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

A stuffy, congested nose the morning after a night of drinking is an all-too-familiar feeling for many. While it may be a common occurrence, that doesn't make it any less unpleasant when it happens. The nasal congestion and overall groggy feeling brought on by alcohol can quickly dampen an otherwise fun night out. But what if you could prevent that post-drinking stuffiness altogether and wake up feeling refreshed?

In this article, we'll explore why drinking alcohol commonly leads to a stuffed up nose for so many people. More importantly, you'll discover actionable ways to stop alcohol from inflaming nasal passages so you can avoid the dreaded stuffy nose hangover. Whether you only have the occasional glass of wine at dinner or frequently enjoy late nights out, you're sure to learn valuable tips to nip post-drinking nasal congestion in the bud.

Read on to uncover the science behind the stuffy nose phenomenon as well as key strategies to prevent it from becoming an inevitable side effect of drinking alcohol.

Why Do I Experience Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol?

Wondering why you experience nasal congestion after drinking alcohol?

Alcohol is not good for the body. Everyone knows that. But not many people realize that there are many ingredients, additives, and preservatives within alcoholic beverages that can cause negative side effects. In some people, these reactions look like allergy symptoms even though they don’t have a true allergy to alcohol.

While you can reduce the negative side effects of drinking by taking Asian glow pills beforehand, let's first explain the science behind why you experience a stuffy nose when drinking alcoholic beverages.

Ingredients in Alcoholic Beverages That Can Cause a Stuffy Nose After Drinking

Many alcoholic beverages include common elements that can cause negative symptoms in people, such as:

• Histamine
• Sulfites
• Hops
• Wheat
• Barley
• Rye
• Grapes
• Yeast
• Gluten
• Tannins

So while you might have a negative reaction when drinking a beer, it’s not actually the ethanol that’s causing the problem: it could be any one of these elements listed above.

Vasodilation Causes Stuffy Nose After Drinking, Too

It could also be that alcohol has a natural side effect to make people congested. Alcoholic drinks have a natural vasodilatory effect which expands blood vessels.

This effect can also make you feel hot when you drink alcohol, but it can also lead to short-term nasal congestion. The blood vessels around your nasal cavity can expand, making it a bit more difficult to breathe normally.

And, this can contribute to facial redness. If you've ever wondered - why does my face get red when I drink - this could be why.

Alcohol Intolerance Can Contribute to Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol

On top of those reasons, the individual may have an alcohol intolerance. An alcohol intolerance is commonly mistaken for an alcohol allergy and is often misdiagnosed. Typically, this is the result of ALDH2 deficiency. If your body is unable to remove acetaldehyde from the body, symptoms like congestion, flushing, headaches, and more can persist.

This can sound really scary - but don't stress. We have plenty of reasons on alcohol intolerances, allergies and what to do next. Our complete guide to Sudden Alcohol Intolerance is an excellent introductory resource to this condition.

After that, you may want to answer a separate - yet related - question: do I suffer from alcohol intolerance, or am I allergic to alcohol? Allergies and intolerance are separate conditions - and the treatment recommendations for each of these will vary. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the specific ailment you're suffering from will help you come up with an effective, targeted prevention or treatment plan that allows you to still enjoy alcoholic beverages without the nasty side effects.

Red Wine And Nasal Congestion

Many people report that red wine causes the most noticeable nasal congestion, even in those without an alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance.

Have you ever gotten a stuffy nose after a glass of red wine? You could be in this category, too.

Unfortunately for wine-lovers, there’s a lot of things in wine that can cause negative reactions or intolerances.

• Grapes - Some people can have allergies to grapes, just like any other food allergy. So while you’re not actually allergic to the wine specifically, you’re reacting to the grapes instead. An easy way to avoid this reaction is to pick alcoholic drinks without any grapes and you reaction should stop.
• Histamine - This chemical is made naturally in the body and is released when someone is having an allergic reaction. It’s histmaines that make you feel itchy, flushed or congested. While everyone can react negatively to histamines, some people are more sensitive than others. In drinks with higher levels of histamine like red wine, this could spark a reaction in someone who is sensitive to it.
• Sulfites - These are added to wine as a preservative so it will last longer. Unfortunately, people have reported to have sulfites intolerances or are more sensitive to the chemical.
• Tannins - Tannins causes the mouth-puckering effect in red wine but can inadvertently cause headaches and stuffiness, depending on how sensitive you are to it.

