Gymnast With Rare Allergy Could Die By Laughing: 'Keeping Alive Is Full-time Job'

A 27-year-old woman in the U.K. suffers from a rare allergic condition that could trigger a fatal reaction to any strong emotion, including laughing too hard and sweating.

The young gymnast, Natasha Coates from Midlands, England, has been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), an immunological disorder that causes an extreme allergic reaction to anything from laughing to crying.

"I’m allergic to strong emotions... Any changes to my body’s status quo – whether I’m laughing, crying, sad or stressed – can cause a chemical reaction," Coates explains her ordeal, Birmingham Live reported.

Genetic And Rare Diseases Information Center describes MCAS as a condition that causes patients to have repeated episodes of severe allergy symptoms that affect several body systems.

As a young girl, Coates often had allergic reactions to several food items, but her family initially thought she was just hypersensitive. When the first anaphylactic attack happened at the age of 18, she thought it was a "once-in-a-lifetime reaction." However, after repeated episodes, two years later, Coates was diagnosed with MCAS, NY Post reported.

At the age of 20, Coates suffered a near-fatal allergic reaction and almost planned her funeral. "It happens almost every day, and I’ve been hospitalized more than 500 times. When I feel it starting, I get upset and try to suppress it, otherwise, I’ll have a worse reaction – it’s a vicious circle," Coates said.

Simple routine activities like eating food, working out, or even having a good laugh are all nightmares for Coates, who is allergic to everything. Every time she hits an episode of anaphylaxis, her friends, who are now trained to administer EpiPen, help her to handle her condition.

"Keeping myself alive is a full-time job," she said, adding that her life feels like a ticking time bomb.

"It’s frightening for my family, wondering which reaction is going to be my last. I feel like a ticking time bomb. I’ve had to accept that this condition could kill me, but I took some control back when I planned my funeral aged 20,' she said.

Despite everything, Coates has excelled as a gymnast bagging over 20 British titles and 30-something British medals in Disability British Championships. Coates continues to inspire others who suffer from similar conditions through her Instagram and TikTok accounts.