For many people, rosy cheeks are an expected side effect of drinking alcohol. But if alcohol causes a red face, pounding heart and stuffy nose, it may be a sign that you have an alcohol intolerance.
An intolerance isn’t the same thing as an allergy, but it’s still important to understand how it affects your body. Learn what causes alcohol intolerance, what it means for your health, how it’s diagnosed and more.
Alcohol flush is the result of an enzyme deficiency
Alcohol flush, also known as alcohol intolerance, is what happens when the body can’t process alcohol efficiently. When we drink alcohol, it’s broken down into other substances by enzymes, so our body can remove it. First, one enzyme converts it into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance. Then, another enzyme converts acetaldehyde into nontoxic acetic acid, which will then leave the body through urine.
People who experience alcohol flush generally have a genetic variation of one of these two enzymes. This causes more acetaldehyde to remain in the body and makes it take longer to remove. The body responds to this by releasing histamines, which are what cause symptoms like flushing. If you only drink alcohol occasionally, this isn’t anything to be concerned about. But in the long run, extended exposure to acetaldehyde can increase your risk of several kinds of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
The genetic enzyme variations associated with alcohol flush are most common in East Asian populations, affecting between 30-50% of people depending on the country. However, it’s possible for people of all races and ethnicities to experience alcohol flush. Certain medications for diabetes, high cholesterol and infections can also lower the body’s ability to process alcohol and cause alcohol flush.
Symptoms of alcohol intolerance include more than a flush
In addition to the telltale red face, symptoms of alcohol intolerance can include:
- Headache
- Hives
- Lowered blood pressure
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Runny nose or congestion
- Worsened asthma (if you have existing asthma)
Alcohol intolerance is diagnosed by its symptoms and ruling out allergies
At a primary care appointment, a doctor can usually diagnose alcohol intolerance with a physical exam and by asking questions about your symptom history. In some cases, a doctor may recommend allergy tests, though alcohol allergies are uncommon. If an allergy is suspected, it’s more likely to be related to components of a specific kind of alcohol, such as grapes, yeast, grains or sulfites.
The only treatment for alcohol intolerance is to limit it
If you experience alcohol flush, the best way to protect your health is to limit how much alcohol you drink or avoid it entirely. If you choose to indulge in alcohol, you can use antihistamine medications to manage the symptoms of alcohol intolerance, but those medications do not treat the buildup of acetaldehyde in your body. There’s no treatment that can make alcohol safer to drink.
Want to find out if you have an alcohol flush gene? Get tested.
If you want to find out whether you have the genes responsible for alcohol intolerance, genetic screening may help. myGenetics is a community research program that uses DNA testing to screen for a variety of genetic intolerances and sensitivities, as well as risk factors for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Lynch Syndrome and hereditary high cholesterol. It’s a way to learn more about yourself – including ways you can be more proactive about your health. There’s no cost to participate, and health insurance is not required.
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