However, some individuals may find certain alcoholic beverages, such as wine or beer, more likely to trigger the sneezing reflex due to their individual sensitivities. White wine has been around for centuries and is enjoyed by many people worldwide. It is typically lighter and sweeter than red wine, but some may find that it can cause sneezing or other irritation. Researchers believe that this could be due to the sulfites used in producing white why do i sneeze after drinking alcohol wine, as well as the histamines found in white grapes.
It is important to be aware of the potential allergens present in wine so that those who suffer from allergies can choose wines that are safe for them to drink. People who drink daily or almost every day should not be left alone for the first few days after stopping alcohol. Unfortunately for wine-lovers, there’s a lot of things in wine that can cause negative reactions or intolerances. That runny or stuffy nose you get if you’re intolerant to alcohol may feel and seem like allergies, but it’s not. As we now know, alcohol intolerance is an issue with metabolizing alcohol — not an overzealous immune system.
Alcohol Allergies: Symptoms, Signs, and Treatment for Reactions
Quercetin is a plant pigment that has been shown to cause sneezing in some people.
If you find that you’re experiencing unpleasant effects during or after drinking alcohol, consider not drinking at all. This effect can also make you feel hot when you drink alcohol, but it can also lead to short-term nasal congestion. The blood vessels around your nasal cavity can expand, making it a bit more difficult to breathe normally. Read on to uncover the science behind the stuffy nose phenomenon as well as key strategies to prevent it from becoming an inevitable side effect of drinking alcohol. 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.
Yes, individuals with pre-existing allergies or sensitivities to certain substances may be more prone to sneezing after drinking alcohol. A few alcohols are less likely to trigger symptoms in people with alcohol intolerance. However, if you have alcohol intolerance, you must talk to your doctor about which alcohols are best for you to drink. This will allow for those with a sensitivity to histamines to make informed decisions about what wines they can safely drink. Furthermore, it is important for winemakers to be aware of their own practices and processes in order to avoid introducing too much histamine into the wine during production.
Can sneezing after drinking alcohol be a sign of an underlying medical condition?
As mentioned, a true allergy to alcohol is extremely rare, though cases of skin reactions have happened. Excessive acetaldehyde can lead to sickness, an irregular heartbeat and sneezing when drinking the aforementioned facial flushing. Alcohol intolerance can also cause a rapid onset of a throbbing headache or migraine. Nausea and vomiting are common, with severe abdominal cramping and retching occurring soon after drinking.
The Congestion Connection
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. Alcoholic drinks have a natural vasodilatory effect which expands blood vessels.
Ultimately, each person’s reaction to alcohol can vary, so understanding your body’s unique response is key. When you take a sip of alcohol, your body triggers a reaction in which your blood vessels widen and blood flow increases. This increased sensitivity can lead to a sneeze reflex being triggered, causing you to sneeze.
This is especially evident on the surface of the skin and is why people tend to get more flushed or red when they drink alcohol. An alcohol allergy is when your body reacts to alcohol as if it’s a harmful intruder and makes antibodies that try to fight it off. Alcohol allergies are rare, but if you do have one, it doesn’t take much to trigger a reaction.
- Additionally, adding foods with anti-inflammatory properties to your diet can help reduce any irritation caused by red wine consumption.
- While further research is needed to fully understand the genetic factors involved, studies have suggested a possible link between certain genes and alcohol-induced sneezing.
- The bad news is that you can’t really do much about it, or that unwelcome nasal congestion that comes along with it, aside from just not drinking alcohol.
- In extreme cases, symptoms such as difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis have been reported.
Microplastics in Alcohol: A Hidden Risk for ALDH2 Deficient Drinkers
While not a true allergy, these reactions can be uncomfortable and even dangerous in extreme cases. People who drink red wine may be more prone to dehydration than those who don’t, as alcoholic drinks can increase the body’s need for fluids. Therefore, it is important to stay hydrated when drinking alcohol by having a glass of water between drinks and avoiding caffeine or carbonated beverages.
Red Wine, Beer, And Whiskey: Common Allergens In Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol consumption may also stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face to the brain. This stimulation could lead to sneezing, particularly in individuals who have a hypersensitive trigeminal nerve. If sneezing impacts your quality of life, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce or eliminate the problem.
Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition that makes them more prone to sneezing after consuming alcohol. While further research is needed to fully understand the genetic factors involved, studies have suggested a possible link between certain genes and alcohol-induced sneezing. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that alcohol-induced sneezing is inherited. It appears to be a unique reaction experienced by individuals based on their own sensitivities. However, if you notice an escalation in symptoms or the development of new respiratory issues, it is advisable to consult a medical professional.
Drinking a large amount of alcohol is more likely to cause withdrawal effects. The effects can vary among individuals, as some people metabolize the byproducts of alcohol more efficiently than others. A combination of the toxic effects of alcohol and the withdrawal from the effects of alcohol causes a hangover. This swelling occurs in the nose and causes the lining of the nose and turbinates (filters of the nose) to swell up. When we think about alcohol tolerance, we often think of the number of drinks a person can handle before getting giggly or slurring words. But, if your nose is all stuffed up or runny after just a few sips of wine, this process probably isn’t proceeding as smoothly for you as it does for other people.
What causes the sneezing reflex after consuming alcohol?
In some cases, reactions can be triggered by a true allergy to a grain such as corn, wheat or rye or to another substance in alcoholic beverages. Alcohol intolerance is caused by a genetic condition in which the body can’t break down alcohol efficiently. In response to this, many countries have recommended maximum histamine levels for wines, ranging from 2 mg/L in Germany to 10 mg/L in Austria. However, studies have found that a large percentage of red and white wines exceed these recommendations. Most wines don’t state their histamine content on the label, which can make it difficult to know what you’re choosing.
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. Alcohol intolerance can cause immediate, uncomfortable reactions after you drink alcohol.