What is Alcohol Intolerance?
Intolerance to alcohol means you have a strong, adverse reaction when you ingest alcohol. This occurs because of a deficiency of the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme in your digestive system, making alcohol toxic to your body. An allergic reaction occurs as your body tries to rid itself of the alcohol. Symptoms Your body cannot break down the alcohol ingested when you are alcohol-intolerant. The condition causes a variety of symptoms depending on the individual, including nasal congestion, mild flushing, fluttering of the heart, hot flashes, headaches and hypertension. Many with asthma will experience asthma attacks or notice a worsening of their asthma because of the sulfites in alcohol. Swelling of the lip or tongue, coughing, fainting and chest pain can be reactions from drinking beer. What to Do During a Reaction If you are alcohol-intolerant and you are exposed to alcohol, treat it as a normal allergic reaction. Do not panic. Excess anxiety can cause an even worse reaction. You need
