Alcohol intolerance is a digestive disorder where someone experiences uncomfortable or painful symptoms after consuming alcoholic beverages. The alcohol intolerance symptoms could be similar to a hangover, with nausea and flushed face being common.
It is a condition wherein your body does not break down alcohol in a proper way. This can result in illnesses such as hangovers and headaches, nausea and vomiting, anaphylaxis, lactic acidosis, etc. Since alcohol is the most largely consumed beverage and is considered safe, people are often unaware of their alcohol intolerance. However, how alcohol intolerance affects each individual is unique, so the intensity and duration of alcohol intolerance symptoms may vary.
What Are Some Alcohol Intolerance Factors?
Alcohol intolerance is caused by an enzyme deficiency that prevents the liver from breaking down (metabolizing) alcohol. Alcohol intolerance can be inherited (genetic), or it may occur due to another condition, such as viral hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver.
Many different factors, including medications, can cause alcohol intolerance. Some medications can cause alcohol intolerance, such as antihistamines and antidepressants. Some antibiotics may also contribute to alcohol intolerance.
- Genetics: Your genes play a role in how your body processes alcohol. If your parents or siblings have problems processing alcohol due to their genes, you may also have issues with drinking.
- Liver function: If your liver isn’t working well—for example, because of hepatitis C or cirrhosis—your body may be unable to break down alcohol in a proper way. This can lead to increased levels of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism that causes many unpleasant side effects of drinking too much booze.
- Pregnancy: Alcohol intolerance is more common during pregnancy because your baby’s developing liver can’t process it very well yet.
- Nutrition. A deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) can cause an unpleasant reaction to alcohol, including flushing and tachycardia (a rapid heartbeat).
- Anemia may also contribute to alcohol intolerance because red blood cells contain iron needed to metabolize alcohol. Health conditions. Some health conditions may make it difficult for your body to metabolize alcohol, such as liver disease and diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes). What causes alcohol intolerance? It’s not clear what causes alcohol intolerance. It’s thought to be due to genetics and environmental factors such as smoking or stress.
- Alcohol can trigger reactions in people with atopic dermatitis (eczema) because they have an immune system defect preventing them from removing allergens and irritants from their bodies. This means that these substances remain on the skin for longer than usual.
Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance?
Alcohol intolerance is a condition that causes you to feel sick, dizzy, and/or have a headache after drinking alcohol. Alcohol intolerance is also called beer belly syndrome or malabsorption of alcohol.
Symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:
- Dizziness
- Rushing heartbeat or fluttering in your chest
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Facial flush (redness on the face)
- Warmth or tingling in your face, neck, chest, arms, or upper back
Prevention of Alcohol Intolerance
To prevent alcohol intolerance, avoid drinking on an empty stomach or within two hours of eating. This will allow your body time to digest the food before it breaks down the alcohol. You should also limit your intake of red wine if you are prone to developing an intolerance after consuming it.
Red wine contains sulfites, which can trigger adverse reactions in some people with asthma or allergies. Suppose you have had problems with alcohol in the past. In that case, you may want to avoid drinking altogether until you are sure you won’t experience any adverse reactions when consuming it again.
Diagnosis of Alcohol Intolerance
There is no specific test for alcohol intolerance. The diagnosis is based on your symptoms and the results of a physical exam. The doctor will check your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate to see if they’re elevated after you drink alcohol.
The doctor may also test your response to alcohol by having you breathe into a mouthpiece that measures carbon dioxide levels in your breath. Too much carbon dioxide in your breath means you’re not getting enough oxygen from your blood and tissues to meet the body’s needs.
Other tests your doctor may use include:
- Blood tests (to check for liver disease)
- Urine tests (to check for kidney disease)
Alcohol intolerance is often confused with alcohol allergy, but it is not the same. Alcohol intolerance refers to problems your body has with processing alcohol. Alcohol intolerance affects about 20% of the population, according to a 2004 study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. It can cause symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and headaches after drinking small amounts of alcohol.
Treatment of Alcohol Intolerance
Alcohol intolerance is when the body has trouble breaking down alcohol. The result is that drinking even small amounts of alcohol can cause serious problems. Alcohol intolerance normally isn’t due to a medical condition; it’s an inherited trait.
If you have alcohol intolerance, you have trouble breaking down the chemical called acetaldehyde, which builds up when you drink alcohol. Acetaldehyde is responsible for many unpleasant effects of heavy drinking, including nausea, vomiting, and hangovers.
Alcohol intolerance causes symptoms in people who don’t drink much because they already have too much acetaldehyde from eating foods containing tyramine or histamine. These foods include aged cheese, red wine vinegar, and citrus fruits (like grapefruit).
The treatment for alcohol intolerance depends on how much you drink each day and how severe your symptoms are. Suppose you drink a moderate amount (1 to 3 drinks) once or twice a week and don’t experience any symptoms. In that case, there’s no need to change your drinking habits or seek treatment for alcohol intolerance.
Lifestyle Changes to Avoid Alcohol Intolerance
Alcohol intolerance is when the body has difficulty breaking down and eliminating alcohol. This can cause various symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, and hangovers.
The exact cause of alcohol intolerance is unknown. Still, it’s thought to be related to genetic factors that affect how the body processes alcohol. It normally occurs when you drink too much alcohol in a short period or drink more than your body can handle.
Lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of alcohol intolerance:
If you have trouble metabolizing alcohol, avoiding drinking altogether is best. If you choose to drink, limit yourself to one or two drinks in a day — and never drink on an empty stomach.
Avoid taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) while drinking alcohol because it can increase liver damage caused by excessive drinking. Also, avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen because these medications can increase bleeding risk if taken with alcohol — specifically if you’re also taking anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Takeaway
If you are suffering from alcohol intolerance, there is an easy solution to eliminate it without any serious side effects. Your treatment at a wellness clinic like Cura4U will involve a natural process that will detoxify your body and restore normality.
They use all the latest research and online lab tests and are continuously looking at new ways to help their patients. So if you are suffering from alcohol intolerance and want a better life, contact Cura4U online doctor consultations to eliminate it!