Why Alcohol Causes Sinus Congestion

Angelo Vertti, 5 de setembro de 2023

nasal congestion from alcohol

The most common type of allergy testing is the skin prick test. During a skin prick test, your doctor will use a lancet to prick or scratch your skin. They will apply a drop of allergen extract to the pricked or scratched area. Your skin’s reaction can help them learn if you have an allergy. Some people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma experience pain after drinking alcohol. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that can affect your lymphatic system.

nasal congestion from alcohol

Related Conditions

This dilation can temporarily open up the airways and alleviate congestion. However, this effect is short-lived and does not address the underlying cause of congestion. You’ve probably noticed that drinking often makes you feel warm. This occurs because alcohol triggers expansion of the blood vessels near you — body surfaces — including the lining of you nose and sinuses. This extra blood flow can lead to temporary swelling and increased mucus production, potentially provoking nasal and sinus congestion. Firstly, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that alcohol can directly alleviate nasal or chest nasal congestion from alcohol congestion.

nasal congestion from alcohol

Possible effect of the ingestion of alcohol on allergic rhinitis

  • Your body primarily breaks down alcohol in two steps, each dependent on a separate enzyme.
  • Multiple mechanisms may be responsible for this effect, including the release of inflammatory cytokines, which may be beneficial for fighting infections in the short term.
  • While some foods are broken down in the intestines, others are digested in the stomach.
  • 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.

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. Interestingly, several studies found that persons who have nasal symptoms from alcohol also have similar symptoms to other things, such as hot or spicy food and strong-smelling scents. Drinking alcohol can trigger a sore throat due to its dehydrating effects and tendency to cause inflammation, leading to dryness and irritation of the throat tissues.

  • People with this gene deficiency suffer two-fold from allergic symptoms to alcohol.
  • However, some people do experience true allergic reactions after drinking alcoholic beverages.
  • In some cases, over-the-counter or prescribed medications might help alleviate symptoms.
  • You’ve probably noticed that drinking often makes you feel warm.

Can alcohol intolerance develop suddenly?

While it may be tempting to turn to alcohol as a quick fix for congestion, it’s important to weigh the potential risks and side effects. A few studies conducted in Europe and Australia have looked at what percentage of people have alcohol-induced nasal symptoms. They found that 3.4% to 7.6% of persons of European descent report symptoms. About twice as many women as men report symptoms from consuming alcohol. While all alcoholic beverages can trigger symptoms, people report that red wine causes the most symptoms.

nasal congestion from alcohol

Even a small amount of alcohol can trigger a severe reaction. Read the ingredient lists of foods and drinks, ask restaurant staff for information about menu items, and avoid products that contain alcohol. In some cases, alcohol can have an impact on nasal health without having an impact on enzymes or immune receptors. Alcohol acts as a diuretic that releases excess water in the body.

Why Do You Get a Headache After Drinking Alcohol?

Nasal congestion is a common symptom in rhinitis (both allergic and nonallergic), rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. Congestion can also be caused by physical obstruction of nasal passages and/or modulation of sensory perception. Mucosal inflammation underlies many of the specific and interrelated factors that contribute to nasal congestion, as well as other symptoms of both allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. Increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying inflammation can facilitate improved treatment selection and the development of new therapies for congestion. In conclusion, while alcohol may provide temporary relief from congestion caused by a common cold or other respiratory infections, it is not a recommended or sustainable solution.

nasal congestion from alcohol

Nonetheless, it does modify the behavior of the individual and can result in physical harm to the nasal passages if the medication is misused. Alcohol can also weaken the immune system, making a person more susceptible to viral or bacterial infections. Treating a sore throat from drinking involves several approaches to ease discomfort and promote healing. Home remedies to help relieve an alcohol-induced sore throat include herbal teas, gargling with warm salt water, and using a humidifier. A small 2022 study tested the effects of alcohol on airflow through the nose.

  • “Alcohol can also cause your blood pressure to go up and down by constricting and dilating blood vessels, which can worsen allergic reactions,” Parikh says.
  • Treating a sore throat from drinking involves several approaches to ease discomfort and promote healing.
  • Ok, so now that we’ve answered the question – why does my nose get stuffy when I drink?

After alcohol is consumed, chemical reactions begin happening in the body. One of these reactions triggers swelling of the blood vessels which results in a flushed face. This can also cause swelling in the sinuses which irritates the cilia, small hairlike structures that protect the nasal passages from debris, and cause congestion.

nasal congestion from alcohol

Additionally, Parikh says alcohol with a high sugar content can make allergy symptoms worse, since sugar is inflammatory. High sugar content isn’t just limited to mixed drinks; wine can also contain more sugar than you may expect. Some mass-produced red wines can contain as much as 12 grams of residual sugar — the sugar that doesn’t ferment into alcohol — per liter. The best way to manage a beer sensitivity or allergy is to avoid drinking beer or choose beers that do not have the ingredient (like gluten) that are causing your symptoms. Symptoms of an allergy or intolerance to beer may occur because you have a sensitivity to an ingredient in beer.