Why Do I Sneeze When I Drink Alcohol?

sneezing after drinking wine

The type of wine you drink, how fast you drink it, and the effect you expect from your vino are just some of the things that influence how you ~think~ wine makes you feel. In the end — or rather, in the body — intoxication works the same way whether you’re sipping wine, cocktails, or beer. Some people sneeze after eating, but doctors still aren’t completely sure why. Gustatory rhinitis and snatiation seem to be common causes, but both are still poorly understood. When you’re allergic to something — such as pollen — your immune system creates a protective response. Nearly 1.2 percent of adults in the United States are allergic to wheat.

  • Finally, acetate is further broken down into water and carbon dioxide and, voila!
  • While the effects of wine on health are frequently reported, allergy or intolerance to wine has not been as closely studied.
  • They’re found in higher concentrations in darker drinks, including red wine.
  • In either case, the result is less acetaldehyde being broken down into acetate.
  • Alcohol also can cause a histamine reaction (allergic reaction) in the nose which can cause congestion or a runny nose.

Skin flushing

sneezing after drinking wine

The English investigators suspect polyphenols to be responsible for the migraine attacks. Red wine can contain more than 1 g/l (mainly flavonoids like catechins and anthocyanins), while white wine usually does not contain more than 250 mg/l. This theory is corroborated by the observation that, in addition to red wine, mainly chocolate is indicated to trigger migraine attacks.

Intolerance reactions to ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid

Intolerance reactions (pseudoallergies) are more frequent (see below) [29, 30, 31, 32]. However, some people do experience true allergic reactions after drinking alcoholic beverages. In this case, the ethanol isn’t the culprit, but rather another ingredient in your beverage, such as a fermented grain, preservative sneezing after drinking wine or other chemical. Like meat, seafood, cheese, bread and vegetables, wine does contain low levels of histamines, with red wines containing more than white wines. If you have symptoms after drinking beer, but not after drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages, it’s not alcohol intolerance.

Drinks That Are Most Likely To Make You Sneeze

This is likely because wine contains histamines, which trigger allergies. If you’re allergic to wine, you may notice that you sneeze more after drinking it. Congeners are chemical byproducts of the fermentation process that give wine and other alcoholic drinks their flavor. They’re found in higher concentrations in darker drinks, including red wine.

  • Researchers are exploring the complex relationship between alcohol and allergic reactions.
  • 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.
  • Through this, wine can resist various storage, transport, and temperature conditions and still remains stable and durable for a long time afterwards.

When to see a doctor

How to tell if you are allergic to alcohol itself

sneezing after drinking wine

Alcohol Allergies

sneezing after drinking wine

Diagnosing a wine allergy