Living with Alcohol Intolerance & Allergies

Some people refer to alcohol intolerance as an alcohol allergy. This is not accurate, but the symptoms of intolerance may mimic an allergic reaction. Alcohol intolerance is a real condition, but it can sometimes be confused with other related conditions, such as allergies or drug interactions with alcohol. Having an alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition that means your body cannot process alcohol correctly.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance?

Alcohol intolerances are usually genetic but may also occur without a known cause. In addition, older adults also experience a change in their renal function and balance of water and sodium, which raises their risk of dehydration. This suggests that if they drink alcohol, they may become dehydrated quicker and feel the effects more. There is little evidence that distilled spirits made from corn, including bourbon, pose a risk to people with corn allergies or intolerance. Even so, if you have a severe corn allergy, you may want to avoid corn-based spirits, most especially bourbon.

Treatment

If you have an alcohol allergy, you can develop an itchy rash, swelling, nausea, and even breathing trouble. Anaphylaxis is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause dangerously low blood pressure and problems breathing. If you have a severe reaction and carry an EpiPen (epinephrine), use it and call 911. There are several companies that offer alcohol intolerance tests, either as a single test or as part of a broader genetic test. If a person chooses to confirm their diagnosis via genetic testing, they can go through the healthcare system or order an at-home test.

Do I Need Medical Attention for Alcohol Intolerance?

While organic wines cannot add sulfites to their products by law, some contain enough natural sulfites to trigger a reaction in sensitive people. Archstone Behavioral Health Addiction Treatment Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive and effective residential treatment for individuals seeking recovery from addiction. We recognize the profound significance of residential treatment in the journey toward long-term sobriety and overall well-being. It is crucial to get the treatment and support you need to address the complex roots of your alcohol abuse. The sooner you get help, the better your chance of a full, lifelong recovery. Although alcohol intolerance usually isn’t a serious issue, you may want to discuss it with your doctor at your next appointment.

It turns alcohol into acetic acid, a main component of vinegar, in your liver. Reducing intake or stopping drinking may help a person feel more in control of their consumption and avoid experiencing a reaction or symptoms related to their alcohol use. A person’s tolerance may also change over time due to a decline in body mass in older adults. This may result in higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and more significant effects from drinking. The type of yeast used to ferment many alcoholic beverages and to make dough rise is known as brewer’s yeast or baker’s yeast. Detoxification, commonly known as detox, refers to the physiological process of eliminating harmful substances from the body.

Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body doesn’t have the proper enzymes to break down (metabolize) the toxins in alcohol. This is caused by inherited (genetic) traits usually found in Asians. However, in some cases, what seems to be alcohol intolerance may be your reaction to something in an alcoholic beverage—such as chemicals, grains, or preservatives. The best-known condition to cause alcohol intolerance is Hodgkin’s lymphoma; however, other conditions may also cause it. Alcohol intolerance is still normally uncommon in people with these types of conditions.

• Our bodies are full of enzymes, proteins that help break down food.
• Our approach to treatment stands out from typical detox programs Florida centers provide.
• A 2010 German questionnaire surveyed 4,000 people and found that self-reported wine intolerance specifically was present in 5.2% of men and 8.9% of women.
• If you or someone you love struggles with alcohol intolerance or abuse, you can find support at Archstone Recovery.

Types of Food Intolerance Tests

It can be easy to confuse alcohol intolerance with alcohol allergy or other conditions that have similar symptoms. As a result, it is a good idea to speak with a doctor about any symptoms, as they will know how best to identify the cause. In fact, your body might have an inability to process other constituents of alcohol, such as histamine, yeast, grains, sulfites, or preservatives. Alcohol can cause a great level of discomfort if someone drinks it without being aware they have alcohol intolerance. Continuing to drink alcohol while knowing you are intolerant (or allergic) can also have severe health consequences.

Moderating Your Drinking

Alcoholic drinks such as wine contain histamine, which occurs as alcohol intolerance a byproduct of fermentation. However, people who do not have enough of this enzyme can develop histamine intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body has difficulty digesting lactose.