How long is too long for hives

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

"Waits Too Long" lyrics

"Waits Too Long"

Waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longCar bumper, these legs of mineImpact so hard, it sent me flyingI took a beating, but not to worryI hold on for me and youYou had true eyes, they shone so brightWe planned a future this magic nightI followed you, every wink of your eyeI followed you to a street nearbyBusted kneecaps and siren songThis wait of mine much too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longFour bleeding wounds for you to seeMy beaten body, now they messed me up so thoroughlyYou say 'I'll find help because that's how good my heart is'There's a future for me and youSo what's certain is there's a railway bridge aboveI wait right here for you, my loveWithout a wallet, with a question so trickyWhy'd you drive off smiling with the man who attacked me?Busted kneecaps and siren songThis wait of mine much too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longBusted kneecaps and siren songCan't say I feel much too strongAnd I can't keep my mind off of thinkingThis wait's to heavenAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too longWaits too longAnd the waits too long

Thanks to Denver4 for adding these lyrics.

AZLyrics
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The Hives Lyrics

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How long can hives last?

Hives can appear and disappear quickly, with each hive only lasting around 23 hours. However, depending on the cause, they may reappear and continue affecting someone for days, weeks, or longer.

People can have acute hives, which occurs due to a specific trigger and resolves within 6 weeks. Alternatively, they can have chronic hives, which recur at least twice per week for longer than 6 weeks.

This article looks at how long hives last, factors that influence their duration, and treatment.

Each hive lasts only 23 hours, but for some people, they continue to appear and disappear for longer. The duration of hives can depend on whether they are acute or chronic.

Acute hives appear quickly and do not last long. Doctors classify hives as acute if the overall duration is less than 6 weeks.

However, around 25% of people go on to develop chronic hives. This is when hives regularly reappear over 6 weeks or more.

For many individuals, chronic hives eventually clear on their own, but this can take months. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), around half of people with chronic hives spontaneously recover within 1 year.

Acute hives often occur in response to an allergen or irritant. When the immune system perceives a substance as a threat, it releases histamine and other chemicals. This causes tiny blood vessels under someones skin to leak fluid, which accumulates and causes the bump.

Some common substances that can result in hives include:

food allergens, such as milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, or shellfish
contact allergens, such as latex or animal dander
insect bites or stings
medications

Any drug can cause hives, but some of the medications most commonly associated with this symptom include:

Acute hives can also occur in response to viral infections, parasitic infections, or during times of stress.

According to a 2018 review, doctors are unsure of the cause of acute hives in around 50% of individuals. These cases are known as acute spontaneous urticaria (ASU).

Chronic hives may have the same cause as acute hives, but with symptoms lasting longer than 6 weeks. However, chronic hives are often not due to an allergen and instead have a physical cause.

There are two subcategories of chronic hives: inducible urticaria and chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Chronic idiopathic hives

Chronic idiopathic urticaria has no clear cause and is the most common form of chronic hives. Researchers are working to understand why this type of hives occurs, but a leading theory links it with autoimmunity.

Autoimmunity occurs when a persons immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, and several autoimmune conditions are associated with chronic hives. The most common is thyroid disease, which is present in 9.8% of cases.

This suggests that the hives may result from someones immune system not functioning as it should. Other conditions that can occur alongside chronic hives include type 1 diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Infections can also be associated with the onset of chronic hives. This includes bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Again, this may result from autoimmunity an infection may trigger a change in how the persons immune system works.

Inducible hives

Inducible or physical urticaria is less common than chronic idiopathic urticaria. With this subtype, it is possible to purposely induce the hives by a person exposing their skin to certain triggers, which could include:

Scratching or pressure: The most common type of inducible hives is known as dermatographia. This condition involves developing hives as a response to scratching or drawing on the skin.
Cold: Cold hives occur on someones skin or mouth after exposure to cold temperatures. Triggers include consuming iced drinks, touching cold water, or going outside in cold weather.
Heat: Cholinergic hives occurs when an individuals body becomes hot or sweaty. Hot baths, exercise, and spicy food can be triggers.
UV light: Solar hives occur in response to UV light from the sun and certain light bulbs, such as those in tanning beds.
Water: Some people develop hives if their skin comes into contact with water. This is known as aquagenic urticaria and is very rare.

