You need plenty of fluids, but steer clear of cocktails, wine, and beer. Even though booze is a liquid, it makes you dehydrated. It also can cause your sinuses and the lining of your nose to swell, which makes your symptoms worse.
For instance, beer and wine contain high levels of histamine, which can also contribute to a runny nose or nasal congestion. Or, maybe you're sensitive to sulfites or other chemicals in alcoholic beverages, resulting in nausea or headaches.
Nasal Congestion
When byproducts of alcohol don't get broken down quickly enough, they accumulate to levels high enough to cause a mild allergic reaction. The second reason why alcohol can cause sneezing and congestion is that wine, beer, and spirits contain histamine, a compound that elicits an allergic response.
Most alcoholic products contain histamine. Histamine is a chemical created by the fermentation process that has the ability to trigger allergy symptoms. The gluten in beer and various kinds of liquor can also put a strain on your allergies. Think of alcohol as a catalyst for your allergies.
Tobacco smoke and air contaminants can irritate and inflame your lungs and nasal passages. Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, such as it is if you have forced hot air heat, adding moisture to the air may help prevent sinusitis.
Examples of fluids to drink when a person has a sinus infection include: plain water. hot water with lemon, honey, or ginger. herbal teas.
Bourbon is a natural decongestant – so for a stuffy nose or sinuses, bourbon can be your best friend. Alcohol dilates your blood vessels, which will help heal irritated mucus membranes in your nose. The more blood flow to the area, the easier it is to deal with an infection or inflammation.
When it comes to spirits, stick to tequila, vodka and gin. They're lower in histamine than other liquors.
Chronic ingestion of alcohol actually damages the surface of your lungs; and it's on the surface that the mucociliary transport system operates, attracting mucus and eradicating it from your lungs.
Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses). This fluid buildup allows germs to grow. Viruses cause most sinus infections, but bacteria can cause some sinus infections.
Alcoholic drinks are capable of triggering a wide range of allergic and allergic-like responses, including rhinitis, itching, facial swelling, headache, cough and asthma.
Is alcohol a decongestant? Although some people claim that alcohol is a decongestant, the reverse may be true. The consumption of alcohol may lead to nasal congestion.
Generally, symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include abdominal pain and tenderness, dry mouth and increased thirst, fatigue, jaundice (which is yellowing of the skin), loss of appetite, and nausea. Your skin may look abnormally dark or light. Your feet or hands may look red.
Research reveals that alcohol consumption can make nasal polyps and other sinus problems worse.
According to Asthma UK, you can find refuge in clear spirits such as gin and vodka, which have a relatively low histamine content.
You may feel like you have a permanent cold that won't go away. Dust mites are the most common cause of perennial allergic rhinitis, but it can be caused by any allergen (allergy-inducing substance) that you are exposed to year-round. The other most common causes are cats and dogs.
At the periphery, alcohol and acetaldehyde liberate histamine from its store in mast cells and depress histamine elimination by inhibiting diamine oxidase, resulting in elevated histamine levels in tissues.
Hydrate – Drink plenty of fluids, like sugar-free juice and water, to hydrate your sinuses. Try to avoid coffee, as this can make symptoms worse. Breathe in steam – Steam can open up your nasal passages and allow mucus to drain.
As a rule of thumb, it is a mixture of an antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), an injectable steroid (usually a form of prednisone), and an antibiotic (most often amoxicillin).