Allergy to alcohol in adults
Although rare, doctors register an allergy to alcohol in adults, and it is often not ethyl alcohol itself that is to blame, but certain impurities or compounds that are present in a particular drink. In this case, alcohol will have to be abandoned.

Hangover symptoms may be perceived as the inevitable retribution for a wild party, but they may actually be the result of an allergic reaction to the alcohol’s ingredients. So how do you know if you’re really allergic to alcohol, or if you’re just suffering from a normal hangover?

The morning after a party with alcohol, even if only a little, can be very painful. The person may have had too much to drink and is now suffering from a morning hangover, but they may also be allergic to alcohol. Not everyone has ever thought about such a possibility. Hangover symptoms may be perceived as the result of excessive drinking, but in fact, they may be the result of an allergic reaction to the ingredients of alcohol. By the way, an allergy to alcohol, although rare, can be fatal. However, more often than not, people experience symptoms of alcohol intolerance due to its various ingredients.

Can adults be allergic to alcohol?

By its nature, an allergy to alcohol is not a toxic, but an immune reaction to alcohol, more precisely to ethanol. Allergy to alcohol is quite rare, but can be deadly. The effect of alcohol on the body as an antidepressant for the central nervous system can hardly be called beneficial. In addition to the physical and mental disturbances, flushing of the skin, nausea, and headaches that are typical of the body’s reaction to drinking alcohol, similar symptoms lead many physicians to misdiagnose alcohol allergy rather than alcohol intolerance.

But what causes an alcohol allergy and how can it be distinguished from other reactions? People who are allergic to alcohol experience reactions as early as 1 milliliter of pure alcohol or a sip of wine or beer (about 10 milliliters). Why some people experience allergic reactions to alcohol when their bodies produce small amounts of alcohol naturally is still unknown to researchers. However, in some cases, severe reactions to alcohol are mistaken for allergies when the culprit is Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes.

Other foods that can cause an allergy to alcohol include:

  • pickles with alcohol or vinegar;
  • tomato puree;
  • overripe fruits that have undergone fermentation;
  • cough syrup;
  • mouthwash.

How does alcohol allergy manifest in adults?

It is possible to have an allergic reaction to alcoholic beverages, but the alcohol itself is not usually the cause of the reaction. Chances are, it’s the ingredients like sulfur dioxide, yeast, and additives that actually trigger the allergic reaction and make you feel bad.

Always check the label to determine if a component of alcohol is causing illness. However, be aware that some ingredients may not be listed.

Gluten or gluten. It is found in malted barley, which is used to make beer. Some beers also contain wheat. Common distilled (condensed and evaporated) drinks sometimes made from wheat, rye, and barley include vodka, whiskey, gin, and bourbon. As the consumption of gluten-free products has grown over the past 10 years, many manufacturers have begun to produce wheat and barley-free alcoholic beverages. Common gluten-free alcoholic beverages include cider, wine, sake, and most brandies.

Histamine. Histamine is produced by bacteria and yeast in alcohol and can cause an allergic reaction in some people. It is found in many alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, which is high in histamine.

Grape. Some grape proteins, although rare, can cause a reaction after drinking wine, champagne, armagnac, cognac, vermouth, port, pre-blended martinis, wine coolers, and some premium vodkas.

Yeast. Yeast can cause an allergic reaction, even if found in small amounts in alcoholic beverages. The type of yeast used to ferment alcoholic beverages is a single-celled fungus known as brewer’s yeast. Since allergies to yeast and distilled alcoholic beverages have been few, you should contact your allergist if you are allergic to yeast but still want to consume it.

Disintegrants. Used to remove small particles from wine. They may include egg, milk or fish proteins.

Sodium metabisulphite, known as additives 220 and 221, sulfur dioxide or sulfites. Sulfur dioxide or sulfites are naturally formed during the production of alcohol and can cause an allergic reaction when people consume alcohol. Wines and some home-brewed beers may contain sodium metabisulphite or sulfur dioxide. Ten percent of asthmatics react to sulfites in alcoholic beverages. In sensitive people, sulfites can cause asthma attacks or even anaphylactic shock. For this reason, many countries’ labeling laws require that any food or drink with a sulfite concentration greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) be labeled using the term “contains sulfites”.

Tree nuts. Some bourbons and whiskeys are fermented in oak (or other wood) casks, which can cause a reaction. Many distillates and extracts also contain nuts.

