Why Do I Get a Stuffy Nose/Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol?

Getting a stuffy or congested nose during a night out or the day after is a common occurrence for many people. The annoyance of a stuffy nose during a fun night out can bring the vibe down pretty quickly. Wouldn't it be great to not only have a clear nose but also be able to enjoy your night like everyone else?

In this article, we will be talking about the reasons many get a stuffy nose during or after drinking and also ways to stop alcohol from affecting your nasal passages. Whether you enjoy a weekday beer with your friends or would like to have a night out without the annoyance of nasal congestion, you have come to the right place.

Keep reading on to find out all about this weird side effect of alcohol and to find actionable ways to get rid of it.

So, Why Do I Get a Stuffy Nose After Drinking Alcohol?

I'm guessing you're here to find out, so let's jump in!

It's pretty safe to assume we all know alcohol is not the healthiest thing on the planet. It contains many ingredients including additives and preservatives that can lead to some pretty rough and weird side effects. 

Many people believe they are just allergic to alcohol but these negative side effects can actually be traced back to alcohol intolerance, which is what Asian Flush Patches target. But before that, let's talk about what alcohol intolerance is.

Alcohol Intolerance and its Effects on Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol

One of the main reasons many people struggle with this side effect is due to them having an alcohol intolerance. Having an alcohol intolerance can easily be miscategorized as an alcohol allergy, but there are differences. Alcohol intolerance is also know as ‘Asian Flush’ happens due to a ALDH2 deficiency in the body. This deficiency mean your body is less effective or unable to remove acetaldehyde which is a by-product of alcohol. This can result in the body having symptoms like nasal congestion, facial flushing, migraines and a lot more negative side effects.

While this information can seem a little overwhelming at first, 1/10 people struggle with the sam symptoms for more information on this phenomenon check out our guide here on what is Asian flush?.

Feeling Stuffy From Drinking Wine

It's reported that many individuals get stuffy after drinking wine, the unfortunate thing about this is that wine contains a lot of ingredients that can cause unwanted reactions or make alcohol intolerance symptoms worse.

So, what are the allergens in wine?

There are quite a few different allergens that an be found in wine, which include:

Grapes - Some grapes include specific proteins that can cause reactions

Ethanol - High concentrations of ethanol are present in wine

Histamines - High levels of histamines can cause reactions to sensitive indiviudles

Sulfates - Many people are sensitive to this chemical 

Yeast - This helps ferment the sugar and grapes, many people do not react well to this

Why Does Beer Give Me Nasal Congestion?

Unfortunately for beer lovers, many of the same ingredients found in wine are also present in beer. Ingredients like gluten, yeast and wheat are common in most beers and can be a factor in why you're getting a stuffy nose. 

Beer also contains histamines that can cause reactions such as a stuffy nose, facial flushing and headaches.

Should I Be Worried About Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol?

Now you understand what could be causing the stuffy nose after drinking alcohol, let jump into if its something you should be worrying about.

Let me start first with saying, if you struggle with getting a stuffy nose after drinking, it is nothing to worry about! So, before we dive into how you can combat this, let first start by explaining why so many people get this side effect.

The main reason people are getting a stuffy nose while drinking is due to something called Asian Flush. Asian Flush is also know as:

- Asian Flush

- Asian Glow

- Alcohol Flush

- Asian Flush Reaction

This is something that has been passed down for many generations through families with Asian descent, but Asian Flush does not only effect those that are asian. Many people still get the symptoms of Asian Flush due to having a ALDH2 deficiency.

Symptoms of Asian Flush:

- Stuffy nose

- Facial flushing

- Headaches

- Nausea

- Breathing problems 

Flush Off Patches work to reduce these unwanted side effects by helping break down the alcohol more efficiently. Whether you just get nasal congestion or full-blown Asian Flush, our patches can help.

How To Combat Nasal Congestion/Stuffy Nose While Drinking?

There are a lot of things to consider when finding a way to combat nasal congestion. Could you have Asian Flush? Could you be allergic to wheat? Or Does your body just not react well with histamines? 

Knowing which one it is can be tricky!

If it's Alcohol/Asian Flush - The best course of action is to try our Asian Flush patches. Our patches are a great way to reduce common symptoms like nasal congestion, facial flushing, migraines, etc. 

If you are allergic to a specific ingredient - The best thing to do would be to speak with your doctor, so you can do tests to figure out what it is in the alcohol that your body is not reacting well with.

Closing Thoughts On The Reason for a Stuffy Nose After Drinking

As you can see, there are many reasons why your nose gets stuffy after drinking. It could be due to an ingredient allergy, alcohol allergy, or alcohol intolerance. 

Whatever you may think it is, It can be a great bet to give our patches a try they are full of natural antioxidants and vitamins that can help break down the alcohol which can help reduce nasal congestion. Check out our patches today to start enjoying you're nights out rather than regretting them.