Alcohol intolerance: causes and recommendations. How does alcohol intolerance manifest? Poor alcohol tolerance

Our body is individual and reacts differently to the intake of various substances. Quite often, people experience food or drug intolerance, and some people experience a similar condition due to alcohol.

Alcohol intolerance

Alcohol intolerance is pathological condition, which appears suddenly and sharp deterioration well-being after drinking alcohol. Essentially, this is an immune response to the entry of an irritant into the body in the form of ethanol.

Many people often confuse intolerance with an allergic reaction, however, these concepts are somewhat different. In case of allergies, alcohol acts as a kind of catalyst that provokes a reaction. Allergies usually occur to components of alcoholic beverages, for example, preservatives, flavorings, malt, etc. Whereas in the case of intolerance, the reaction occurs directly to ethanol.

Alcohol intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde (a metabolite of ethanol). As a result, ethanol breakdown products accumulate in the tissues of the body, provoking the occurrence of corresponding reactions.

The body of people with alcohol intolerance is simply physically incapable of breaking down ethanol, so the only way to cope with intolerance is to completely avoid alcohol.

Kinds

There are different types of alcohol intolerance:

Congenital – is a genetically determined feature of the body, in which the body, from birth, is not able to process ethanol and its metabolites;
Individual - similar alcohol intolerance occurs due to the metabolic characteristics of the body, which are observed in people suffering from stage 3 alcohol dependence. Such patients previously tolerated alcohol well, but over time, alcoholism destroys organic structures and provokes the emergence of individual intolerance;
Acquired – occurs as a result of taking any medicines, diseases, brain injuries, etc.

Causes

True alcohol intolerance usually occurs in people at birth. The reason for this condition is enzymatic characteristics, which consist in the inability to break down alcohol.

In addition, experts identify several more factors that, to varying degrees, affect the formation of alcohol intolerance:

Ethnic characteristics. Typically, Asians exhibit intolerance to alcohol much more often than Europeans;
Taking Disulfiram during therapy;
The use of antifungal and antibiotic medications.

The development of acquired intolerance can be triggered by traumatic brain injury (after a concussion), liver damage, taking certain medications, etc.

Sometimes intolerance is individual in nature and manifests itself in the form clinical syndrome alcohol addiction. Typically, such a reaction occurs at stage 3 of alcoholism.

How it manifests itself

The most characteristic feature Alcohol intolerance is a sudden redness of the skin. Because of this feature, this condition is often called flash syndrome (blush syndrome, flushing syndrome). This reaction occurs almost instantly, immediately after drinking alcohol, even in small quantities.

Even children can experience flash syndrome due to taking medications containing ethanol. In this case, a rapid accumulation of acetaldehyde occurs in the body, which is not broken down by the liver. As a result, toxins provoke redness of the skin on the face and body. If, despite the reaction, you continue to drink alcohol, then negative impact the toxin is enhanced many times over.

The photo shows a reaction to alcohol in the form of a rash on the body

Alcohol destroys nervous system functions, cardiovascular and pulmonary activity, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.

In general, experts identify the following symptoms of alcohol intolerance:

Hyperemia of the skin on the body and face;
Rash similar to hives;
Teariness and redness of the eyes;
Itchy sensations and hypersweating;
Hyperemia and fever;
Runny nose and cough;
Dizziness, headaches, frequent loss of consciousness;
Nausea and vomiting symptoms, heartburn attacks;
Increased blood pressure, tendency to bleeding;
Choking, tachycardic attacks, etc.

Not all symptoms appear in one patient. Some may have a couple of manifestations, while others will have richer and brighter symptoms. This difference is determined by the degree of enzyme deficiency.

In addition, the severity of manifestations is influenced by the type of alcohol, its quantity and quality. Some patients develop anaphylactic shock or an asthma attack, Quincke's edema or coma, which can be fatal.

Diagnostics

The correctness of the diagnosis depends on the quality of the diagnosis. An important point The definition of pathology is its differentiation from alcohol allergy.

Generally diagnostic measures include several procedures:

Collecting anamnesis through interviewing the patient and a thorough medical examination.
Carrying out skin tests. A small amount of alcohol is applied to the surface of the skin, then reactions to ethanol are observed.
Laboratory diagnostics of blood. The blood is examined for the presence of immunoglobulin E - this is a specific protein that directly indicates the presence of hypersensitivity and intolerance to ethanol and products containing it.

