Hayfever and Alcohol: Is Drinking Making Your Symptoms Worse?

Hayfever season is here and with it comes sneezing, itchy eyes, a blocked nose and that constant feeling of congestion. But have you noticed that after one or two drinks your symptoms suddenly seem worse?

For some people, the connection between hayfever and alcohol is real – and there’s a simple explanation behind it. In this guide, we look at how alcohol affects allergies and how you can make small changes that might reduce your discomfort this allergy season.

What’s Hayfever?

Hayfever (which is officially known as allergic rhinitis) is an allergic reaction to pollen.

When pollen enters the body, the immune system mistakenly treats it as a threat and releases chemicals such as histamine. This can cause you to experience a fair few symptoms, such as:

• Sneezing
• A blocked or runny nose
• Itchy eyes
• Watery eyes
• Sinus pressure
• Headaches
• Coughing
• Sore throat

When pollen levels are high, like during spring and summer, symptoms can be worse.

Can Alcohol Make Hayfever Worse?

Yes it can for some people. But it’s important to note that not everyone reacts in the same way, and some people may notice no difference at all. The reason for this connection is that alcohol interacts with histamine, inflammation and your immune system.

Why Does Drinking Make Your Hayfever Worse?

There are a few reasons why drinking alcohol with allergies can worsen your symptoms:

Alcohol Contains Histamine

Histamine is a chemical involved in allergic reactions and is mainly responsible for symptoms like sneezing and coughing. Alcoholic drinks like red wine, beer, champagne and fermented drinks also contain histamine.

If you’ve already got hayfever, adding extra histamine on top by drinking alcohol can make your symptoms come on stronger. This is often called a histamine alcohol reaction and can leave people feeling blocked up, flushed or with a headache.

Alcohol Can Also Trigger Histamine Release

As well as containing histamine, alcohol can encourage your body to release more. Even drinks with lower histamine levels can worsen symptoms in sensitive people and for those struggling with hayfever it can make reactions feel even stronger.

Alcohol Can Reduce Histamine Breakdown

Your body typically uses enzymes to break histamine down and keep your levels under control. But alcohol can interfere with this process so histamines end up staying in your body for longer.

This means that allergy symptoms can linger or become more noticeable after drinking which is why some people get a stuffy nose or headache quickly after consuming alcohol.

Alcohol Can Contribute to Inflammation in the Body

When your body is already dealing with seasonal allergies, extra inflammation can increase irritation in the sinuses and nasal passages.

Hayfever and Alcohol: Which Drinks Are the Most Triggering?

Red Wine

Red wine is commonly linked to reactions because it contains higher levels of histamine and tannin. This is why you might get a blocked nose, facial flushing, headaches and sinus pressure after drinking it.

Beer

Beer can also trigger a reaction because of its fermentation compounds and yeast.

Spirits and Mixers

Spirits usually don’t cause any allergy issues, but mixers, additives, flavourings and other sugary ingredients can contribute to symptoms. Remember, everyone’s tolerance is different, which is why tracking your own symptoms and patterns is useful.

Common Symptoms People Notice When drinking with allergies

If alcohol is affecting your hayfever, you’ll likely experience the following during or shortly after drinking:

• A blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Headaches
• Sinus or facial pressure
• Flushed skin
• Increased congestion

Some people experience symptoms immediately, whereas others can have a bit of a delayed effect and feel it the following morning. However, because hayfever symptoms, hangovers and common alcohol reactions all overlap, it can be quite easy to miss.

What You Can Do About Hayfever and Alcohol

If you believe your alcohol use and hayfever are affecting each other, there are some simple things you can do:

Reduce your alcohol intake!

• Track which drinks affect you the most
• Stay hydrated (alcohol can contribute to dehydration which can bring on headaches, fatigue and sinus pain)
• If you plan on drinking, try low histamine drinks (e.g. clear spirits)

Is It Worth Cutting Back On Alcohol?

Some people do find that reducing their alcohol intake when their hayfever is at its worst can help with their symptoms without feeling restrictive.

In doing so, you could experience less congestion, fewer headaches, improved sleep and reduced sinus pain and pressure.

Hayfever and Alcohol: Our Final Thoughts

Hayfever can of course be uncomfortable and for some people alcohol can make symptoms worse. The good news is that small changes may help. This includes:

• Reducing alcohol when your hayfever is at its worst
• Tracking triggers
• Staying hydrated

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Hayfever and Alcohol FAQs

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