Why Do I Sneeze When I Drink Alcohol?

It occurs when your body has difficulty metabolizing the histamines found in certain foods and drinks, such as wine or beer. If you experience sudden sneezing after consuming these beverages, it may be an indication of histamine intolerance. The key to managing histamine intolerance is to recognize which foods and drinks are high in histamine levels and avoid them. Certain alcoholic beverages, like red wine or beer, may contain histamines and sulfites, which can exacerbate sinus issues, trigger inflammation, and increase sensitivity to allergens.

While specific ingredients in alcoholic beverages may cause allergic reactions, there is no known comprehensive list that guarantees the prevention of alcohol-induced sneezing. Alcohol can lead to asthma attacks in some individuals, particularly those with a sensitivity or allergy to alcohol. Two common symptoms are facial flushing, in which the skin on the face quickly turns red, and nasal congestion. For those with histamine intolerance, it is crucial to be aware of how histamines in alcohol affect the body. This knowledge can guide individuals in making informed decisions about alcohol consumption, especially if they have experienced adverse reactions in the past.

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It’s important to seek medical advice if you suspect you have an alcohol allergy to manage your symptoms and prevent serious reactions. The symptoms are similar to those caused by histamine intolerance and can easily be confused with allergy-like symptoms. Doing a test can confirm or deny the actual cause of the alcohol intolerance. As you can imagine, this can turn quite dangerous if the dizziness is severe. If you experience this particular symptom, it’s important to seek medical advice before drinking alcohol again.

Don’t Let Your Next Happy Hour Be A Total Bummer: Check For Allergies Beforehand!

Histamine intolerance occurs when an individual has too much histamine in their body. It is not a sensitivity to histamine but rather an indication that the person has accumulated an excessive amount. Symptoms of histamine intolerance can include sneezing, hives, headaches, nausea, and digestive issues—similar to a common allergic response. The fermentation and ageing process of making wine directly produces histamines, the chemicals your body makes in response to allergy triggers. This leads to allergy symptoms like a runny nose, stuffy sinuses, and sneezing.

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• To avoid adverse reactions, sensitive individuals should reduce their exposure to sulfites.
• And the alcoholic beverage industry is a major economic force, responsible for more than $250 billion in sales annually in the US.
• Alcohol intolerance is a condition characterized by unpleasant reactions after drinking alcohol, such as an upset stomach, facial flushing, headaches and nausea.
• Alcohol usually contains sulfite compounds, and it is important to be aware of your sensitivity.
• Some people find that when they drink alcohol, they experience sneezing and nasal congestion.
• Whatever the source, sneezing after drinking beer is a phenomenon that many people have experienced.
• Other molds, yeasts, proteins, and ingredients used for wine fining can also be allergens.

Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. Alcohol has long been considered a “social lubricant” because drinking may encourage social interaction. Having a drink while getting together with family or friends is often part of many special occasions. The good news is, simple wine sneezes are nothing to be concerned about if the symptoms are mild.

Generally, less is known about the effect that multiple nights of drinking has on sleep – with only a small number of studies (which had low numbers of participants) showing inconsistent results. If you experience swelling or breathing difficulties after drinking, Dr Dasgupta asserted you seek medical help immediately. This condition is more common among individuals of East Asian descent due to a genetic mutation that affects alcohol metabolism. While it is technically true that no level of alcohol is risk-free, neither are many daily activities, from driving to eating bacon. Still, there are some groups for whom going sober might be the best policy, such as those with a family history of addiction, liver disease or cancer, Anton says.

Why Does Red Wine Make Me Sneeze?

Another common symptom you may experience is a stuffy nose or nasal congestion. This symptom can be similar to symptoms of Hay fever or seasonal allergies. One of the most common forms of alcohol intolerance is sulfite intolerance. This type of allergy occurs when an individual cannot break down sulfites, which are a byproduct of fermentation and appear in wine and other alcoholic beverages. Symptoms may include hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, headaches, nausea and vomiting. For those with severe allergies or asthma, sulfite intolerance can be life-threatening.

• Additionally, when you consume alcoholic beverages, your blood vessels widen and cause more blood to flow to the nasal tissues, leading to additional swelling.
• This can still be uncomfortable but is not an immune system response and is less serious.
• If drinking from a glass makes you sneeze, try drinking through a straw instead.
• When this inflammation occurs in the airway, patients can experience wheezing and shortness of breath.
• While rare, it is possible for a person to have an allergic reaction when exposed to the ingredients found in red wine such as histamines or sulfites.

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While some drinkers may never experience any irritation from white wine, others may find that it triggers a sneezing reaction. If this occurs, it might be best to switch to red wine or to try drinking white wine in moderation. If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms after consuming alcohol, it is best to stop drinking and seek medical help if necessary. Not only can alcohol cause physical health issues such as dehydration and swelling, but it can also lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and increased risk for suicide. Some people may be sensitive to other compounds in the beverage and will need allergy testing to determine what they are allergic to.

Sometimes it’s an alcohol allergy, not alcohol intolerance

Alcohol intolerance is a temporary, but pretty uncomfortable, reaction to alcohol — with nasal congestion and flushed skin being the two most common side effects. It happens if your ALDH2 enzymes (remember those?) aren’t particularly effective at their job, or if your body just doesn’t make enough ALDH2 enzyme in the first place. In either case, the does alcohol make you sneeze result is less acetaldehyde being broken down into acetate. In addition to histamine, sulfites can be found in wine and beer, which may also irritate allergies for some people. Alcohol is not the only category of food/drink that can affect allergies in this way. If this sound like you or someone you know, be sure to be mindful of foods like aged cheese, bread, and other fermented products like cider that can contain histamines as well.

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. People with this deficiency metabolize acetaldehyde slowly, leading to its buildup. ADH enzyme variants are another cause of alcohol intolerance, altering the structure and function of aldehyde dehydrogenase.