Treatment

The main condition for the treatment of alcohol intolerance is the complete exclusion of alcohol forever. If the reaction to alcohol is a mild allergy, then antihistamines are used. If an attack of intolerance has acquired a dangerous status, then desensitizing and detoxification therapy is used.

To eliminate acute reactions of alcohol intolerance, it can also be prescribed hormone therapy, hemosorption or plasmapheresis blood purification. As additional drugs Enzyme and eubiotic preparations are prescribed.

After completion of treatment, patients with alcohol intolerance should be more attentive to treatment, since medicinal tinctures contains alcohol, which may cause acute attack. If the patient has a craving for alcohol, then it is necessary to undergo additional specialized treatment from alcoholism.

Complications

In the event of an attack of intolerance, it is necessary to immediately eliminate the toxic substance, otherwise complications may arise such as:

Migraine. The cause of headaches is histamines present in ethanol;
Anaphylactic shock. Due to an acute attack of intolerance, anaphylactic shock can provoke death;
A dangerous attack of suffocation.

To avoid such complications, it is necessary to strictly follow preventive recommendations specialists.

Prevention methods

No medications can prevent a reaction in the presence of alcohol intolerance. If a patient is diagnosed with congenital alcohol intolerance, then alcohol is prohibited for him for life, because no drugs will help relieve acute syndrome intolerance. If you discover an allergy to certain components of alcoholic beverages, you need to be more careful when choosing alcohol.

Probably, the diagnosis of “alcohol intolerance” can be classified as one of the most offensive and unfair. How so?! After all, not a single celebration, feast or an important event It’s impossible to do without strong drinks that lift your spirits and bring people together!

And this is not to mention how you want to relax on a Friday evening with a glass of aged red wine or vintage cognac.

Yes, alcoholism is a vice, and even a disease, but intolerance to alcoholic beverages cannot be considered manna from heaven. This is the same pathology that needs its own, albeit a little peculiar, therapy.

Allergy or intolerance?

The main signs of alcohol intolerance are a stuffy nose and a red skin covering on any part of the body. Because of this, the pathology is often confused with ordinary allergies, although everything is much more complicated.

Individual intolerance to any alcohol is a genetic failure in which human body unable to break down alcohol.

The only one possible way prevent the body’s active response to intoxicating drugs - give it up for life.

Quite often, self-diagnosed alcohol intolerance is a common allergy to auxiliary products present in drinks: colors, flavors, preservatives or herbs.

Again, negative reactions may be the result of poisoning from concomitant snacks or medications taken during a drinking binge.

In very exclusive situations, signs of an inability to break down alcohol help to identify much more significant pathologies such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, for example. The latter manifests itself in the form of severe pain that begins literally immediately after the first drink.

Provoking and determining factors for the formation of the disease

The causes of alcohol intolerance are congenital in nature and lie in the peculiarities of the functioning of enzyme systems. The latter are not able to break down alcohol molecules in the same way as other people do.

There is a risk of getting such a diagnosis:

People from Asia, since pathologies are found in them more often than in Europeans;
People who are allergic to flavors, hops, preservatives and industrial dyes;
Patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma;
Patients who use certain types antibiotics and antifungal medications;
Chronic alcoholics trying to get rid of addiction by taking Antabuse - a medicine that provokes a strong negative reaction to alcohol in any form.

How can pathology be determined?

Symptoms of alcohol intolerance look like this:

Only a doctor can determine whether a person truly has an intolerance to alcoholic beverages, or whether he simply ate a snack that caused his allergy.

Diagnostics implies:

A detailed survey, during which the circumstances of the appearance of unpleasant symptoms are clarified;
Examination of the entire body, which makes it possible to identify hidden signs pathologies;
Skin test. A small amount of a potential allergen is applied to the epidermis, after which all skin reactions to its presence are monitored;
Laboratory blood test. A specific protein is searched for in the biomaterial—immunoglobulin E (IgE). It is considered a kind of allergy indicator ethanol and everything that contains it.

