately and conveniently. Here’s a look at the ways that technology is changing how people approach fertility today. 1. Fertility tracking is moving beyond calendar apps (Photo/courtesy Kegg) For years, fertility apps relied heavily on cycle averages and calendar predictions. But many people don’t ovulate exactly on day 14, and even people with “regular” cycles can experience significant variation month to month. That’s why many newer fertility tools focus on measuring biological signals directly rather than relying solely on predicted averages. One of those signals is cervical mucus. Kegg tracks cervical mucus changes linked to fertility Kegg offers an at-home fertility tracking device that measures changes in cervical mucus using vaginal sensor technology. Cervical mucus plays an important role in fertility. Most of the month, mucus acts as a protective barrier in the reproductive tract. But around ovulation, it changes consistency to help sperm survive and travel more effectively toward the egg. Research has shown that cervical mucus observations may predict fertility better than intercourse timing alone. The Kegg fertility tracker measures electrical changes in cervical mucus and provides users with daily fertility scores through an app. Research suggests that cervical mucus could be more accurate than classic basal body temperature for predicting ovulation. The tracker costs $477 but you can find sales that reduce it significantly. For example, it’s on sale for $279 right now. The Kegg tracker is FSA-/HSA-eligible and, at this time, guarantees pregnancy within 1 year of use or your money back. The device also reflects another major trend in fertility technology: the rise of longitudinal data collection. Instead of relying on a single hormone test or temperature reading, these systems gather daily data over time to personalize predictions for an individual user’s body. Wearable fertility trackers are turning body temperature into reproductive insights Another biological signal commonly used in fertility tracking is basal body temperature (BBT), which slightly rises after ovulation because of progesterone production. Historically, tracking BBT meant taking your temperature manually every morning before getting out of bed, something that can be difficult to do consistently. Now, wearable devices are automating that process. Femometer uses a smart ring to track fertility signals continuously Femometer continuously tracks body temperature, sleep, heart rate variability and other physiological metrics. The device is designed to help users identify and confirm ovulation while also monitoring broader health patterns, such as stress and sleep quality. Unlike many consumer wearables that were originally designed for fitness tracking, Femometer is a fertility-focused smart ring specifically marketed around reproductive health. The company says the ring’s predictive algorithm is based on data from over 10 million users over the last 10 years in business. Insurance doesn’t cover the ring, but it is HSA-/FSA-eligible and has a one-time fee ranging from $20 to $200, with no subscription required. Wearable fertility tracking is part of a broader movement toward passive health monitoring, technologies that continuously collect physiological data without requiring users to actively test every day. 2. Hormone testing at home is becoming more sophisticated (Photo/Courtesy Proov) Ovulation predictor kits have traditionally focused on luteinizing hormone (LH), which surges before ovulation. But fertility specialists have long known that multiple hormones influence fertility and implantation. New at-home hormone monitoring systems are expanding beyond LH alone. Proov measures four fertility-related hormones at home Proov offers an at-home testing system that measures four hormones associated with fertility: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen metabolites (E1G), LH and progesterone metabolites (PdG). Progesterone is especially important because it helps support implantation and early pregnancy after ovulation occurs. Many traditional ovulation tests can predict ovulation but cannot confirm whether progesterone levels rise appropriately afterward. Proov’s system combines urine test strips with smartphone-based analysis and personalized hormone reports. Unlike many traditional ovulation tests that only track LH surges, Proov measures multiple hormones throughout the cycle, including progesterone metabolites, to help confirm whether ovulation actually occurred. In a 2022 study, Proov Complete detected up to six fertile days by tracking across the menstrual cycle. Proov holds the distinction of being the first and only FDA-cleared at-home diagnostic test for confirming successful ovulation. The tests are available at major retailers, including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, and most are FSA-/HSA-eligible. Costs are widely variable, depending on what you’re buying. They have individual tests starting at $14.99 and bundles that are as much as $500. The growing popularity of these tools reflects increasing consumer demand for deeper fertility insights without immediately escalating to expensive fertility workups. 