Doctors diagnose hives by performing a physical examination. There is no test to determine whether the persons hives are acute or chronic, so they will use the length of time they recur to do this.

The doctor may also ask an individual:

when the rash began
the shape, size, and distribution of the rash
where on the body they first noticed the rash
if they have had any insect bites
if they live or work with common hive triggers, such as chemicals, animals, or latex gloves
if they have bone or joint pain, fever, or abdominal pain
if anyone in their family experiences hives
if they take any medications or supplements

The doctor may use a skin prick test and serum-specific IgE test to check if the acute hives result from a specific substance, such as food, dust mites, or chemicals. Alternatively, they may refer someone to an allergy clinic for these tests.

However, in cases of chronic hives, allergy testing is rarely useful. A doctor may check for other underlying health conditions by performing additional tests, such as:

The most suitable treatment depends on whether the person has acute hives or chronic hives.

Acute hives

Doctors typically recommend second-generation antihistamines as the first-line treatment for acute hives, such as:

loratadine (Claritin)
desloratadine (Clarinex)
fexofenadine (Allegra)
cetirizine (Zyrtec)
levocetirizine (Xyzal)

They may prescribe a standard dose or increase by up to 4 times if the individual does not respond.

If these medications do not improve symptoms, the doctor may recommend an additional antihistamine, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), or ranitidine (Zantac). They may recommend a 310-day course of corticosteroids to help control the symptoms in severe cases.

The doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector if they think the individual is at risk of anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction that restricts breathing. This provides emergency medicine to treat anaphylaxis quickly.

The doctor will then reassess the individual in 26 weeks.

Chronic hives

Doctors may recommend a four-step treatment plan for chronic hives. This approach involves using an antihistamine daily, which may be up to 4 times the regular dosage depending on how the individual responds.If necessary, they may prescribe a second antihistamine or another medication, such as montelukast (Singulair). With persistent hives, they may suggest a high potency antihistamine, such as hydroxyzine or doxepin.

The final step is for a doctor to refer the individual to a specialist for immunomodulatory therapy. This may involve taking medications such as omalizumab (Xolair) or cyclosporine (Sandimmune).

Once symptoms are under control, a doctor may gradually reduce the dosage of these medications. If the hives have an identifiable cause, such as cold or heat exposure, adopting changes to avoid the triggers wherever possible is also important.

The AAD suggests the following methods for people to reduce irritation and itchiness in hives:

applying topical anti-itch medications, such as calamine lotion
wearing loose-fitting clothing
moisturizing with fragrance-free lotion to prevent dry skin
using cold compresses several times per day

However, it is important for individuals to try to determine whether the hives have a specific trigger, in addition to relieving symptoms. If someone has cold hives, for example, a cold compress may make them worse.

Therefore, it is a good idea for people to keep a symptom diary, recording when the hives occur and any factors that might have contributed. Symptom diaries are also useful to refer to at medical appointments. A person can take note of:

the date and time the hives appear
what they were doing just before they developed
what they have had to eat or drink

If any common factors emerge when the hives occur, a person can try to temporarily avoid these to see if it helps. It is important for people to do this with the guidance of a doctor, allergist, or dietitian if someone has food-related hives.

Learn more about remedies and treatments for hives here.

Hives do not last long, taking only 23 hours to fade. However, more can appear, which makes the symptoms last longer. Acute hives can develop and resolve on their own within 6 weeks, while chronic hives can last much longer.

Doctors treat acute and chronic hives differently, so it is advisable for people to speak with a medical professional about this symptom, especially if the hives last longer than 6 weeks.

