However, alcohol can also have effects with which many people may not be familiar. This dilation occurs first in the brain, so you may feel flushed or warm after only a few sips of alcohol. The dilation then extends to blood vessels throughout your body, including those in your nose.

If this sound like you or someone you know, be sure to be mindful of foods like aged cheese, bread, and other fermented products like cider that can contain histamines as well. Beer, brown liquor, and cider contain the highest levels of sulfites among alcoholic beverages. Sulfites are also found in wine, where they why does alcohol make you sneeze occur naturally as a result of the fermentation process. Beer contains many ingredients, including water, malt barley, brewer’s yeast, hops, and assorted flavorings.

Can sneezing after drinking alcohol be a sign of an underlying medical condition?

Of course, digestive trouble is a leading symptom of many health conditions, so you’ll want to consult your doc before diagnosing yourself with, say, a tequila allergy. But, if it happens after drinking, without any other weird lifestyle or dietary changes, there’s a high probability that the symptoms are linked to those wine spritzers. You’ll have those same symptoms and a more intense reaction, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, low blood pressure, and heart palpitations, he says. If people experience symptoms after drinking alcohol, they should speak with a doctor for further advice. An alcohol intolerance, or ingredients like histamines in alcohol cause an allergy-like reaction in drinkers, swelling the the mucosal membranes in the nasal passages and airways. Avoiding problematic ingredients or taking a supplement to reduce acetaldehyde buildup and intolerance symptoms can help prevent nasal congestion from drinking.

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

• Simply avoid alcohol, limit how much you drink or avoid certain types of alcoholic beverages.
• You had a long week, and you opened that bottle of wine to help you relax — but instead you wound up with a stuffy nose you now have to deal with.
• An alcohol allergy is when your body reacts to alcohol as if it’s a harmful intruder and makes antibodies that try to fight it off.
• For instance, our body will release melatonin during the hours of darkness to help us feel tired – and stay asleep throughout the night.
• The blood vessels around your nasal cavity can expand, making it a bit more difficult to breathe normally.
• One study found that, six months after participating in Dry January, 40 percent of participants reported drinking less often and having fewer drinks, whereas 10 percent reported the opposite.

The most commonly proposed explanations include congestion, allergies, nerve stimulation, and genetic factors. If this phenomenon causes significant distress or worsens over time, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying issues. Histamine intolerance or sensitivity can make it difficult for the body to metabolize the histamines found in beer. As a result, the histamines can accumulate and trigger allergic symptoms. Additionally, people with alcohol intolerance, a genetic condition affecting the body’s ability to break down alcohol, may experience sneezing and nasal congestion after drinking beer. This is due to the accumulation of byproducts that trigger a mild allergic reaction.

• This is why people who drink alcohol at bedtime (especially in excess) may fall asleep quickly, but they are also more likely to experience fatigue and insomnia in the long run.
• Another theory suggests that alcohol may stimulate the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as chewing.
• On the other hand, drinking in moderation (about one drink per day for women and two for men, respectively) poses a small risk for the average person, Rimm says.
• Histamine intolerance or sensitivity can make it difficult for the body to metabolize the histamines found in beer.
• If sneezing persists or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, consult a healthcare provider.
• If beer seems to be the issue, it’s probably the yeast, says Dr. Glatter.

Signs You Might Be Allergic to Alcohol

The third type of headache caused by alcohol is a “Delayed Alcohol-Induced Headache” (“DAIH”). These headaches usually occur hours after a patient has stopped drinking, as their blood alcohol level returns to zero. While the cause of DAIH is unknown, researchers believe they are related to a drop in a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which regulates the body’s central pain control. When serotonin levels drop, pain signals are dysregulated, and people are more likely to experience painful conditions like headaches.

Sulfites in beer

If you have an intolerance or sensitivity to any of these ingredients, you’ll likely react to drinking beer. First, alcohol increases the action of a chemical messenger in the brain called GABA. This has a sedative effect, thought to contribute to the sleepy feeling many people experience when drinking alcohol. Alcohol may also increase levels of adenosine, a chemical messenger that is important for sleepiness. Preliminary research supports Dry January’s benefits, from helping reduce people’s blood pressure, weight and insulin resistance to prompting them to reconsider their long-term relationship with alcohol.

It can also make you wake up more often or lead to lighter sleep in the latter part of the night. This is significant, as REM sleep – sometimes called “dreaming sleep” – is thought to be important for memory and regulating emotions. More than 30% of alcohol-related deaths recorded in the U.S. from 2020 to 2021 were due to acute issues including accidents and injuries. Drinking alcohol seems to change the way the body metabolizes estrogen, leading to higher levels of the hormone. This may translate to an increased risk of estrogen-related breast cancers. Researchers are still learning about exactly how alcohol affects hormones, according to the recent Surgeon General report.

Histamine intolerance can be managed by taking antihistamines, which help the body process the excess histamine. However, it is important to choose non-drowsy antihistamines, especially if planning to continue daily activities. Additionally, it is advisable to refrain from further alcohol consumption for the day to prevent exacerbating symptoms. Benadryl (diphenhydramine), a commonly used antihistamine, should be avoided due to its sedative effects, which can increase drowsiness and impair cognitive functions when combined with alcohol. In some cases, alcohol consumption can exacerbate seasonal allergies and trigger symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, or runny nose in individuals with allergies. Avoiding alcohol during allergy season may help alleviate these symptoms.