Allergic to Cold? Surely Not
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341692)
Rockingham, Australia
April 12, 2016 12:12am CST
We had friends to lunch yesterday. Although we exchange letters and cards each Christmas we haven't seen them for years and years. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit and caught up on the news of our family members. We sat and chatted for several hours. And, as mostly happens, I learnt something new.
The wife has cold urticaria which is an allergy to cold. I would never have imagined that someone could be allergic to cold. It appears as hives or large red welts. These are usually itchy. The hands and feet sometimes swell and itch as well. For my friend, triggering factors include cold air, cold water or drastic drops in temperature. She rarely goes swimming now and if she does, she limits the amount of time she stays in the water.
Her blood pressure drops dramatically and, on one occasion, she has fainted and gone into anaphylactic shock. They have been doing a lot of travelling since they have retired; however trips to Alaska or Antarctica are now out of the question.
Do you know anyone who has this condition? Perhaps you have it yourself?
46 people like this
47 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I have asthma and breathing cold air does the same thing to my blood pressure, but so does eating certain foods. It is an odd, unpleasant sensation (which has sent me to the E.R. at times, and one I work hard to avoid.
6 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
19 Apr 16
@JudyEv It is, but once we figure out our "triggers", we can then avoid them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace True and that's what my friend now does.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Apr 16
This is certainly not something that I have ever heard of before. I would have been tempted to doubt it since it seems like intrinsically wrong, but anaphylaxis only occurs under conditions of allergy. I certainly do not suffer from this because I took a trip to Central Siberia when I was younger.
6 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
12 Apr 16
Very revealing! I may have something like that as I have some of those symptoms. I'll keep an eye on it as the weather improves.
5 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
13 Apr 16
When my oldest son was younger he would break out in hives when he went into cold water, I a not sure if this is the same thing but he grew out of it.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
@MarymargII It's an over-reaction of the body to cold I guess as much as anything.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
@BelleStarr It sounds the same sort of thing. It's good that he grew out of it.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
16 Apr 16
That is so weird Iz- I can't understand that one but maybe the body can't stand sudden temp change.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50580)
• United States
12 Apr 16
I have never heard of this before. How horrid for her.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
It's not so bad now she knows what it is and what to do. It does limit her outings though as she has to ensure she doesn't get cold.
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Apr 16
My first time to learn there is allergy to cold. I also learned that there are people allergic to lips-to-lips kissing.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
It seems there are many allergies that we haven't heard of.
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
13 Apr 16
Oh wow that sound seriously mad! What a bad allergy! But then I guess more reason to live somewhere warm all year around
3 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
19 Apr 16
@JudyEv but then who wants to holiday in cold places anyway xD
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
@Drosophila I'd love to go to Alaska one day but I don't know that I ever will.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
It's quite warm where she is and she doesn't really have much trouble from it now that she knows about it. She always has a jumper with her in case she needs it.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
12 Apr 16
my mother couldn't believe that peanuts causes allergic reactions
can she eat ice cream or enjoy frothy creamy iced drinks?
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
12 Apr 16
bless her heart. i've not heard'f such, most interestin' indeed. i feel fer her, i truly do.
2 people like this
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
13 Apr 16
I don't know anyone with the condition, but I've heard of people that have it. I saw something on TV once about a girl that has the opposite problem, though it's not an allergy. Her body overheats extremely easily so the family had to keep the house cool all the time and she has to wear a vest with ice packs in it to go outside. Either condition would be extremely difficult to live with.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr 16
I think I'd be staying home where I could control the temperature.
@JudyEv (341692)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr 16
Cold showers and too long swimming can both be dangerous for her.
