Surprising Side Effects of Alcohol

In addition to alcohol intolerance, some people may also have a true allergy to specific ingredients in beer, such as grains, preservatives, or chemicals. These allergies can be more severe and potentially life-threatening, requiring emergency treatment. Common allergens in beer include histamine, which is produced during fermentation, and sulfites, which are preservatives. But most symptoms are more commonly from the food sensitivity or intolerance category.

Histamines

Simply avoid alcohol, limit how much you drink or avoid certain types of alcoholic beverages. Combining alcohol with certain medications also can cause reactions. For many people, wine is the drink that causes them to sneeze. This is likely because wine contains histamines, which trigger allergies. If you’re allergic to wine, you may notice that you sneeze more after drinking it. Sulfites are commonly found in beer, brown liquor, and cider.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

While true allergies are uncommon, it is more likely that you are allergic to one of these specific ingredients. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms after drinking beer, it is recommended to consult a doctor Substance abuse or medical professional. They can help identify the specific cause of your reaction and provide guidance on managing your condition. When it comes to beer, people with sensitivities will typically experience a combination of symptoms. After drinking beer, they may experience a combination of hives, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, wheezing and abdominal pain. If you experience a mild allergic reaction, over-the-counter oral antihistamines may be enough to treat it.

Health Conditions

This can happen because alcohol dilates blood vessels, making skin appear more flushed. It can also happen in people who have a genetic defect in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene. People with this defect aren’t able to metabolize alcohol as quickly as others, which leads to a buildup of a compound called acetaldehyde that is known to cause skin flushing. First, some people have lower levels of the enzymes the body needs to break alcohol (ethanol) into metabolites that it can process and excrete. When byproducts of alcohol don’t get broken down quickly enough, they accumulate to levels high enough to cause a mild allergic reaction. If you develop symptoms after drinking alcohol, make an appointment with your doctor.

How can you treat alcohol allergy?

In contrast, an alcohol allergy could become life threatening. If people experience symptoms after drinking alcohol, they should speak with a doctor for further advice. An sneezing when drinking beer allergic reaction might not occur the first time a person encounters an allergen. However, they can come on suddenly, and a person could develop an alcohol allergy at any point in their life. Symptoms are more likely to be a reaction to the ingredients in a drink, or the alcohol causing other types of allergies to worsen. For example, alcohol may exacerbate preexisting asthma conditions.