Asthma and alcohol are a bad combination

Asthma, a disorder that affects three million Spaniards, can be influenced by many factors. For example, some medicines can trigger an asthma attack. Also extreme weather or stress.

But not all triggers cause asthma symptoms in all asthmatics. Some people react to some factors and others to others. But attacks could be reduced if alcohol was not consumed and many asthmatics are not aware of it.

In asthma, the airways narrow and swell to the point that breathing becomes difficult. Asthma episodes can be occasional or it can be a chronic problem.

Asthma usually begins in childhood and can then “go away.” But if the disease persists, conventional medicine has no ready cure, only drugs that can be used to keep the disease in check. In any case, it is important to do everything possible to prevent an asthma attack.

This means that possible personal triggers need to be avoided as much as possible.

Possible triggers for asthma attacks

The most common asthma triggers are:

The airborne pollutants (environmental pollutants, chemicals, tobacco smoke, etc.) common allergens such as pollen, house dust mites, mold, or pet hair. foodespecially nuts, preserves, eggs, milk or wheat. stressHe Extreme weather, like very hot or very cold dayssome medications, including over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen

There are many other very individual triggers, which is why doctors often advise their patients to keep an asthma call diary.

There, those affected write their symptoms and what they ate, did or drank just before an asthma attack. Alcohol use, for example, can be one of these triggers.

Alcohol increases the risk of asthma attack

One of the largest studies in this regard was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and it was carried out with more than 350 adults. For 33%, alcohol was considered the trigger responsible for at least two asthma attacks:

The wine is considered particularly allergenic. Most asthma symptoms appeared within an hour of having drunk alcohol.Most asthma symptoms associated with alcohol use have been described as mild to moderate.

Alcoholic beverages contain sulfur and histamines

The researchers stress that alcoholic beverages contain two types of allergenic compounds, sulfites and histamines.

Sulfites they are used as preservatives, for example in wine and beer, but also in some other foods, such as nuts. Asthmatics are often especially sensitive to sulfites.histamines they are formed during fermentation processes, that is, when alcohol is produced, and therefore are found in almost all alcoholic beverages, including spirits, beer, wine, etc.

Alcohol can increase asthma symptoms

Alcohol can not only trigger asthma attacks, but also increase typical asthma symptoms. For example, alcohol prevents restful sleep, impairs physical performance and alters concentration at work. All of these problems are often present with asthma and are made worse by alcohol.

If you are an alcohol-sensitive asthmatic, you may want to know if there are alcoholic beverages that do not have such a serious impact on your asthma.

Wine and beer are probably the most allergenic, but there are natural organic wines that do not contain sulphites and non-alcoholic beers. In natural wines you have to read the label to verify that they are indeed free of sulphites.

On the other hand, the quantity is very important. A glass can be harmless, but three can favor an asthmatic attack.

Scientific references: