Alcohol & Allergies
Although it's technically possible to have an allergic reaction to alcohol, it is highly rare. However, alcohol intolerance is far more common. If you experience flushing skin, elevated pulse or stomach pains after you drink, you may have an alcohol intolerance. While an allergic reaction and an intolerance may produce similar symptoms, an allergy is far more serious.
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Alcohol Allergies
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During an allergic reaction, your immune system responds to a non-threatening food or substance as if it were a foreign body endangering you. The resulting symptoms, such as hives and throat swelling, may lead at anaphylactic shock if not treated. A pure alcohol allergy is quite rare, although not impossible. More likely, if you suffer a true allergic reaction to alcohol it is due to an ingredient in the alcoholic product you consumed.
Effects of Alcohol on Allergies
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A 2002 study in the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, looked at the potential link between alcohol consumption and the development of general allergies. Led by Dr. Thomas R. Jerrells from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, this study observed a link between alcohol consumption and a rise in immunoglobulin E levels. Although IgE is a molecule that plays a role in allergies, the study could not statistically prove that alcohol's elevation of IgE levels led to allergies or exacerbated existing allergic reactions. Nonetheless, Jerrells and his team did find some correlation between alcohol and the IgE molecule and thus recommended additional research into the matter.
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Beer Allergies
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While an allergic reaction to pure alcohol is not common, many alcohols contain common allergens. For instance, people with wheat allergies may have allergic reactions after drinking beer. People may have allergies to additional ingredients present in some beers such as malted barley or hops. Many beers also have additional flavors added for taste, which may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Wine Allergies
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All wines contain a certain natural level of the sulfite ion, and most wine and beer manufacturers add more sulfites as a preservative against harmful yeasts and molds. Although most people exhibit no negative reactions after sulfite consumption, a small number (around 1 percent, according to the FDA) of people may have sulfite allergies. People with sulfite allergies should either not drink wine or seek "sulfite-free" wine. Note that although a wine bottle may say "sulfite free" it will still contain a small amount concentration of sulfites. The FDA allows products to claim that they are free of something as long as the amount per serving is below a predetermined threshold.
Other Considerations
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If you have any existing allergies and wish to consume alcohol, make sure that the alcohol you drink does not contain any ingredients that you are allergic to. While you may not know every single additive, you can at least protect yourself against a drink's core ingredients. For instance, if you have a juniper berry allergy, avoid gin. If you have a potato allergy, avoid any vodkas that are distilled from potatoes. Above all else, if alcohol makes you itchy, gives you breathing trouble or causes you to develop hives, do not drink.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Some people are intolerant of the sulfites in wine; Courtesy of a Creative Commons license (Mr. T in DC:flick.com)