3. At-home insemination is expanding reproductive options (Photo/Courtesy Mosie Baby) Fertility technology is also evolving beyond tracking and into direct support for conception. Mosie Baby brings FDA-cleared insemination into the home Mosie Baby created the first FDA-cleared at-home insemination kit available over the counter in the United States. The system includes specially designed collection cups and insemination syringes intended to improve comfort and sperm transfer compared to

Add topic to email alerts Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . “ data-action=”subscribe”> Subscribe We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio Key takeaways: Trials on ultraprocessed foods are often limited by their crossover design and control diets. Adjusting for nutritional factors like texture and high-calorie density may explain the effects of these foods. Randomized controlled trials may not properly capture ultraprocessed foods’ health effects due to their designs and limitations, experts suggest. In a commentary published in Science, Faidon Magkos, MSc, PhD, a professor of obesity and metabolism at University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and colleagues used five clinical trials in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark and Japan to demonstrate their case. The findings of these trials on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) “have been highly publicized and widely communicated, often in ways that suggest that ultraprocessing is inherently harmful to health.” “The design of these clinical trials, however, makes it very difficult to attribute the unfavorable effects of UPF-rich diets to ultraprocessing per se,” they wrote. “Instead, these effects are highly likely to be due to differences in traditional nutritional properties that frequently — but not uniformly — co-occur in UPFs.” Magkos and colleagues pointed out that all the trials used a crossover design, where the study participants were randomly given UPFs and non-UPF diets in an inpatient setting, outpatient setting or “through a combination of supervised and unsupervised eating.” “This ‘feeding’ trial design prevents confounding from varying diet adherence that occurs in ‘diet advice’ studies,” the authors wrote. Further, Magkos and colleagues said the minimally processed diets used in the studies “might not constitute appropriate controls, as they represent interventions of equal or greater intensity than UPF-rich diets.” They noted that the effects of UPFs in these studies are likely attributed to factors like texture and high saturated fat and salt amounts, which impact health “regardless of the degree of food processing.” As a result of the trials’ limitations, Magkos and colleagues said there is currently “weak support for an ultraprocessing-specific effect of UPFs on body weight regulation and cardiometabolic function that is independent of established nutritional determinants.” Healio spoke with Magkos about why nutritional variables are overlooked in these trials, how future dietary guidance could change amid weak evidence on UPFs, and more. Healio: Why are some of these important variables like food texture overlooked in trials? And how will incorporating these variables into future studies affect the outcomes? Magkos: Food texture, eating rate and calorie density are rarely measured because most nutrition trials are designed around nutrient content and nutritional composition of the diet, not the physical properties of foods (which is yet another important dimension of the diet, affected by multiple factors including preparation and cooking methods and level of food processing — but not necessarily “ultraprocessing”). Yet these variables strongly influence ad libitum energy intake and can fully account for the differences attributed to UPFs in these randomized trials. Incorporating them into future studies will allow us to separate the effects of