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Understanding the right words to use can help guide your conversation about chronic hives with your health care provider.

Angioedema: Severe swelling that occurs in deeper layers of skin, commonly in the eyes and lips. This happens in 40% to 50% of people living with chronic hives.

Antihistamines: A medication that works in the body to interrupt the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system that can cause reactions like hives or swelling. For ~50% of people with chronic hives, antihistamines alone are not enough.

Chronic: A type of condition that occurs for a long period of time or comes back frequently.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria: A previously used term to describe chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU): A recurring condition, also known as chronic
hives with no known trigger, that leads to discomfort, pain, and swelling for more than 6 weeks.

External Trigger: Identifiable triggers (such as heat, cold, certain foods or drugs, etc) that lead to a reaction in the immune system. Chronic hives is an internally driven disease with no known external trigger. 

Histamine: A chemical released by the immune system that can cause reactions like hives or swelling typically associated with allergic reactions.

Hives: Red or skin-colored raised, itchy bumps that appear on the outer layer of skin and can vary in size, shape, and color.

Idiopathic: A type of condition that has no known cause.

Immune System: The body's defense system. It is a complex network of organs, cells, proteins, and chemicals that work together to defend the body against infection and other diseases, while protecting the body's own cells.

Inflammation: The body's defense against injury and infection. It is the process by which the immune system recognizes and removes harmful and foreign substances and begins the healing process.

Pruritus: The clinical term for itch.

Second-line therapy: Treatment that is given when initial treatment (first-line therapy) doesn't work or stops working.

Steroids: A medicine used to relieve inflammation.

Urticaria: A skin condition that causes itchy, raised welts and bumps (hives). It is also known to cause swelling, which can be painful.

Wheals: Another term for hives.