Therapeutic measures

Mild signs of personal alcohol intolerance are eliminated antihistamines like Lorano, Cetrin, Telfast, etc. They quickly eliminate hives and make it possible to breathe freely through the nose. If we are talking about more serious allergic manifestations, then these drugs are no longer relevant. For example, suffocation is relieved by injection of epinephrine (adrenaline). It quickly expands the bronchi and makes it possible to breathe deeply. After an injection given intramuscularly, you must consult a doctor.

In America, bracelets were invented long ago that help others understand what reasons caused a person to lose consciousness, for example. To do this, patients diagnosed with alcohol intolerance must constantly carry an accessory with them, which may become their only hope for salvation.

Complications and prevention

If medications to urgently eliminate signs of alcohol intolerance are not taken on time, a person may begin to suffer from severe migraines caused by histamines contained in alcohol.

There is also a risk of anaphylactic shock, which can lead to death.

Why do some people's bodies not accept alcohol? It is difficult to answer, since there may be a lot of various factors. Usually, if a person who cannot tolerate alcohol drinks alcohol, his health sharply worsens. This reaction to drinking any amount of alcohol is formed as a result of the activity immune system.

In most cases, it is the immunity of a person who cannot tolerate alcohol that creates a response, which results in deterioration general well-being. Why does this happen and is it possible to fight it? Our article will help answer this and other questions.

Many people ask the question: why does our body not tolerate alcohol? Scientists from many countries have done a tremendous amount of work trying to find the real reason this phenomenon. It turns out that people do not perceive alcohol molecules well because of their heredity. It is at the genetic level that such a feature as susceptibility is laid down alcoholic drinks. As a result of this, even a small glass of vodka became disgusting to many of our fellow citizens. Why are genes responsible for this body property?

According to biological laws Such a trait as the ability to tolerate alcohol is formed in a person during embryonic development and is inherited. Therefore, we can conclude that if parents could not tolerate alcohol, this feature will pass on to their children. Such people are unable to cope with even small amounts of alcoholic beverages, as a result of which they spend their entire adult lives without alcohol.

If a person does not tolerate alcohol well, but still tries to drink it, then various kinds of changes can occur in the body.

Such changes may affect:

skin;
autonomic nervous system;
body organs.

The reason for such changes are acetaldehyde molecules, which were synthesized during the uncoupling of alcohol molecules. It is acetaldehyde that has a detrimental effect on the cells and organs of the body. Often, under the influence of this compound, various types of mutations arise at the gene level that negatively affect human life. In addition, acetaldehyde molecules promote expansion blood vessels and the accumulation of their blood. All these changes negatively affect the general condition of the body and human health.

In some cases, innocent drinking can lead to a number of allergic manifestations. Why does this happen and how to help a person? Let's try to figure it out.

It turns out that the composition of many alcohol-containing drinks includes various kinds of foreign compounds. Such compounds, having penetrated the body, can behave as strong allergic agents, causing corresponding changes in the body. Sometimes a state of anaphylactic shock can occur due to taking small doses of alcohol.

Today experts modern industry they simply cannot imagine producing a larger category of alcohol without adding chemical additives to it. Such additives significantly improve the color of wine, give it a special taste and help extend its shelf life. Thus, many producers no longer manage to make wine without sulfuric anhydride.

Despite all the positive properties of this compound for wine, it behaves dangerously in the human body. When sulfuric anhydride interacts with protein complexes, a person who cannot tolerate alcohol molecules may develop an allergy.

Pesticide molecules found in many wines take on the functions of heptanes. This can also lead to allergies if a person has a congenital intolerance to alcohol.

Excessive drinking in such people can cause damage to:

pancreas;
articular apparatus;
eye;
urethra.

When the human body at the genetic level contains the property of intolerance to alcohol, then even small amounts of it can lead to the development severe allergies. Many alcohol-containing drinks known today act as strong allergens.

If a person is diagnosed with intolerance to alcohol, drinking is strictly prohibited. Even small doses of wine can be fatal for him in terms of deterioration general condition health. Once ethanol enters the body of such people, it begins active destructive activity, destroying weak and healthy cells of the body. Due to the good solvent properties of alcohol, it quickly copes with cell membranes, penetrating into their contents. At the same time, due to a violation of the integrity of its nucleus with chromosomal threads, the cell ceases to perform its main functions. As a result of this effect, a lifeless empty cell is formed from a living working cell.