ultraprocessing from the effects of energy density, texture, fiber and sodium contents, and so on — revealing whether ultraprocessing itself has any independent physiological impact. For the time being, this does not appear to be the case. Healio: If ultraprocessing is not the primary driver of negative health outcomes, what could explain the consistently observed associations between high UPF consumption and poor outcomes? Magkos: High UPF intake often co-occurs with diets that are calorie dense, low in fiber and protein, high in sodium and saturated fat, and dominated by soft, rapidly consumed foods. These nutritional and behavioral patterns — not the processing category — are well established drivers of weight gain and cardiometabolic risk. Observational studies capture these co-occurring features, so UPF intake becomes a proxy for overall dietary quality and eating behaviors rather than a causal driver in its own right. Healio: If future research shows that ultraprocessing itself has little effect on health, how would that change current dietary recommendations? Magkos: Most current dietary guidelines do not use UPF classifications, and rightfully so. However, they do suggest prioritizing whole and minimally processed foods whenever possible, and this recommendation should not change. Recommendations already emphasize nutritional quality — fiber, whole grains, unsaturated fats, lower sodium and limiting energy dense, nutrient poor foods. If future research confirms that ultraprocessing per se has little independent effect on health, it would reinforce the value of sticking with these established principles rather than adopting processing-based frameworks like NOVA. It would also help prevent well-intentioned but misleading messages that lump nutritionally sound foods together with clearly unhealthy ones. Recommendations should become more precise — encouraging people to choose foods that promote satiety, slow eating and lower energy density, regardless of whether they come with an “ultraprocessing” label. Healio: What advice should PCPs give to patients who are confused by conflicting messages about processed foods? Magkos: Tell patients that the goal is not to avoid all UPFs but to prioritize foods that are higher in fiber and protein, lower in energy density and harder in texture so they are slower to eat. Emphasize that texture, calorie density, and nutritional quality matter far more for weight and metabolic health than whether a food is classified as “ultraprocessed.” This reframes the conversation in practical, achievable terms and avoids the confusion created by broad processing labels. For more information: Faidon Magkos, MSc, PhD, can be reached at primarycare@healio.com. Sources/Disclosures Source: Healio Interviews References: Disclosures: Magkos reports receiving support from Arla Food for Health, Independent Research Fund Denmark, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures. Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base.

English Tal como se relató a Erica Rimlinger Las ronchas se manifestaron por primera vez un poco después de cumplir 20 años tras usar una lavandería de autoservicio. Cuando estaba poniéndome prendas que acababa de lavar, se formaron ronchas que señalaban perfectamente la forma de mi sostén y ropa interior. Conmocionada y con mucha comezón, llamé a mi mamá, quien supuso que había usado mucho detergente cuando lavé la ropa o que tenía una reacción alérgica. Recomendó un antihistamínico, que no surtió ningún efecto en esa comezón que no paraba. Sin poder sentarme o tolerar que ropa toque mis ronchas rojas e inflamadas, llamé a la línea de asistencia de enfermería de mi seguro médico. Después de una hora de espera para que alguien me atienda, me dieron la autorización para que vaya a sus instalaciones de atención de urgencias. En ese lugar, un doctor me inyectó un corticosteroide y me recetó píldoras de corticosteroides para que los tome los días siguientes. Me dijo que siga tomando un antihistamínico y recomendó que no use esa marca de detergente otra vez. Se calmó el ardor de las intensas ronchas y su color cambió a rosado, y luego, después de aproximadamente una semana, desaparecieron. Pensé que este episodio fue una experiencia de la cual aprendería algo y que había terminado. Pero no fue así: Las ronchas se manifestaron otra vez. Cada vez, mis proveedores de atención médica y yo asumimos que algún alérgeno desconocido causaba estos episodios. Me daban un tratamiento de corticoesteroides, tomaba antihistamínicos y las ronchas desaparecían como por arte de magia