Why Does Beer Make Me Sneeze And Get Congested?

Just like wine, beer has a lot of ingredients that can make someone react negatively. Some of the most common culprits for reactions are gluten, hops, wheat, and yeast. If you have an intolerance or sensitivity to any of these ingredients, you’ll likely react to drinking beer.

Beer also contains histamines which could cause a reaction in some people, including sneezing and stuffy nose after drinking.

What Does it Mean If I Have Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol?

Ok, so now that we've answered the question - why does my nose get stuffy when I drink? - it's time to determine whether this is really a cause for concern or not. Sure - stuffy nose after drinking sucks. This is especially true if you suffer the occasional 2-day hangover. But even with our guide on how to get rid of a hangover, you may want to dig deeper beyond the simple remedies and solutions to determine whether there is a real cause for concern here.

We've got good news, though. Suffering from stuffy nose after drinking alcoholic beverages is nothing more than a discomfort/annoyance. Nevertheless, you want to learn about preventing or treating the congestion so you can wake up feeling refreshed - even after heaving a few too many. Well, before we can teach you how to prevent or treat stuffy nose when drinking, we need to explain what the underlying cause of

Millions of people worldwide deal with a condition called Asian Flush. This is sometimes called:

• Asian Flush
• Asian Glow
• Alcohol flush reaction
• Alcohol flush syndrome
• Alcohol flushing

This genetic condition means that you experience negative symptoms when drinking alcohol because your body is unable to process it properly. Because the body can’t break down alcohol, it’s toxic byproducts flood the system and accumulate with each drink you have.

Common signs and symptoms of Asian Flush include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Runny nose
• Restricted or trouble breathing
• Stuffy nose or nasal congestion
• Red facial flushing (can sometimes be seen on the neck, shoulders, chest and arms)

Sunset Alcohol Flush Support is a natural supplement that works specifically to reduce all of these symptoms, including a stuffy nose after drinking alcohol. Sunset works with the body to break down alcohol quickly and effectively, so you don’t experience the negative symptoms.

Even those who only deal with nasal congestion from alcohol can benefit from Sunset’s ingredients.

Want to learn more about Asian Flush? Check out our complete guide to Asian Flush for everything you need to know about this condition - including how to get rid of Asian glow altogether! Or, continue reading for the secret solution to beating alcohol intolerance or Asian flush once and for all (spoiler alert: it's not the Asian glow patches you've seen advertised!).

How To Prevent Nasal Congestion After Drinking Alcohol

It can be tricky to nail down the true cause of nasal congestion from alcohol. Are you intolerant or allergic to a specific ingredient? Do you have alcohol flush reaction? Do you have a slight histamine sensitivity?

Unfortunately it can be difficult to know!

• If you're intolerant or allergic to a specific ingredient - the easiest way to avoid nasal congestion in this situation is to avoid that specific ingredient. If you're truly allergic, it's really important not to expose yourself directly to that allergen. If you're unsure, make sure to always speak to your doctor before drinking again.

• If you have alcohol flush reaction - Sunset Alcohol Flush Support is a great way to reduce your symptoms, including red facial flushing, a stuffy nose and headaches. Sunset can also help minimise nasal congestion from histamine in alcohol beverages as well. Want to enjoy alcohol again? Choose Sunset's medicine for Asian glow.

Final Thoughts on Why You Get a Stuffy Nose After Drinking

So, Why does my nose get stuffy when I drink? You now know that there are quite a few potential causes. Alcohol has histamines and other compounds that contribute to nasal congestion. Moreover, you could be experiencing an alcohol allergy or alcohol intolerance. It's hard to tell exactly why you get a stuffy nose from drinking, but one thing is for sure: Sunset's Asian flush pills can help!

Head over to our site today to get yours. It's time to regain your confidence and social life. No more stressing over social settings where alcoholic beverages may be present - no more limiting yourself to just a single drink because you don't want to deal with congestion the next morning. With our solution, you can make a runny nose or stuffy nose from drinking a thing of the past!