Alcohol allergy symptoms include:

  • rash;
  • labored breathing;
  • stomach pain or cramps;
  • anaphylaxis (including rapid, weak pulse and nausea).

Reactions to various ingredients in alcoholic beverages cause a variety of symptoms, including the following:

  • a person allergic to sulfites may develop hives or anaphylaxis;
  • a person with an allergy to histamines may experience swelling and nasal congestion;
  • high sulfate alcohol can increase asthma symptoms in people with asthma;
  • alcohol can increase the reaction to food allergies.

Other symptoms associated with the ingredients in alcoholic beverages may include:

  • headache;
  • nasal congestion, including a runny or stuffy nose;
  • nausea;
  • heartburn;
  • fast heartbeat.

The main difference between alcohol allergy and alcohol intolerance is the reaction that each causes. Allergy to alcohol is caused by the immune system, while intolerance is caused by a reaction of the digestive system. Typically, alcohol intolerance is a reaction to one of the ingredients in alcohol, and not necessarily to ethanol itself. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:

  • redness, blueness of the face;
  • urticaria;
  • headache;
  • increased heart rate;
  • low blood pressure
  • runny or stuffy nose;
  • nausea or vomiting;
  • diarrhea;
  • exacerbation of asthma.

People of Asian descent are more likely to experience symptoms of alcohol intolerance due to a specific genetic variant resulting from the domestication of rice in southern China centuries ago. An enzyme known as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is responsible for converting ethanol to acetic acid (the main compound in vinegar) in the liver. People of Asian descent may have a less active ALDH2 variant, which makes it harder to properly digest alcohol. ALDH2 deficiency is known to be a common cause of alcohol intolerance.

How to treat an allergy to alcohol in adults

Doctors can diagnose allergies based on the production of antibodies. Antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) cause an allergic reaction in the body, accompanied by the general symptoms of an allergic reaction. In addition, skin and blood tests measure the response of the immune system to certain substances.

Diagnostics

People with a true alcohol allergy may have symptoms of stomach cramps, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and shortness of breath even when drinking small amounts of alcohol.

People who believe they have had a reaction to alcohol should see an allergist immediately and be tested for allergies to ingredients in alcohol.

Modern treatments

Just as there is no real cure for pollen or food allergies, there is no cure for alcohol allergies. In fact, alcohol allergy treatment will focus primarily on any existing symptoms (i.e. relief of rashes with a topical cream). In addition, a person must completely avoid alcohol in order not to suffer from the symptoms of an allergic reaction and the possible threat of death.

For those who are allergic to a particular alcohol ingredient, switching to another drink may help. For example, potato vodka is the most hypoallergenic alcohol. Antihistamines may also be helpful in managing minor allergy symptoms in some people. Some unfortunate people will have to give up alcohol indefinitely. However, there is only one way to know for sure – to visit a local allergist and get tested.

Prevention of allergy to alcohol in adults at home

The basis for the prevention of allergies to alcohol is the complete rejection of strong drinks.

Popular questions and answers

What alcohol causes allergies?
The composition of the alcoholic drink includes ethyl alcohol and other components of the drink (herbs, preservatives, dyes, salicylates, histamine, sulfur dioxide, sulfites, hops, yeast, wheat, apples, fruits, etc.).

A true allergic reaction to ethyl alcohol practically does not occur, but a reaction to other components of an alcoholic beverage is a common thing, and is associated both with a true allergy (for example, with pollen sensitization, patients react to vermouth, liqueurs), and with food intolerance to histamine and others. preservatives in drinks.

Can there be complications with an allergy to alcohol?
Actually, any alcoholic drink can potentially cause allergic reactions: nasal congestion, itchy eyes, sneezing, watery eyes, hives, coughing, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of the face, tongue, larynx, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, up to Until loss of consciousness. Moreover, the dose that can cause symptoms will depend both on the characteristics of the patient and on the drink itself, that is, in the same patient, beer from different manufacturers will cause different reactions.

Usually, allergic patients always discuss the use of alcoholic products with an allergist, and there are no single, unique, suitable recommendations for everyone. It all depends on the type of allergy the patient has and the quality of the product.

Is it dangerous to take alcohol medications if you are allergic to alcohol?
Recently, it has been found that the breakdown products of ethanol (acetaldehyde and acetic acid) also give positive allergological tests. Sensitization to acetic acid can lead to hives after drinking alcohol. In the presence of such sensitization (though extremely rare), it is not recommended to use alcohol-based drugs.

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