Not-so-Happy Hour: The Link Between Alcohol & Allergies Pinnacle ENT Associates

This can still be uncomfortable but is not an immune system response and is less serious. Another reason why alcohol can cause wheezing is that it not only contains histamines but also stimulates the body to release excess histamines, causing an inflammatory response. When this inflammation occurs in the airway, patients can experience wheezing and shortness of breath. Your brain adapts to alcohol over time and can become less sensitive to its effects. Are you wondering whether your drinking is on the high side of normal or if it’s crossed the line into a problem?

Why Does Wine Cause a Stuffy Nose?

If you find that straight spirits make you sneeze, try diluting them with water or soda before you drink them. This will reduce the alcohol in the drink and make it less likely to trigger a sneeze. Assessing the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption remains an active area of research that may lead to major changes in official guidelines or warning labels. Some people with rosacea flush more with red wine; others flush more with hard liquor,” says Dr. Vij. But because alcohol is a cellular toxin, anyone who drinks excessively increases their risk for oral cancer and esophageal cancer.

• In particular, if you have developed an intolerance or allergy to wine, then this could lead to more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis.
• There are a few ways to manage and reduce histamine intolerance including avoiding high-histamine foods, taking dietary supplements like DAO enzyme capsules, and using antihistamine medications.
• Look for wines with lower histamine levels, usually white wines, organic wines or sparkling wines.
• Beer and wine, in addition to being high in histamine, can aggravate a runny nose or nasal congestion.
• So it’s hard to predict who might actually benefit and who may be harmed more than helped by alcohol consumption.
• Many people report that red wine causes the most noticeable nasal congestion, even in those without an alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance.

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It is important to consult with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Your doctor may recommend avoiding foods and beverages containing alcohol, taking medication before consuming alcoholic drinks, or other treatments depending on the cause of your symptoms. If your symptoms are caused by sinus problems, you may need to see an allergist or immunologist for tests and treatments.

What’s the deal with wine sneezes?

Mixed drinks containing any of the ingredients mentioned earlier are also likely to cause sneezing. If you’re allergic to any of the ingredients in a mixed drink, you may want to avoid it. Spirits such as vodka and gin can also cause sneezing due to the presence of histamines. In addition, some people find that the alcohol in these drinks irritates their nose, leading to sneezing. This dilation occurs first in the brain, so you may feel flushed or warm after only a few sips of alcohol.

Alcohol allergy vs. alcohol intolerance

PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. By contrast, another 2023 study found similar rates of death between nondrinkers and light to moderate drinkers. In addition, rosacea can make your eyes feel itchy, dry and chronically irritated. Your Sellersville ENT specialist can give you more sneeze when drinking alcohol information on alcohol allergies and tips for safe consumption. Researchers estimate that 8% of the world’s population has a defective ALDH2 gene.

• Additionally, some people may experience swelling of the lips, tongue and throat.
• People with this defect aren’t able to metabolize alcohol as quickly as others, which leads to a buildup of a compound called acetaldehyde that is known to cause skin flushing.
• While talking about the consumption of alcohol, you need to watch out for the gradual development of the nasal infections.
• Beer, brown liquor, and cider contain the highest levels of sulfites among alcoholic beverages.
• If any of this sounds familiar to you, you might be sensitive to one of wine’s many components.
• Researchers believe that this could be due to the sulfites used in producing white wine, as well as the histamines found in white grapes.

Women’s Health

Now that you know the causes of stuffy nose on drinking alcohol, you need to be aware of the possible treatment options to get rid of the stuffy nose. Some allergies develop over time and when it comes to alcohol, few things are bound to occur. While talking about the consumption of alcohol, you need to watch out for the gradual development of the nasal infections. Initially, it may not bother much, but eventually the nasal mucus can get thicker, causing more problems. If you have any severe or painful symptoms after drinking alcohol, don’t just brush it off as alcohol intolerance. These side effects could be caused by a serious allergy and warrant a visit with your doctor to address your symptoms.

Sneezing after drinking beer could be caused by a mild allergic reaction due to a build-up of histamines in your system. Histamine is a compound found in beer, wine, and spirits that can elicit an allergic response. Beer, brown liquor, and cider contain the highest levels of sulfites among alcoholic beverages. Sulfites are also found in wine, where they occur naturally as a result of the fermentation process. The third type of headache caused by alcohol is a “Delayed Alcohol-Induced Headache” (“DAIH”). These headaches usually occur hours after a patient has stopped drinking, as their blood alcohol level returns to zero.