If hives or swelling occur in the mouth and airways, making it difficult to breathe, dial 911 or the number of the nearest emergency department immediately.

The Valkyrie long hive: built with love for bees and their keepers

Many of you may remember the Valhalla hive from several years ago. The Valhalla was a long hive designed by Naomi and Larry Price for beekeepers who were unable to lift heavy equipment or reach stacked hive boxes. The Valhalla hive was unique in many ways, including the fact it used standard Langstroth frames. This meant that frames could be transferred between the Valhalla and a Langstroth, and standard nucleus colonies would fit seamlessly into the Valhalla.

Naomi and Larry continued to use the Valhalla long hive, but over the years, they discovered improvements that would make the hive even betterboth for the bees and the beekeeper. When it became necessary for them to switch builders, they decided to incorporate the many changes they envisioned. The remodeled hive has been rechristened the Valkyrie.

The evolution of the Valkyrie Long Hive

Vivien and Bruce, of The Right Hand LLP, have been working hard to perfect the changes and ramp up production of the new hive. I had the pleasure of meeting them both and viewing the new hives in production. What a show! Bruce, The Beekeepers Carpenter is a woodworking craftsman, attentive to every detail. Meanwhile, Vivien is putting together the business end, learning about shipping practices, packaging, bookkeeping, web management, and even beekeeping.

I have to say, the Valkyrie hives are so lovely Id like to buy one for my dining room. You know, just for show! Plus, when I got to see the hives in action, I was impressed with the ease with which the hivesand the beescould be handled.

Improvements galore

Some of the improvements in the new hive include:

The hinged lid with hardware that makes it a breeze to open and close. No heavy lifting is involved.
The lid mechanism has been tested against stiff breezes, so it will not accidentally close in a strong puff.
The new lid includes a built in frame rest. While inspecting, you can remove a frame, place it in the frame rest, and slide the rest of the frames one-by-one.
The built-in slatted rack was tightened up so debris no longer collects along the edges.
The hive comes with optional viewing windows, either one or two. Your choice.
The hive comes with two side-by-side varroa drawers that are easy to inspect and clean.

Bruce builds every hive by hand and assembles it to assure that each piece fits perfectly. Then he takes the hive apart for shipping. When I visited the shop, they were still finalizing the packaging method, but what I saw was impressive. Every piece was protected from every other with a variety of corners and braces. The entire hive (not including frames) will be shipped in two boxes. Since the hive was assembled before packaging, you are assured the pieces will fit together with ease.

Bee canvas and bee blankets

The standard Valkyrie comes with a canvas cover that fits over the top bars. The canvas is multipurpose, keeping the bees calm during inspection and conserving heat in the winter.An optional wool blanket fits in the space above the canvas cover. Naomi has found that the wool blanket not only keeps the bees warmer in winter, but temperature readings confirms it keeps the bees cooler in summer as well. Like a well-insulated home, the hive interior is protected from temperature extremes.

The optional hive stand

A really cool option to this hive is the insulated hive stand. Last winter, Naomi decided to use an infrared camera to monitor her hives in winter. What she discovered was a surprise. Her hives were insulated on top with the canvas covers and folded army blankets, so no heat was escaping through the lid. But much to her surprise (and mine!) heat was escaping from the bottom of the hive. She decided she needed a system to insulate the underside.

In reviewing this problem, Bruce decided to design a hive stand with built-in insulation. The stand is made of wood and is designed to hold a large rectangle of 3-inch rigid foam which stops the heat loss in its tracks. As an added bonus, you can specify how high you want the top of your hive to be, and he will cut the legs of the hive stand to assure the proper height just for you. It is an ingenious answer to two problems at once.

