Questions About Daily Life With HAE

AVOIDING TRIGGERS

Can stress cause HAE attacks?

Although actual causes of HAE attacks have not been established and vary from patient to patient, some patients report an increased number of attacks during and after stressful situations. By tracking your symptoms carefully and keeping a journal, you can discover whether or not stress is a trigger for you.

Are there specific medications that may trigger HAE attacks?

Patient histories reveal that medications and contraceptives containing estrogen may trigger HAE attacks or increase attack frequency. In addition, blood pressure medications known as ACE (short for angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors can produce attacks. For this reason, doctors usually prescribe one of the many alternative high blood pressure medications. Other individual cases may vary on each patient with sensitivity to different medications.

TRAVEL TIPS

How should I prepare for a trip out of the country?

Each country has its own laws regarding medications available to treat HAE. It is a good idea to research any medications that may be available and understand how you may obtain those medications while visiting your destination country. It's also a good idea to bring along an HAE diagnosis letter from your doctor. If you are going to be traveling to a country where English may not be understood readily you may want to have your letter of diagnosis translated into the language of that country. If you cannot readily transport your current medication with you, ask your doctor to write a prescription for the appropriate HAE medication for the country you are visiting. You may contact patient organizations in the country you are visiting to learn more about the resources available in that country.