Linda Bluestein MD (hEDS / HSD spc)

Your body isn’t overreacting—it’s responding to what it’s been taught is danger.

On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, I spoke with Anne Maitland, M.D., Ph.D., alongside co-host Dr. Dacre Knight of UVA Health, about mast cell activation and how the system is actually designed to protect you.

We have a built-in “triad” meant to detect danger, sound the alarm, and call in help—mast cells.

But today’s environment looks very different than what our bodies evolved for.

Dr. Maitland explains the epithelial barrier hypothesis: environmental exposures may be injuring our protective barriers, triggering the alarm system more often than it should.

And here’s what’s fascinating—the first responders aren’t even mast cells.

It’s the nerves.

They detect toxins, signal danger, and then recruit mast cells—amplifying the response.

These systems sit side by side: nerves, mast cells, blood vessels, and barrier tissues—all constantly communicating.

Which helps explain why symptoms can feel so widespread, especially in patients with EDS.

💬 Does this framework change how you think about your symptoms?

#BendyBodies #MastCellActivation #MCAS #EhlersDanlos #ChronicIllness

📌 Medical Advice Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.

VD: Video clip featuring Anne Maitland, M.D., Ph.D. speaking into a microphone, discussing mast cell activation, the epithelial barrier hypothesis, and the connection between nerves, mast cells, and EDS.