Under the influence of alcohol, the human immune system also suffers. Although this system aims its work at destroying ethyl alcohol molecules that have entered the body, allergies still occur. It is possible to overcome such an allergy only by completely abstaining from drinking any doses of wine.

If a person is not provided with the necessary medical care in time, he may develop:

anaphylactic shock;
hemolytic crisis;
allergic toxicoderma.

In order to prevent the development of these unpleasant consequences for a person, it is necessary to carry out appropriate work with him and explain the danger for him in innocently drinking wine.

We have already found out why a person may develop immunity to alcohol, but can this quality manifest itself in any way? It turns out it can. If individual citizens have a genetic intolerance to alcohol, they will definitely notice its manifestations.

Most often, such changes are expressed in:

the appearance of itching;
protrusion of the rash;
temperature increase;
swelling of tissues.

Such changes can occur not only from long drinking bout, but also from a small glass of wine. Even harmless beer for people of this category can be dangerous to health. Beer contains mainly components plant origin, and it contains little ethanol. However, even these small volumes of ethyl alcohol can lead the body of a person intolerant to alcohol to the most disastrous consequences.

It is beer for people whose body is not susceptible to alcohol that can cause the development of anaphylactic shock. Sometimes taking this drink may be accompanied by shortness of breath, decreased blood pressure or increased heart rate. Such changes if a person is not provided with timely medical care can lead to the most undesirable consequences.

IN medical practice Many cases have been described in which, under the influence of alcohol, the body of a person who did not perceive this compound became covered with red spots. Such manifestations also indicated an immediate cessation of alcohol intake.

IN Lately alcoholic products began to be counterfeited with low-quality surrogates. Such drinks are doubly dangerous for the human body, not only healthy people, but also people who are unable to drink alcohol. Therefore, people in this category need to be doubly careful and caring about their own health.

Our life has a large number of joys and pleasant moments. You should not waste it on empty drinking, which is dangerous for all people. You can replace this drink with more pleasant things that will not suddenly lead to a hospital bed and will not shorten our precious life.

Since alcohol intolerance is inherent in a person at the genetic level, it is unlikely that it will be possible to get rid of it. Based on this, you should build your life with slightly different goals and completely give up alcohol. Then you will be able to fully experience all its beauty and joy.

Each person is individual in his physiological and psychological “structure”, so alcohol intolerance is one of his many distinctive characteristics. Some people cannot digest certain medications or foods, while others react negatively to ethanol. This is due to the quality and enzymatic support of biochemical reactions inside the body, the state of immunity or genetic predisposition.

An allergy to alcohol should not be confused with ethanol intolerance, since the first develops as a reaction to the components of alcoholic beverages, and the second - exclusively to ethyl alcohol. A specific enzyme is responsible for its processing, the deficiency of which causes pathological aversion to alcohol. From here the conclusion suggests itself: there is no other way to cope with individual intolerance to ethanol except to completely abandon it.

True intolerance is usually inherited. Gene damage leads to the inability to break down alcohol into its components and absorb it. But besides heredity, a number of other points matter:

Ethnicity of patients: Asians are much more likely to suffer from the lack of enzymes necessary to “work” with alcohol - alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehydrogenase. If they exist in the human body, then their ratio is criminally disproportionate.
The disease known as Hodgkin's lymphoma is malignant lymphogranulomatosis.
Taking medications based on Disulfiram, antibiotics or antifungals.
Traumatic brain injuries.
Hepatitis and diseases of the biliary system.

Quite often, individual intolerance to ethanol manifests itself in the form clinical symptom third stage of alcoholism.

Thus, it can be argued that there are several types of alcohol intolerance:

Genetically determined or congenital.
On the background chronic alcoholism- exchange nature.
Permanently occurring when taking certain groups of drugs or caused by a developed disease.

The difference between an autoimmune reaction and intolerance

To understand the essence of alcohol intolerance, it is necessary to distinguish the mechanism of allergy development and determine tolerance to alcohol. All these terms are close to each other, but their causes and consequences are diametrically opposed.

Alcohol intolerance (intolerance) – by-effect incorrect metabolism, that is, metabolism that correlates with the enzymes operating in the body. This - a special case, which does not depend on our behavior.

If alcohol dehydrogenase is produced in the form of a slow variety, which is genetically inherent in each of us, then alcohol is poorly absorbed in such a person. That is, before ethanol is transformed into acetic acid, it manages to harm the body 100%, causing severe intoxication and a hangover. That's the whole mechanism.