Straight from the source

I asked Vivien to give me a run-down of the Valkyrie features in her own words, and here is what she has to say:

From the Halls of Valhalla

In the glorious halls of Valhalla, slain Norse warriors were transported by the Valkyries to enjoy the thrill of never-ending battle. While Odin ever-awaited new arrivals, it was the Valkyries who remained vigilant and watchful, presiding over earths battlefields to choose who would be taken aloft.Sprung from a faithful constant (the Valhalla) to embrace an evolving field of bee biology, the Valkyrie Long Hive has emerged.

A gable-style lid

The Valkyrie has an hinged gable-style lid that comes in two standard finishes: deluxe powder-coated and textured aluminum.The powder-coated color is Moss Grey and the textured aluminum (with a ridge cap design) is Juniper Ridge.Both lids can be custom ordered in a rainbow of colors for an extra charge.The aluminum is custom fit by hand to eliminate weather intrusion. Feel free to use a dry-erase marker for taking your inspection notes on the covers as they wipe clean easily.

Improved hinges

The standard hinges are durable and long-lasting steel, rust resistant and strong enough to stay open in inclement weather.The Valkyrie has one additional type of hinge called Easy Glide which is currently in testing and should be available next spring. The Easy Glide will allow for self-opening and closing with just a light initial touch.The craftsman quality and lightness of the lid (40% lighter than before!) give the beekeeper an ease of operation which help those with arm, shoulder, or wrist problems.

An interior frame rest

Under the lid is storage that can be used as a frame rest or to hold hive tools. It can also hold the Interior Canvas Cover which is included in each hive purchase. The cover helps to increase the sense of security and privacy within the hive body. It is reinforced at the corners where the hive tool will be used, decreasing the chance of rips or tears.

As an additional (not standard) benefit, the hand-crafted Interior Pure-Shetland Wool Pad can be ordered which helps the colony maintain temperature and humidity levels year round.This pad is 100% Shetland sheeps wool (locally grown, harvested and felted) and is placed on top of the Interior Canvas Cover.In two gorgeous colors, grey and charcoal, these pads are beautiful and functional as well!

A 24-frame capacity

The hive body holds 24 standard deep frames. Beneath the frames is a built-in slatted rack with new, tighter spacing on the ends. The space above the rack allows a great view through the observation window. Best of all, there is a space between the bottom of the frames and the top of the slats that allows the bees a free space in which to hang out.

A single observation window is standard and placed on the left where viewing is best. An extra observation window can be ordered for the right side, if desired.Feeding supplies and containers can be placed directly inside the hive body when using less than 24 frames, so the need of an exterior boardman feeder was eliminated completely.Take that, you predators!

Interchangeable varroa drawers

Beneath the body sits two drawers, screened and solid, which are interchangeable left-to-right (for those of us prone to forgetting). In hot weather, the solid drawer may be removed and the predators such as wasps are foiled again by the secured screened drawer: no access to the colony here!

Optional insulated hive stand

Finally, an optional custom-fit stand can be ordered with each Valkyrie: it allows the top of the hive body (not the lid itself) to sit at 30 from grade-level which is perfect for any beekeeper needing to be seated during inspection time, and suited to the height of most adults. The stand can be custom ordered in other heights as needed, or even lowered.Included is a fitted sheet of rigid insulation which protects the colony from icy-cold or super-heated ground temperatures year-round: less work for the ladies!

Global shipping

With shipping across the U.S. and globally, weve incorporated our bee-friendly philosophy to also include shipping containers and materials that are 100% recyclable, with easy set-up at your location. Just call for pricing!

The over-all size and weight of this Valkyrie Long Hive means less work for the beekeeper and the colony. It is lighter, taller, and built to last. We offer a two-year warranty on the lid and hinges and we wont sacrifice bee biology at any point.

A hive to be proud of

I am truly impressed by the craftsmanship poured into the Valkyrie hive. Not only that, but the commitment of Vivien and Bruce is palpable, not only to beekeepers but to the bees themselves. If you have difficulties with the Langstroth configuration or are just looking for a better way to keep your bees, I urge you to have a look at the Valkyrie Long Hive.