Ambacare Ltd

31/12/2025

Stay safe and well in times of celebrations.
This could help understanding of reactions to alcohol, as well as some other substances, particularly for any of those who generally have lower blood pressure.

“One glass of champagne and I’m on the floor.” 🥂😵

Before you toast tonight, it helps to understand why alcohol can affect people with EDS, POTS, and Mast Cell Activation symptoms differently than others.

1️⃣ Alcohol & Blood Pressure / POTS

Alcohol is a vasodilator — it causes blood vessels to relax and widen. This effect can lower blood pressure in anyone, but in people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and similar dysautonomias, this can be more noticeable. In POTS, the autonomic nervous system already struggles to maintain blood pressure when upright, which can lead to lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, and fainting even without alcohol. Alcohol’s vasodilation can exacerbate this by encouraging blood to pool in the lower body and reducing effective blood return to the heart.
➡️ This is why some people with POTS feel dizzy, weak, or like they “crash” after drinking.

2️⃣ Alcohol & Mast Cell Activity / Histamine

Alcoholic beverages — especially wine, champagne, beer, and fermented drinks — contain histamine and other biogenic amines. For people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) or histamine intolerance, this can trigger symptoms such as flushing, itching, headaches, nasal congestion, and digestive upset.
However, not everyone with EDS has MCAS, and not everyone with MCAS reacts to histamine in alcohol the same way — but the connection between histamine in foods/beverages and symptoms is recognized in clinical practice.

So what’s really happening?

• POTS + alcohol → increased vasodilation + pooling may worsen orthostatic symptoms.
• MCAS/histamine sensitivity + alcohol → histamine in drinks may trigger allergic-like symptoms.

Everyone’s body is different — some people tolerate small amounts of alcohol fine, others find it blows their symptoms out of proportion.

Tips if you choose to drink

• Hydrate well beforehand and afterward — dehydration worsens orthostatic intolerance.
• Replace electrolytes (e.g., water with sodium or electrolyte drinks) — this can help blood volume and pressure.
• Consider low-histamine drinks (e.g., distilled spirits mixed with nonhistamine mixers) if histamine reactions are a concern.
• And of course, it’s always okay to choose mocktails! 🥤

👇 Who else is toasting with water and electrolytes tonight?

31/12/2025

As the year draws to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support.

We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026. 🥂🎆🎇

29/12/2025

25/12/2025

Whatever this time brings to us, there are often many difficult moments where we might struggle with loss and grief in some form or another.
Do reach out if you need, to any of the helplines but, particularly with grief/bereavement whether recent or longer ago, Cruse are there to listen and support.
!

25/12/2025

🎄Merry Christmas🎁

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

24/12/2025

Mindful Movement - Tai Chi and Qi-gong in Dumfries
Active Communities Dumfries & Galloway

22/12/2025

https://ambacare-ltd.uk1.cliniko.com/bookings?fbclid=IwAR0SXEDnv25r-uVSJ0_HSvjsA0RvHrhak5Rdqz9P8IyyqlPGxv8yfQB2hdo

21/12/2025

For anyone who has arthritic changes at a pre-operative stage, please consider talking to your GP about these classes. Well managed exercise plans can be invaluable to managing pain, maintaining mobility and independence, reducing risk of further injury or illness, minimising further deterioration or other joint involvement.
Most of my patients will know that I will advise some self help and exercises as appropriate but, for some attending a class is very helpful, adding monitoring and guidance from an instructor and some social interaction which can motivate and assist with mental health impacts of pain or incapacity.

TERESA’S STORY | Strength and Balance Class success and pre-operation readiness.

In 2011, I had a repair of a torn cartilage in my left knee and have over the intervening years developed osteoarthritis as result of that injury.

In discussion with my GP at the end of 2023, a referral was made to D&GRI for potential knee replacement surgery. As a result of that referral, I was initially offered a Physiotherapy assessment and subsequently completed an online exercise class, for management of arthritic pain in May 2024.

On completion of the online course an Active Lives referral was made by Physiotherapy for a 16-week supervised and planned Gym course, or Strength and Balance Classes. Having initially opted for the Gym classes, after about four weeks attendance 2-3 times a week, my knee pain intensified and my mobility was adversely affected. I contacted a D&G Council Physical Activity Co-ordinator to change to a Strength and Balance class and was given a list of venues and times of classes across the region.

I started my exercise journey in August 2024 and I’m currently waiting to be scheduled for a total knee replacement.

Made to feel welcome by the class members and class instructor, Karen, I have settled in and thoroughly enjoy my weekly “workout”. Seriously though, the exercises are designed to suit beginners or “old hatters” like me and are chair based and occasionally standing with (back of the chair) support if needed. Everyone is able to work at their level of fitness and ability and to build upon exercises week by week.

The instructor certainly “knows her onion”, giving explanations of how the range of repetitive movements help preserve and strengthen muscles, balance and co-ordination. With quiet observation of everyone’s level of effort and participation, encouraging corrections and adaptive suggestions are given to increase the effectiveness of movements and observable improvement in both mine and my classmates progress can be seen on a weekly basis.

Why have I been going to class for so long? I also have multiple level, degenerative spinal arthritis in my lower back which affects my muscle strength, balance and co- ordination. Prior to attending classes, I struggled to get out of my chair and bed to stand - often rocking forward, holding onto furniture to get the momentum to become upright and not always making it to my feet collapsing back into a seated position.

I attend my Strength and Balance class to preserve and improve my muscle and core strength, which has resulted in a measurable improvement in my balance and co-ordination.

Though still prone to the odd fall, the exercises have latterly enabled me to reduce my fall risk and allowed me to get myself up when I have fallen. I am now able to confidently get to my feet and have in the last three to four months been able to balance well enough, to walk backwards 4-5 steps without the fear of falling.

My knee joint pain has routinely been managed by regular pain relief, anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections, but since starting classes the stability and bend in my knee has improved and although I am only still able to walk short distances at a time, I seem to have a reduction in discomfort on walking.

I continue to attend classes pre-operatively to be able to benefit from planned knee surgery and will attend classes to build on my muscle, core strength and mobility as I recovery post-operatively.

👏🏻 Well done Teresa - keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your experiences. 👏🏻



NHS Dumfries & Galloway NHS D&G Public Health NHS D&G Charity dumfries_and_galloway_council

19/12/2025

Osteopaths treat more than you think!

https://ambacare-ltd.uk1.cliniko.com/bookings?fbclid=IwAR0SXEDnv25r-uVSJ0_HSvjsA0RvHrhak5Rdqz9P8IyyqlPGxv8yfQB2hdo

18/12/2025

🎄🎁Festive Opening Hours🎁🎄

We will be closed on both bank holidays.
We will maintain standard business hours on the Mondays and Tuesdays of both holiday weeks. Our osteopaths still have some appointments available for these days. Give us a call or book online

https://ambacare-ltd.uk1.cliniko.com/bookings?fbclid=IwAR0SXEDnv25r-uVSJ0_HSvjsA0RvHrhak5Rdqz9P8IyyqlPGxv8yfQB2hdo

Save time and book your appointments online with Ambacare Ltd 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

17/12/2025

🎁Give the Gift Of Wellness 🎁

Our gift vouchers are the perfect way to show you care about their health and well-being. If you would like to purchase, Give us a call on 01683 220 700 or pop in and see us☺️

15/12/2025

SHIATSU - last date of 2025 - available tomorrow. Give us a call if you wish to book