After having a couple of drinks, does your asthma get terrible? Do you need to use your inhaler a lot the next day? Does alcohol make asthma worse? These are all questions associated with asthmatics.
Well, yes, for certain people, alcohol can worsen asthma symptoms. Understanding the connection between alcohol and asthma helps asthmatics make better lifestyle choices and reduce the risk of alcohol induced asthma. Let’s explore asthma and alcohol in more depth.
The link between alcohol and asthma
The connection between asthma and alcohol is complex. Alcohol itself does not always cause breathing issues, but certain compounds present in alcoholic drinks may contribute to irritation of the airways in the lungs or trigger an allergic reaction that gives rise to asthma symptoms. How can alcohol trigger asthma? Smoking, dust, pollution, or pets are common asthma triggers. Still, very few know that alcohol can also trigger asthma symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest in some people.
How can drinking alcohol trigger an asthma attack?
For some people, any alcoholic drink triggers an asthma attack, while for others, certain alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer contribute to wheezing and coughing due to asthma. Wine is considered one of the most common asthma triggers, and there is evidence that it brings symptoms most quickly. Red wine, white wine, beer, and cider are more likely to worsen asthma. In addition, clear spirits like vodka do not trigger an asthma attack because they contain less histamine and fewer sulfites. If you are wondering why does an alcoholic drink make your asthma worse, it is important to understand that alcoholic beverages contain preservatives that are known to trigger asthma symptoms, and these substances are explained below:
- Histamines –Histamines contribute to airway inflammation in the lungs. They are chemicals that are naturally produced during asthma and allergy responses.
- Sulfites –Sulfites are used in a variety of foods and are the common preservative added in beer and wine. Some asthmatics may also develop an allergy to sulfites, so that the substance can trigger both allergy and asthma symptoms. This is the well-accepted theory that links alcohol with asthma. Wines are found to have high levels of histamines, and if you are sensitive to it, it could trigger your asthma symptoms. The good news is that very few people are histamine intolerant.
Alcohol consumption can make you more likely to react to other triggers that could contribute to asthma symptoms. According to research studies, people who drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol per week become more sensitive towards asthma triggers like pollen, dust, and pollution.
How does alcohol causes you to dehydrate?
You might think that when beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages are drinks, and they contain mostly water, how would they dehydrate you? Well, if you drink alcohol, you might have noticed that it makes you urinate more than usual. Studies revealed that drinking 200 ml of alcohol makes you pee out 320 ml, so this means if you drink in excess, you actually push your body to dehydrate. Dehydration is also a side effect of alcohol. Now, why is that so? Here comes the role of the hypothalamus, which is responsible for homeostasis. It helps to maintain the state of normalcy inside the human body and takes part in regulating water inside the body. The hypothalamus produces two hormones, namely vasopressin and anti-diuretic hormone ADH. Anti-diuretic hormone, as the name suggests, prevents you from urinating. This way, your hypothalamus is constantly performing its function by checking the water level in the bloodstream. You are dehydrated if the blood water levels are low. This signals your body to produce more ADH and release it into your bloodstream. ADH then binds to ADH receptors in your kidney, which allows your kidneys to put water back into the bloodstream. This way your body conserves water and helps to rehydrate you.
When you consume alcohol, it tends to suppress ADH, which means your hypothalamus is making less ADH, and hence you have low levels of ADH. This makes alcohol diuretic, which ultimately makes you pee more. Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption can cause dehydration. This dehydration often becomes the reason behind your hangover the next day, which in turn brings asthma symptoms.
Ways to cut the risk of asthma from alcoholic beverages?
With asthma triggers, make sure you are using your preventer asthma medicine every day, for example Budesonide Budecort inhaler 200mcg (Pulmicort Inhaler), or any other asthma medicine your doctor has prescribed you every day. This helps your body be less likely to react to triggers. Other essential tips include:
- If you wish to drink, stick to the drink that you have already tried or which you feel is tolerable. But prefer trying some non-alcoholic alternatives. You can also go with low-sulfite wines. With asthma, triggers can change, so you can find that any alcoholic drink can become a trigger. Therefore, it is better to avoid drinking as much as possible.
- Have your reliever drug handy –You might need your reliever at any time to help you if you get asthma symptoms. It is advisable for asthma patients to always carry an asthma action plan on their phones so it will be easy even for your friends and loved ones to help you whenever your symptoms get worse.
- Try not to skip your preventer medicine –taking your preventer medicine as per your healthcare specialist’s instruction is the best defence against asthma triggers. It makes your airways less likely to react to a trigger and helps prevent an asthma attack. Moreover, always carry your rescue inhaler if prescribed by your healthcare professional.
If you are living with asthma, stick to your treatment plan, avoid beverages that worsen your symptoms, and speak to your doctor whenever your symptoms are out of control. For authentic access to prescribed asthma medications, explore the trusted selection available at ReliableRxpharmacy to help support better respiratory health. You may find popular asthma medications like Aerocort inhaler 50mcg 50mcg, Budecort Rotacapas 200mcg, Seroflo inhaler 25mcg 25mcg, and many more at affordable prices.
When to avoid alcohol completely?
For some people, avoiding alcohol is a better and safer option. One should consider abstaining if any of the following applies to you:
- Alcoholic beverages consistently trigger asthma symptoms such as wheezing and coughing
- Experiencing an asthma attack immediately after drinking
- Condition remained poor despite treatment
- Advised staying away from alcohol because of the medical condition or medications.
Takeaway!
Maintaining good asthma control is essential. Recognize your triggers and know if alcohol is a trigger for you. Moreover, be sure to take your asthma medications exactly as prescribed.
