Why Does Wine Cause a Stuffy Nose?

Understanding these differences can help you pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and get the most appropriate medical attention if needed. As you get older, you might notice that your body starts to handle alcohol differently. This isn’t just your imagination—it’s actually a natural part of aging. Researchers estimate that 8% of the world’s population has a defective ALDH2 gene. People of Korean, Japanese, or Chinese descent are more prone to this genetic defect than people of other ethnicities. Remember to consult your clinician before changing your diet, as some foods may not be recommended if you’re taking certain medications.

Ways to Get Rid of Stuffy Nose on Drinking Alcohol

• If you have a true alcohol allergy, the only way to avoid symptoms is to avoid alcohol entirely.
• But hangovers aren’t just physical – there’s a strong mental side too.
• Many people are familiar with common side effects of alcohol, including lowered inhibitions, euphoria (i.e., feeling “tipsy”), decreased coordination, and hangovers.
• While histamines are high in the body when drinking alcohol with an intolerance, allergies actually elicit an immune response.

Typical symptoms include a runny nose and congestion, which might be accompanied by postnasal drip, headache and/or a dry cough. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning you lose increased amounts of body water through your kidneys. This can potentially lead to dehydration with increased thickness of the mucus in your nose and sinuses that might lead to congestion.

unny Nose

These headaches usually occur hours after a patient has stopped drinking, as their blood alcohol level returns to zero. While the cause of DAIH is unknown, researchers believe they are related to a drop in a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which regulates the body’s central pain control. When serotonin levels drop, pain signals are dysregulated, and people are more likely to experience painful conditions like headaches. Some people find that when they drink alcohol, they experience sneezing and nasal congestion. If left untreated, an allergic reaction can quickly become worse.

Asian Flush: The Surprising Connection to Anxiety and Depression

• Ultimately, mixing Pepcid and alcohol so that you can drink more only worsens the problem.
• Additionally, the preservatives used in alcohol too can be harsh on your stomach, increasing the chances of allergic reactions causing stuffy nose or sinus congestion.
• Most people have an allergic reaction to the histamines in wine, which causes flushing of the face and neck and nasal congestion.
• Although not a true allergy, in some cases, what seems to be alcohol intolerance might be your reaction to something in an alcoholic beverage — such as chemicals, grains or preservatives.
• Interestingly, several studies found that persons who have nasal symptoms from alcohol also have similar symptoms to other things, such as hot or spicy food and strong-smelling scents.
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which is why people feel sleepy after they’ve had a drink or two, and why drinking a “nightcap” before you go to bed can sound appealing.
• Specifically, genetic changes that make your corresponding ALDH2 enzyme bad at its job.

This often leads to sneezing as the body is unable to tolerate regular intake of alcohol. People who lack certain enzymes in their bodies often get troubled by these problems. What’s more concerning, however, is that some medications can lead to uncomfortable (even dangerous) side effects when combined with alcohol. In addition, various ingredients found in alcoholic beverages have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in some people.

According to Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin of the Mayo Clinic, “it’s best to avoid combining antidepressants and alcohol. It may worsen your symptoms, and it can be dangerous.” When mixed with alcohol, they can cause a buildup of acetaldehyde, a toxin alcoholism treatment that makes you feel flushed, sick, and ready to swear off alcohol altogether. It’s like having a hangover before you’ve even finished your drink. The first is that alcohol contains compounds that act as allergens. The most common of these compounds are sulfites, which are typically highest in beer, brown liquor, and cider. Even if people don’t consume enough alcohol to cause a hangover, they can still get a headache from drinking.

People with alcohol intolerance may also experience nasal congestion after drinking alcohol. Next to flushing, a stuffy nose is the most commonly reported symptom of alcohol intolerance. Your nose may run or feel congested, and some people also sneeze after drinking. Incomplete absorption of alcohol by the body could be one reason why you get stuffy nose on drinking alcohol.

Choose a Reddit account to continue

The best way to prevent hangxiety is to limit your alcohol consumption. The Australian guidelines recommend having no more than ten standard drinks per week and no more than four standard drinks on any one day. If you feel sick as soon as you finish your drink, your body might not be able to process alcohol. In rare instances, an unpleasant reaction to alcohol can be a sign of a serious underlying health problem that requires diagnosis and treatment. These can amplify alcohol’s effects, making you feel more drowsy, dizzy, or out of sorts after just one glass.

• You may not need to see a doctor if you have a mild intolerance to alcohol or something else in alcoholic beverages.
• However, some people do experience true allergic reactions after drinking alcoholic beverages.
• If you’ve ever wondered – why does my face get red when I drink – this could be why.
• When we say alcohol intolerance you probably think about the number of drinks a person can handle.
• Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is an enzyme that your body uses to digest alcohol.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Alcohol acts as a diuretic that releases excess water in the body. This can lead to dehydration which, in turn, thickens the mucus membranes in the body leading to nasal congestion. Unlike having an intolerance or allergy, dehydration can be avoided by drinking plenty of water and caring for your sinuses.

Understanding Alcohol Intolerance

Sure, but a migraine due to alcohol intolerance will come on pretty quickly, and not the next morning. Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin lymphoma. However, in some cases, what why do i get congested after drinking alcohol seems to be alcohol intolerance may be your reaction to something in an alcoholic beverage—such as chemicals, grains, or preservatives.

Sunset Forte Alcohol Flush Support

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 a true alcohol allergy, the only way to avoid symptoms is to avoid alcohol entirely. Read the ingredient lists of foods and drinks, ask restaurant staff for information about menu items, and avoid products that contain alcohol. In conclusion, alcohol and sinuses have a close relationship in a variety of ways.