Sneezing When You Drink Wine? 5 Common Culprits and How to Avoid Them

This reaction will happen whatever alcohol you consume, whether it is drunk or added to main courses or puddings. Histamine-induced reactions occur when an individual is sensitive to histamines naturally found in wine. These reactions may cause inflammation of the skin, throat and airways, leading to difficulty breathing. Finally, sulfite-induced reactions occur when an individual is sensitive to the sulfur dioxide used during wine production as a preservative.

Why Do I Sneeze While Drinking Wine?

Additionally, people with alcohol intolerance, a genetic condition affecting the body’s ability to break down alcohol, may experience sneezing and nasal congestion after drinking beer. This is due to the accumulation of byproducts that trigger a mild allergic reaction. Dilated blood vessels can cause inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages. In some people, drinking alcohol may also trigger an allergic reaction, which can cause sneezing and other symptoms.

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And if cocktails make you sneeze, try making your own with fresh fruit juices instead of pre-made mixes. A number of experts have recommended revision of the guidelines toward lower amounts, as more studies have linked even moderate alcohol consumption to health risks. Predictably, the alcoholic beverage industry opposes more restrictive guidelines. This condition is more common among individuals of East Asian descent due to a genetic mutation that affects alcohol metabolism.

Can sneezing after drinking alcohol be a sign of an underlying medical condition?

When it comes to allergies to any component of an alcoholic drink, you must never consume it. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to LTP usually appear within minutes and include swelling, itchiness, digestive problems, breathing difficulties and, in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. Another type of allergen, lipid transfer protein (LTP), is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and cereals, and can also be present in some alcoholic drinks. Normally, the food that you consume, gets broken down into the substances which are absorbed by the body for nutrition and the rest gets excreted.

These symptoms can occur soon after consuming beer or take a little longer to appear. It is important to note that a food allergy is the immune system’s response to a food protein that the body perceives as harmful. In contrast, a food intolerance or sensitivity, i sneeze when i drink alcohol which is more common, involves the digestive system and typically presents less severe symptoms, such as digestive problems.

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The key to managing histamine intolerance is to recognize which foods and drinks are high in histamine levels and avoid them. It may be due to an allergy to various ingredients in alcoholic beverages, such as grains, wheat, barley, hops, sulfites and yeast. There are also signs that the body is reacting negatively to alcohol itself; symptoms such as headaches, nausea, stomach pains and dizziness which occur when consuming alcohol. Additionally, alcohol can cause a histamine reaction, triggered by the body’s immune system when it comes into contact with the allergen.

They can help you determine if it is indeed the cause of your unpleasant reactions and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. To reduce the risk of having a reaction, look for labels on alcoholic beverages that indicate lower levels of sulfites or those labeled as “sulfite-free”. In general, red wines typically have higher sulfite concentrations than white wines. Additionally, you can opt for wine alternatives such as mead or beer which typically contain lower levels of sulfites than wine. But even with our guide on how to get rid of a hangover, you may want to dig deeper beyond the simple remedies and solutions to determine whether there is a real cause for concern here. Of course, digestive trouble is a leading symptom of many health conditions, so you’ll want to consult your doc before diagnosing yourself with, say, a tequila allergy.

• It is important to consult with your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
• Allergic reactions to alcohol can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, a runny nose, or stomach upset.
• An alcohol intolerance, or ingredients like histamines in alcohol cause an allergy-like reaction in drinkers, swelling the the mucosal membranes in the nasal passages and airways.
• The most commonly proposed explanations include congestion, allergies, nerve stimulation, and genetic factors.
• Histamine intolerance is caused by a lack of an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO).
• The amounts of histamine vary between wines, but generally, there is more histamine in red than white wine.

Beer contains many ingredients, including water, malt barley, brewer’s yeast, hops, and assorted flavorings. While true beer allergies are rare, it is possible to be allergic to one of these ingredients. The condition is caused by inheriting a gene that affects how alcohol is broken down by the body. The most common cause is ALDH2 deficiency, which results in decreased levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde.

• Additionally, it might be a good idea to drink the beer more slowly and not in one quick gulp.
• However, some people may experience allergy-like reactions after consumption.
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• The blood vessels around your nasal cavity can expand, making it a bit more difficult to breathe normally.
• In very rare cases, sulfites may cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
• Many people report that red wine causes the most noticeable nasal congestion, even in those without an alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance.

Anton emphasizes that exercise doesn’t necessarily have a direct effect on how alcohol is metabolized, so it shouldn’t be an excuse to start drinking. “When people are thinking about drinking, and if they choose to do so, it should be part of a healthy lifestyle,” Rimm says. Some people with rosacea flush more with red wine; others flush more with hard liquor,” says Dr. Vij. We may never know for sure but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a glass of vino every now and then.

These symptoms can occur almost immediately after consuming beer and should be considered severe and potentially life-threatening. The online discussions on this phenomenon range from catching a closet drinker in the act to a life-threatening allergy situation (please, carry an epi-pen in this case). Some say it is more about the type of beer (too many hops) than a reaction to the alcohol in beer. Taking smaller sips can help reduce the amount of carbonation your nose is exposed to.

Make sure you avoid alcohol intake with any other medications, as there can be interaction between the two. This too, can trigger allergic reactions causing stuffy nose when you drink alcohol. The symptoms are similar to those caused by histamine intolerance and can easily be confused with allergy-like symptoms.

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? If any of the following scenarios seem familar, it might be time to make some changes. If you get gustatory rhinitis, there are many treatments and management methods to choose from. It could also be that alcohol has a natural side effect to make people congested.