If your skin starts to flush and redden and your nose becomes stuffy after you drink alcohol , you might have alcohol intolerance.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fda01459-5087-4f7e-a69c-00c0797c9c14 Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition in which the body can’t break down alcohol efficiently, leading to immediate, uncomfortable reactions after drinking.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fda01459-5087-4f7e-a69c-00c0797c9c14 While there’s no cure for this inherited condition, you can prevent its unpleasant symptoms by avoiding alcohol.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629dfdc41dd-b7e7-4fe1-8e24-72e260d2e894
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance Symptoms The hallmark signs and symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c4999c39-ccb4-4de3-b1d8-a8293d71db0ae60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de2714fe-23c0-45a9-b6e8-10e38c14841c Flushing and redness on the face, neck, and chest Stuffy or runny nose Nausea and vomiting Low blood pressure ( hypotension ) Diarrhea Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) Throbbing headache Worsening asthma
Causes and Risk Factors of Alcohol Intolerance Causes Alcohol intolerance is caused by a genetic mutation of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol, called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). The alteration of ALDH2 makes the enzyme inactive or less active, inhibiting your body’s ability to break down alcohol once you drink it.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e2836f00-a632-4f44-80a2-59227c101bfb Some people are more likely to have an alcohol intolerance than others. They include: People of East Asian Descent Researchers estimate about 36 to 45 percent of people from East Asian countries, including Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan, have an alcohol intolerance. Some researchers refer to this phenomenon as “Asian flush.”e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629304a4364-4c1d-4ed3-866e-b4fdba959c2fe60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bbb0ed06-8721-4b6c-b3ec-08d4c155867d People With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Some researchers suggest that those diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may be more likely to experience alcohol intolerance than the general population. It’s important to note, though, that studies on the link between ME/CFS and alcohol intolerance have had mixed findings, and more research is needed to explore the link between the two.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c9c7e046-def2-4e5a-a49b-ba06e6dc2736 People With Long COVID Anecdotal reports of people with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), also known as long COVID , having new or heightened alcohol sensitivities prompted researchers to study the link between long COVID and alcohol intolerance. While it’s still unclear why some with long COVID experience a lower tolerance for alcohol, limited research suggests it could be due to changes in prostaglandin levels (substances in the body that affect functions like inflammation) or the gut microbiome (gut bacteria) post-COVID.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c32749f-bdd2-4d9d-af4c-3bd5295af4ea People With Hodgkin Lymphoma Alcohol intolerance is a potential symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma , a type of cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f4922b0c-62f8-4a7e-94f0-427de94117d6
How Is Alcohol Intolerance Diagnosed? Diagnosis Most people will know if they’re alcohol intolerant based on the symptoms that develop after they have a drink, namely flushing and congestion.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cd68f52f-f8b8-4e6a-b915-ad2171563b8f Beyond the symptomatic response, certain tests like the ethanol patch test can help diagnose an alcohol intolerance. During this test, a provider will drop ethanol onto a gauze pad or cotton pad and tape it to your arm. After waiting seven minutes, they’ll remove the material to check for signs of redness, itching, or swelling, which could indicate an alcohol intolerance.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f57cfb75-e836-4b7a-933e-6989b09d1f94
Treatment and Medication Options for Alcohol Intolerance Treatment There are no treatment options for alcohol intolerance because it’s an inherited, genetic condition. Your best bet to avoid symptoms is to avoid drinking altogether.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293ce43ecd-e4de-4c4b-a94a-bc7109225abb Some people with alcohol intolerance take over-the-counter antihistamines and antacids to help with minor symptoms. But because these medications only mask the symptoms rather than treat them, you may end up drinking more than you realize, which will only worsen the problem.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293ce43ecd-e4de-4c4b-a94a-bc7109225abb
Prevention of Alcohol Intolerance Prevention Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition, so it cannot be cured or treated. People who have alcohol intolerance can only keep symptoms away by avoiding alcohol altogether. You should also be mindful of mixing alcohol with medications that bear a warning label against the combination, because this can make alcohol intolerance symptoms even worse.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762981b59a30-c4eb-4cb8-abe2-81f75fd584cb
Alcohol Intolerance Prognosis Prognosis As mentioned, alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition, meaning it’s lifelong. You can avoid symptoms by not drinking alcohol.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ddcbbc7-d3c0-4d6c-b3b0-4579bdd482f9
Complications of Alcohol Intolerance Complications Alcohol intolerance can cause minor symptoms, such as flushing and redness, but it can also lead to more serious problems over time if someone with the condition continues to drink.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629200e4a00-3610-4505-9573-fc4af4539813 Complications can include: Increased risk of cancer: Researchers say people with the ALDH2 gene who keep drinking are at a higher risk of developing cancer — specifically esophageal cancer , liver cancer , and oral cancers . Scientists urge people with the hallmark symptom of flushing to pay attention to this symptom because it’s an indicator of increased genetic risk for cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292fec5e7a-33d9-48e2-8456-cea3204dc956e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ffc389d8-c506-4548-9da5-d5aab783351c Increased risk of heart disease: Researchers have also linked the ALDH2 gene to coronary artery disease , suggesting the enzyme deficiency tied to this gene mutation causes damage in the cells that line the inside of blood vessels.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291375e55a-b089-4769-acf4-f9bed7b693d0
Research and Statistics: How Many People Have Alcohol Intolerance? Research and Statistics It’s estimated that about 8 percent of the global population carry the ALDH2 variant, making them intolerant of alcohol.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629468a5bbf-58b4-452f-bc9a-7561bdaa34af But the rates increase dramatically for people of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean descent. As mentioned, researchers estimate that between 28 and 54 percent of people of East Asian descent have alcohol intolerance.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629468a5bbf-58b4-452f-bc9a-7561bdaa34af
Related Conditions: Alcohol Allergy Related Conditions One condition that many people confuse with alcohol intolerance is alcohol allergy. While the two have some overlapping symptoms, there are key differences between them.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291f7e1c3a-f00e-448f-bba2-0a4a87f3bb5e As mentioned, alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition that prevents the body from processing alcohol efficiently. But an alcohol allergy is a response from the body’s immune system to specific ingredients in alcoholic drinks, such as grains, preservatives like sulfites, or other chemicals. If you’re allergic to any of these ingredients, your body produces antibodies in response to the allergen. This is called an allergic reaction.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629686d8661-f777-489a-b176-f211e1210cde While both can cause symptoms like runny nose, they have several differing symptoms. For instance, a telltale symptom that’s exclusive to alcohol intolerance is flushing and redness on the chest, neck, and face. On the other hand, alcohol allergies cause symptoms like itchy rashes, swelling, and intense stomach cramps.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296d905871-d3d1-43c6-a4ea-2a3a241024de If you’re not sure if you have alcohol intolerance or an alcohol allergy, talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out if you have either of these conditions or refer you to an allergist for testing.
The Takeaway Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition that inhibits the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, causing immediate symptoms like skin redness or flushing and a stuffy nose. Alcohol intolerance is most common in people of East Asian descent, though it can impact anyone. There’s a difference between a true genetic intolerance of alcohol (caused by the ALDH2 genetic mutation) and someone who may be allergic to one or more ingredients in alcohol. The only way to prevent the symptoms of alcohol intolerance is to avoid drinking alcohol. Doing so may prevent complications such as cancer and heart disease.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Alcohol IntoleranceMayo Clinic: Alcohol IntoleranceNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol’s Effect on HealthCedars-Sinai: Alcohol Intolerance: What You Need to KnowSUN Behavioral: Alcohol Intolerance: What Is It and Is It Serious?
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