Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Nasal Congestion? HowStuffWorks
When you drink whiskey, the ethanol in the spirit irritates your nose and throat, which causes you to sneeze. If you are someone who often drinks whiskey and find that you frequently sneeze, there is no need to worry. However, if you find that you are sneezing more than usual after drinking whiskey, it is best to see a doctor to rule out any other potential causes.
- Read beverage labels to see whether they contain ingredients or additives you know cause a reaction, such as sulfites or certain grains.
- For example, aged cheese, smoked meats, sauerkraut, wine, and beer tend to be high in histamines.
- Some experts suggest that the reaction may be more related to the type of beer and its hops content than to the alcohol content.
Others are more sensitive to histimines, which are found in some whiskeys. Still, others may have an allergy to wheat or barley, which are common ingredients in whiskey. In general, it’s just a matter of individual anatomy and physiology. So, if you’re the type that sneezes when you drink whiskey, there’s not much you can do about it except maybe switch to vodka.
How do you know if you’re allergic to whiskey?
Sneezing after drinking beer is an interesting phenomenon that has sparked a lot of debate. Some experts suggest that the reaction may be more related to the type of beer and its hops content than to the alcohol content. If you find that drinking beer makes you sneeze, there are several things you can do to help alcohol and sneezing prevent this from happening. First, try different types of beer to see if some brands don’t make your nose tickle as much. Additionally, it might be a good idea to drink the beer more slowly and not in one quick gulp. Filtration of wine is an important process in the production of a good quality beverage.
- Wine makers must carefully balance the use of sulfates with the acidity levels to create a pleasant flavor profile without compromising its shelf life.
- With alcohol out of the equation, though, these chemicals cause withdrawal symptoms.
- If you find that certain foods make you sneeze, such as strawberries or shellfish, try avoiding them before you drink.
- If someone has a true allergy to alcohol, they should avoid the substance entirely.
If your sneezing becomes a problem, try keeping a food diary and noting which foods make you sneeze. Avoiding those foods can help you avoid sneezing after eating in the future. Rhinitis is the medical term for inflammation of the mucus membrane in your nose. This inflammation leads to sneezing, stuffiness, and a runny nose.
Beer Vs Wine: Which is the Healthiest?
Signs of an allergic reaction may include nausea, vomiting, hives, and itching. « Reactions to alcohol are unlikely to be caused by a ‘true’ allergy, » explains Holly Shaw, Nurse Advisor at Allergy UK. An allergic reaction to food usually happens within a couple of hours. A food allergy is your immune system’s response to a food protein that the body sees as harmful. Allergic reactions that involve hives, wheezing, and chest pain can occur almost immediately. They should be considered severe and potentially life-threatening.
