Most often, people get hives as part of an allergic reaction. Hives also can be the body's way of reacting to temperature extremes, stress, infections, or illnesses. The red blotches happen when cells in the bloodstream (called mast cells) release the chemical histamine. This causes tiny blood vessels under the skin to leak.
After Massachusetts, its neighbor to the north, Rhode Islandâs debt per capita is the second highest in the nation, contributing to its rank as the fourth worst-run state. While the average state debt per capita across all states is $3,567, Rhode Islandâs debt is equal to $9,068 per state resident. With a dwindling tax base, conditions may get worse in the Ocean State before they get better.
Everybody knows that the US is the worldâs biggest borrower, owing a massive amount of money to China, which holds $1.15 trillion in bonds issued by Uncle Sam. With more than $16.2 trillion in debt â including the money the US owes to itself to pay for programs like Social Security â the US debt-to-GDP ratio is around 100%. (Not counting so-called intragovernmental holdings of debt, the ratio is more like 68%, according to the Government Accountability Office.)