It’s also found in many foods and beverages, especially fermented products. For example, aged cheese, smoked meats, sauerkraut, wine, and beer tend to be high in histamines. Some medications can stop your ALDH enzymes from working as well as they normally do. If you drink alcohol while taking these medications, you can experience alcohol intolerance. So, people are typically born with a tendency for alcohol intolerance, which also runs in groups of people who are more closely genetically related.
Can You Mix Trazodone and Alcohol? Plus, 3 More FAQs About This Risky Combination
Normally your body produces an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO) to break histamine down. If your body doesn’t produce enough active DAO, you may react to histamine in foods and beverages. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is an enzyme that your body uses to digest why does alcohol make you sneeze alcohol. It turns alcohol into acetic acid, a main component of vinegar, in your liver. Some people have a variant in the gene that codes for ALDH2. Alcohol-induced respiratory symptoms are common in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.
Health Categories to Explore
But most symptoms are more commonly from the food sensitivity or intolerance category. In this article, we’ll explore why drinking alcohol commonly leads to a stuffed up nose for so many people. More importantly, you’ll discover actionable ways to stop alcohol from inflaming nasal passages so you can avoid the dreaded stuffy nose hangover.
- This can lead to sneezing as well as a runny or stuffy nose.
- You care about your loved ones, but you can’t imagine your life without alcohol.
- If you notice that you sneeze more after large meals, try eating smaller meals or eating slowly.
- Your body creates antibodies to fight the allergen the way it would a pathogen.
- You can’t control when a sneeze happens, and you should never try to hold one in.
- Read beverage labels to see whether they contain ingredients or additives you know cause a reaction, such as sulfites or certain grains.
Can alcohol intolerance cause sneezing?
People who have a true alcohol allergy should avoid drinking alcohol entirely. It’s possible to be allergic to alcohol, but it’s not very common. Most people who think they have an alcohol allergy actually have an alcohol intolerance (also called acute alcohol sensitivity). It’s normal to get sick or experience unpleasant symptoms after drinking too much alcohol. But if you experience odd reactions to alcohol after just a drink or two, your body may be intolerant.
Signs You May Have a Drinking Problem
- If you have alcohol intolerance, your digestive system doesn’t process alcohol properly.
- Closing your eyes when you sneeze is an automatic reflex reaction.
- This will help reduce your nose’s contact with the drink and make it less likely to trigger a sneeze.
- Alcohol intolerance means it’s difficult for your body to break down (metabolize) alcohol.
Why Do I Sneeze When I Drink Alcohol?
Alcohol Allergies