la semana siguiente. No me importaba ningún efecto colateral de tomar los corticosteroides: Simplemente necesitaba que funcionen cuando los usaba. Mantenía registros detallados de lo que comía y lo que usaba en mi piel o cerca de ella. Tuve consultas con un alergólogo, quien no pudo encontrar la causa de los brotes. Cuando tenía entre 20 y 40 años, los brotes eran relativamente cortos, pero tenía que poner mi vida en pausa por una semana mientras lidiaba con ellos. La comezón era demasiado intensa para poder enfocarme en algo por mucho tiempo y ninguna crema, píldora ni tratamiento proporcionaba suficiente alivio. Después de cumplir 40 años, los episodios de ronchas fueron más largos y no desaparecían rápidamente con corticosteroides ni con varios antihistamínicos. Para entonces, los brotes duraban mucho más de una semana y se sentían inmanejables, por lo que estaba desesperada por encontrar algún alivio. Si imaginas que esas ronchas eran varios bultos pequeños, rojos y con comezón como picaduras de mosquitos, no comprendes la magnitud completa de lo que sentía. Mis ronchas brotaban en forma de dolorosas inflamaciones que no podían tocarse sin irritar mi cuerpo y sin empeorar la comezón aún más. Era como si alguien afeitase mi piel con una navaja y me cubriera con lana. Durante mis brotes, un raspón leve de una uña en mi piel se transformaba en una roncha. Podía escribir mi nombre con ronchas en mi piel, un fenómeno denominado dermografismo. En 2019 tuve un brote de ronchas que duró meses, es decir mis ronchas eran “crónicas“. Tal como me ocurría con brotes más cortos, era casi imposible trabajar, sentarme, o realizar actividades normales o simples tales como bañarme. Tenía ronchas todos los días y no sabía cuándo serían más graves o en qué lugar la inflamación y la comezón se manifestarían. La dolorosa comezón era abrumadora y nada podía calmarla. Durante los brotes, seguí documentando todos los detalles de mi vida, tratando de identificar cualquier causa que explicase la manifestación, desaparición, empeoramiento o alivio de los brotes. No pude identificar ningún patrón, alérgeno ni ninguna clave de por qué ocurría esto. Durante mi último brote, tampoco pude encontrar ninguna forma de alivio que funcione todavía. Hay muchos mitos relacionados con las ronchas crónicas y uno es que simplemente reducir el estrés elimina los brotes. Al igual que para muchas mujeres que experimentan enfermedades crónicas, me pasaba frecuentemente que el personal médico me decía que sí tenía más calma, no me enfermaría. Pero, las notas que tomaba en forma regular acerca de las circunstancias relacionadas con mis brotes indicaban que no los causaban mis emociones. Sentía que personas minimizaban lo que me pasaba cuando insinuaban que podía controlar la reacción física extrema de mi cuerpo simplemente reduciendo el estrés, como si eso fuese siquiera posible. CSU on Kristen’s legs Durante el brote de la primera semana de 2019 sentí la peor agonía que había experimentado en mi vida y entonces el brote se volvió completamente impredecible. No podía sentarme y quedarme quieta debido a la gravedad de la comezón. No me dejaba dormir, trabajar, socializar con amigos y familiares ni realizar actividades básicas. Después de unos días, las cosas mejoraron, pero las ronchas seguían presentes todos los días: primero durante semanas y luego meses. Hace un tiempo, me diagnosticaron un trastorno autoinmunitario llamado la enfermedad de Graves-Basedow. Me preguntaba si podía tener alguna relación con mis ronchas. Después de unas investigaciones y de unas consultas con mi inmunólogo, aprendí sobre la urticaria crónica (UC) o ronchas crónicas. En la mayoría de personas con este trastorno, su causa nunca se identifica, por lo que se denomina urticaria crónica espontánea (UCE), pero los brotes se asocian frecuentemente a problemas autoinmunitarios. Tomaba corticosteroides y dosis cuádruples de antihistamínicos que no proporcionaban alivio a largo plazo. Finalmente encontré una alergóloga e inmunóloga que sabe que la UCE casi nunca es una reacción alérgica, a pesar de las falsas creencias populares. Sabía lo que debía hacerse y me dio muchas esperanzas. Seguí tomando antihistamínicos y empecé a recibir un tratamiento que requiere una inyección en la parte posterior de cada brazo cada mes. Para el tercer mes, no había notado ninguna mejora. Llamé a un amigo que es un farmacólogo y le pregunté, “¿tendré que soportar esto siempre? ¿Por qué no puedo librarme de esto?” Mi amigo contactó a un colega en quien confía, experto en ese campo, que me dijo que siga