Alcohol Allergy Symptoms

Alcohol
allergy is a phenomenon that tends to arouse the curiosity of many
people. The alcohol allergy symptoms have been elaborated in the
following article. To know more about the symptoms of alcohol allergy,
read on...

Many of us heartily enjoy alcoholic drinks and alcohol
related food products. In fact, alcohol is also present in many
different medications, especially the ones that are used to treat cough
and cold. Over all, human beings consume alcohol in different quantities
and forms and for different purposes. But did you know people can also
be allergic to alcohol. Believe it not, alcohol allergy though very,
rare is not a myth. You may also read more on food allergies.

Many
people are astounded to hear that some times people are allergic to
alcohol of any kind. Alcohol allergy is also known as alcohol
intolerance, which is a phenomenon that is quite parallel to lactose
intolerance symptoms. The logic behind that why some people tend to
display alcohol allergy symptoms is also simple.

Cause of Alcohol Allergy

Any
food or drink that enters the digestive track is broken down into
simpler substances that can be used by the human body. In such cases,
the digestive system and the digestive organs produce man different
types of digestive juices that play a highly instrumental role in
breaking down the food nutrients. Digestive enzymes are some very
important digestive juices that help in breakage of food nutriments.
Alcohol is chemically simplified into acetic acid, which is commonly
known as vinegar, by the 'Aldehyde Dehydrogenase' enzyme. Alcohol in
itself is a toxic substance and is capable of poisoning the body, if it
is not broken down by the body into simpler substances. Some people
genetically have a very rare characteristic in their digestive system.
Their digestive systems simply do not produce the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
enzyme, which makes their body allergic to alcohol. In some cases the
digestive system produces lesser quantities of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
enzyme. This might be treated as a curse or a blessing, but there are
some alcohol intolerance symptoms which are observed.

Symptoms of Alcohol Allergy

When
alcohol intolerant people consume alcohol, one of the symptoms that
they are bound to experience is an acute nausea. When we consume any
food or drink the first action of the body is to secrete the appropriate
digestive enzymes, upon the smell and sight of food. As the Aldehyde
Dehydrogenase enzyme is not secreted by the body, the alcohol is treated
as an alien and unwanted substance and the body tries to eject the
liquid, which is the cause behind the nausea.

Minutes after the
consumption hives and rashes are also bound to appear on the skin. There
are many alcohol allergy symptoms that are observed after a few hours.
These symptoms include headaches, skin itching and painful rashes. As
the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase enzyme, is not present in the body, the
digestive system is also unable to digest or store away the alcohol. In
such a scenario, the person who is allergic to alcohol, is bound to
suffer from painful symptoms such as stomach pain, abdominal cramps,
skin itching, heartburn and a splitting headache.

The next
reaction of the body is to eject the alcohol from the digestive system.
Hence the person allergic to alcohol suffers from an acute diarrhea or
vomits out the alcohol. Most of the times, this is enough to flush out
the alcohol out of the body, but it is advisable to see a doctor, as
soon as possible. Sometimes, people experience only the initial alcohol
allergy symptoms, but the body does not eject the alcohol. In such a
situation it is appropriate to rush to the hospital.

There are
several other reasons that why people might have alcohol and wine
allergies. Sometimes the reason might be an allergy to preservatives or
substances that are added during brewing.