Alcohol Intolerance

Your body might react badly to alcohol, causing uncomfortable symptoms right after you drink it. Common reactions include a stuffy nose and your skin turning red (flushing).

This reaction, sometimes called alcohol intolerance, happens because your body has trouble breaking down alcohol. This is often due to a genetic difference. The best way to avoid these reactions is to not drink alcohol.

While it's not a true allergy, sometimes what feels like alcohol intolerance might actually be a reaction to something in the alcoholic drink itself. This could be things like chemicals, grains, or preservatives. Mixing alcohol with certain medicines can also cause problems.

Some people react badly to alcohol, sometimes even to ingredients in alcoholic drinks. These reactions are called alcohol intolerance. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Flushing: Your face turns red. This is a common reaction.
• Hives: Red, itchy bumps appear on your skin. They might be small or large, and can be uncomfortable.
• Asthma Problems: If you already have asthma, drinking alcohol might make your asthma worse. This could mean you have more trouble breathing.
• Congestion: Your nose might run or get stuffy. This is similar to having a cold.
• Low Blood Pressure: Your blood pressure could drop. This can sometimes feel lightheaded or dizzy.
• Upset Stomach: You might feel sick to your stomach (nausea) and throw up (vomit). This is a fairly common reaction.
• Diarrhea: Loose or watery bowel movements might happen.

If you experience any of these reactions after drinking alcohol, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor. They can help determine the cause and suggest ways to manage these reactions.

Some people might have a mild reaction to alcohol or ingredients in alcoholic drinks. This might mean just avoiding alcohol altogether, drinking less, or choosing different types of alcohol.

But, if you have a strong reaction, like a bad headache or other serious discomfort, or if your symptoms seem connected to a medicine you're taking, or if you think you might have an allergy, you should see a doctor right away. It's important to get professional medical advice for any significant or unusual reaction to alcohol.

Some people have trouble digesting alcohol because their bodies don't have the right tools to break down the harmful substances in it. This is often linked to a person's genes, and is more common in people of Asian descent.

Besides the alcohol itself, other things in alcoholic drinks, particularly beer and wine, can also cause problems. These include:

• Preservatives: Substances like sulfites are used to keep drinks fresh.
• Ingredients: Different types of grains, chemicals, or other ingredients used in making the beverage can trigger reactions.
• Histamine: This is a substance that's created when drinks are fermented or brewed.

Sometimes, a person might be truly allergic to a grain like corn, wheat, or rye, or to another ingredient in the alcohol. This is a different kind of reaction than a simple intolerance.

In very rare cases, intense pain after drinking could be a sign of a more serious health issue, like Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's important to talk to a doctor if you experience unusual or severe reactions to alcohol.

Some people react differently to alcohol than others. There are certain factors that increase the chance of having a negative reaction to alcoholic drinks, or even alcohol intolerance. These factors include:

• Asian ancestry: People of Asian descent, particularly those of East Asian, Southeast Asian, and some South Asian heritage, often have a genetic variation that affects how their bodies process alcohol. This can lead to a faster build-up of acetaldehyde, a chemical your body creates when breaking down alcohol. This build-up can cause unpleasant side effects like flushing, headaches, nausea, and rapid heartbeat.

• Asthma or hay fever (allergic rhinitis): If you have asthma or hay fever, you might be more prone to allergic reactions to alcohol, even if you don't have a known allergy to alcohol itself. This is because the immune system's sensitivity to allergens can sometimes extend to other substances.

• Food allergies: If you have an allergy to grains (like wheat, barley, or rye) or other foods, there's a possibility that you could have a reaction to alcohol, especially if the alcohol is made with those ingredients or processed in a way that involves those ingredients. The proteins in these foods can trigger allergic responses, and alcohol sometimes interacts with these proteins.

• Hodgkin's lymphoma: People with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, might experience reactions to alcohol due to the effects of the disease itself or treatments for the disease. The specific reason for these reactions is not fully understood in this context.

Important Note: If you suspect you have a reaction to alcohol, it's crucial to talk to a doctor. They can help determine the cause and recommend the best course of action. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Alcohol can sometimes cause problems for people who are sensitive to it. These problems, which are called complications, vary depending on what's causing the reaction.

Some people experience migraines after drinking alcohol. This might happen because certain drinks contain substances called histamines. Histamines are also released by your body's immune system when it reacts to something it doesn't recognize, like in an allergic reaction.

In very uncommon situations, alcohol can trigger a serious allergic reaction. This serious reaction, known as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical help.

Alcohol and its ingredients can sometimes cause problems for some people. There's no way to stop these reactions from happening. If you have a reaction to alcohol or something in it, the best thing to do is to avoid that alcohol or the specific ingredient that's causing the problem.

To help you avoid problematic ingredients, carefully read the labels on alcoholic drinks. Look for ingredients or additives you know trigger a reaction, like sulfites or certain types of grains. It's important to remember that not all ingredients are always listed on the labels. Some ingredients might not be required to be listed.

Your doctor might order some tests to figure out what's causing your reaction to alcoholic beverages. Besides a physical exam, these are common tests:

• Skin prick test. This test helps identify if you're allergic to something in the drink, like the grains in beer. A tiny amount of the suspected allergen is placed on your skin, and the skin is gently pricked. If you're allergic, a raised, red bump will appear at the spot where the allergen touched your skin. This is similar to how allergy tests for pollen or other substances work.

• Blood test. Your doctor might also order a blood test. This test looks for a type of antibody in your blood called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Higher-than-normal levels of IgE can suggest an allergy. A blood sample is sent to a lab. The lab checks the sample for reactions to different substances, including those often found in alcoholic beverages. Important to note, blood tests aren't always perfect at pinpointing the exact cause of an allergic reaction. Sometimes they can be a bit confusing.

If you're sensitive to alcohol or certain drinks, the best way to prevent problems is to stay away from them. If you do have a mild reaction, like itching or a rash, over-the-counter allergy medicine or something prescribed by a doctor might help ease the symptoms. Essentially, the only way to prevent these reactions is to avoid the specific substances causing them.