Why You Get Stuffy Nose After Drinking Alcohol and How to Stop It

If you have ever felt nauseous or had a headache after drinking wine, there is a chance that you are sensitive to sulfites. It is essential to talk with your doctor if you think you may be sulfite sensitive. Additionally, some people may experience swelling of the lips, tongue and throat. Besides wines, fruits like bananas, kiwi, melons, and https://www.emmausproperties.co.ke/how-to-taper-off-alcohol-a-safe-step-by-step-guide/ grapes can also contain sulfites, though in much smaller amounts. It is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms after drinking wine.

• This can exacerbate allergic reactions, making symptoms like congestion, sneezing, and itching more pronounced.
• Consulting a doctor is especially important to rule out other conditions or to discuss potential sensitivities to specific ingredients like sulfites or hops.
• When you drink, alcohol inhibits diamine oxidase (DAO), the primary enzyme responsible for breaking down histamine in the gut.
• Consuming food before drinking and staying well-hydrated with water can slow the rate of alcohol absorption and metabolism, reducing the rapid vasodilation effect.
• In fact, chronic alcohol use depletes B vitamins (B6, B12, folate) essential for DAO synthesis and damages gut lining—potentially worsening histamine intolerance over time.

Skin Rash/Itchy Skin

Sneezing immediately after a sip of wine, beer, or spirits surprises many—and often puzzles them. It’s not a reflex tied to nasal irritation from vapors or temperature shifts. Instead, it’s a physiological response rooted in biochemistry, immune signaling, and individual genetic variation. It may also interact negatively with allergy medications, causing drowsiness, dizziness, or more serious side effects.

• These foods can help your body break down the histamines more effectively, reducing the potential for an allergic reaction.
• At first, it might not bother you much, but the mucus in your nose can thicken, causing more problems.
• Identifying specific triggers and making informed choices can contribute to a more pleasant and symptom-free experience.

Causes of Stuffy Nose on Drinking Alcohol & Ways to Get Rid of it?

Allergic rhinitis, a common condition characterized by symptoms like sneezing, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes, can be aggravated by alcohol. Alcohol increases blood flow to the linings of your nose and can cause nasal congestion, a key symptom of allergic rhinitis. This can escalate the severity of symptoms, especially at night when many people find their allergies worsen. Alcohol can affect the body in several ways that lead to sneezing and nasal irritation.

What drinks make allergies worse?

If you suspect that your sneezing is triggered by alcohol, try observing whether it occurs consistently after drinking alcohol and if other allergic symptoms are present. Consulting with an allergist can help differentiate between alcohol-induced sneezing and allergic rhinitis. Alcohol is a common trigger for sneezing in some people, and the reasons behind this reaction can vary. While sneezing after consuming alcohol is not typically a serious issue, understanding the underlying causes can help shed light on why it happens.

The Physiology Behind Alcohol-Induced Sneezing

They will be sneezing when drinking alcohol able to provide the best advice for treating any underlying medical condition. It is important to be aware of any symptoms you may experience after consuming alcohol. While it can sometimes be harmless, there are times when the underlying cause could be more serious. In particular, if you have developed an intolerance or allergy to wine, then this could lead to more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis.

White wine has been around for centuries and is enjoyed by many people worldwide. It is typically lighter and sweeter than red wine, but some may find that it can cause sneezing or other irritation. Researchers believe that this could be due to the sulfites used in producing white wine, as well as the histamines found in white grapes. For many people, more than 2 ounces of alcohol can lead to triggering allergies which is also termed as alcohol allergy. This can again make your nose get stuffy when you drink alcohol with some complaints, which may need medical treatment. You Substance abuse may get stuffy nose owing to the presence of some preservatives in alcohol.