Why Does Wine Cause a Stuffy Nose?
If you have a pattern of suddenly feeling very sick after consuming alcohol, you may have developed sudden onset alcohol intolerance. Symptoms of an alcohol allergy include rashes, itchiness, swelling and severe stomach cramps. Allergy symptoms are often more painful and uncomfortable than alcohol intolerance symptoms. In rare cases, if untreated, an alcohol allergy can be life-threatening. Nasal Congestion When byproducts of alcohol don’t get broken down quickly enough, they accumulate to levels high enough to cause a mild allergic reaction. The second reason why alcohol can cause sneezing and congestion is that wine, beer, and spirits contain histamine, a compound that elicits an allergic response.
Everything You Need to Know About a Beer Allergy
- Chemicals called congeners are also a component of alcoholic drinks.
- People of Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean descent often have a variant of one or both enzymes that leads to an impaired ability to metabolize alcohol.
- Bassett notes that alcohol has a natural vasodilatory effect in the skin (that’s why you feel warm when you start drinking), and that can also …
- Acid reflux, a very common reaction to alcohol, also causes nausea, which could easily explain that issue.
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that can affect your lymphatic system.
If left untreated, an allergic reaction can quickly become worse. Alcohol, present in beer, acts as a vasodilator, meaning it widens your blood vessels. This effect can lead to nasal blood vessels dilating, causing swelling and congestion. Additionally, alcohol can affect your immune system, triggering histamine release, which can further contribute to a stuffed-up nose. While rare, yeast allergy can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
- Most people who think they have an alcohol allergy actually have an alcohol intolerance (also called acute alcohol sensitivity).
- Studies of allergic rhinitis (that’s the nasal reaction to allergens) consistently show that placebos work quite well to treat a large fraction of allergy sufferers.
- Some people have an intolerance or sensitivity to sulfites.
- Alcohol intolerance happens when your body reacts in an unpleasant way to alcohol, but the process doesn’t involve your immune system.
- We’re happy to report that letting cold beer come to room temperature has no effect on its flavor.
Be careful and avoid the risk of Alcohol Congestion.
They involve throbbing pain that generally occurs on one side of the head. These headaches can last from a few hours to a few days. In a 2017 study, researchers found that people of East Asian ancestry drink less than members of other groups. Certain genes may influence the tendency to drink and alcohol tolerance to quantities of alcohol. While there is some research on each possible reason why alcohol causes headaches, study authors have not definitively proven the link between the two.
Can other alcoholic beverages cause nasal congestion?
It’s also found in many foods and beverages, especially fermented products. For example, aged cheese, smoked meats, sauerkraut, wine, and beer tend to be high in histamines. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is an enzyme that your body uses to digest alcohol. It turns alcohol into acetic acid, a main component of vinegar, in your liver.
If they suspect you have a true allergy to alcohol or another ingredient in alcoholic beverages, they will likely conduct allergy testing. The most common type of allergy testing is the skin prick test. During a skin prick test, your doctor will use a lancet to prick or scratch your skin. They will apply a drop of allergen extract to the pricked or scratched area. Your skin’s reaction can help them learn if you have an allergy.
- An allergic reaction to food usually happens within a couple of hours.
- You’ve probably noticed that drinking often makes you feel warm.
- It’s also possible to be allergic to proteins in filling agents, such as egg or shellfish, which manufacturers sometimes use to remove fine particles from alcoholic beverages.
- You had a long week, and you opened that bottle of wine to help you relax — but instead you wound up with a stuffy nose you now have to deal with.
People often call alcohol intolerance an alcohol allergy, and vice versa. People who have a true alcohol allergy should avoid drinking alcohol entirely. A severe allergic reaction can be life-threatening and is an emergency. If you have these symptoms after drinking beer, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Unfortunately, nothing can prevent reactions to alcohol or ingredients in alcoholic beverages. To avoid a reaction, avoid alcohol or the particular substance that causes your reaction.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Certain additives can increase the chance of developing a headache after drinking. People prone to headaches may be at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related headaches. Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a why does beer make me congested result of drinking. Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen the chance of developing a headache. 2021 research also linked lifestyle factors with alcohol drinking and smoking to cluster headaches and their severity.