But an alcohol allergy is something completely different. It is interpreted as an atypical reaction of the body in response to a foreign substance (alcohol).

What is unusual about the immune response is its internal resistance. The cells of the immune system suddenly begin to perceive as an “enemy” not only the components of alcohol, but also the metabolic products of their own metabolism. This feature is not observed in everyone, but when it manifests itself, it demonstrates mercilessness towards its own mutated proteins, destroying them.

Ethanol a priori cannot be a stranger, since it is also synthesized by the body itself. This means that an allergy or a perverted autoimmune reaction is not caused by it. There are only 3 triggers of the autoimmune process associated with the intake of alcohol in the body:

A large dose of alcohol taken at once, which blocks the normal recognition of friend or foe in immune cells.
The allergen is a component of an alcoholic drink.
Together with ethanol, dangerous antigens of other origins penetrate into the body (unsanitary conditions for drinking drinks and poor-quality snacks).

Most often, each individual moment is not enough to trigger an allergy, but their combination is a very likely reason for its development. But then there are new mysteries. The mechanism of progress of the autoimmune reaction is clear, but for some reason in some it is limited to the appearance of red spots on the face, while in others it is limited to angioedema and even death. Therefore, drinking for allergy sufferers means playing with fire.

It is believed that allergies are caused by dyes, stabilizers, and preservatives, but this is far from true. The content of these substances is written on the label, but there are a lot of microimpurities about which not a single line is written. However, they may be the most probable cause autoimmune reaction. For example, most sparkling wines and champagne contain sulfur dioxide, which is inherently poisonous.

Patients with an allergy to almonds, which are added to liqueur and mulled wine, are also at risk. Beer fans also run the risk of developing an allergy when exposed to gluten.

Alcohol aggravates allergies in a very primitive way. Once inside the body, it increases the permeability of the intestinal walls and great amount toxins that should have been removed from feces, enter the blood. And the “simpler” and cheaper the drink, the more tragic the consequences of taking it can be. At the same time, the digestion of proteins and their breakdown into amino acids is disrupted due to damage to the pancreas by ethanol. And an “immune error” occurs – an autoimmune process.

So, in a sense, we ourselves are the authors of alcohol allergies. It is necessary to control the process of drinking alcohol, its quality, but this will not give a 100% guarantee of safety. Patients prone to allergies should stop drinking alcohol once and for all.

Alcohol tolerance

Ethanol affects all internal organs and patient behavior. Sometimes frequent drinking leads to the development of addiction to them - tolerance to alcohol.

If this happens, then alcohol in the usual doses ceases to have the expected effect and in order to achieve a feeling of intoxication, the person tries to increase its concentration in the blood by drinking more than usual.

It seems that everything is simple with tolerance, but narcologists distinguish several options for its development and consequences:

The functional variety develops due to the brain's response to ethanol. Neurons adapt to the toxins of alcohol and compensate for its intake with normal human behavior. Minimum doses do not cause any reaction from the patient; to achieve euphoria and liberation, the dosage must be increased. This leads to the development of physical dependence and toxic damage to organs. The greater the amount that causes tolerance, the more dangerous the consequences. In other words, such behavior is a sign of the development of chronic alcoholism.
The acute form is the development of tolerance within one binge. Lack of intoxication at the very beginning with serious consequences at the end.
Social tolerance arises under the influence of the environment, when a person always drinks in the same place and in the same company. In this case, the familiar environment inhibits intoxication and requires an increase in the dose.

Tolerance is related to intolerance. Obviously, intolerance can be a consequence. This occurs when chronic drunkenness disrupts normal work alcohol enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase and acetal dehydrogenase, provokes the accumulation of toxins in the body, starts the destruction process internal organs with symptoms of alcohol intolerance.

The only means of prevention is giving up alcohol.

How does it manifest?

Clinically, intolerance is visualized in the form of a specific symptom complex:

Hyperemia (redness) of the face after minor alcohol intake.
Urticarial or raised urticaria.
Nasality due to swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages.
A sharp decrease in blood pressure up to a collaptoid state.
Asthmoid breathing.
Dizziness, fainting.
Symptoms of intoxication (nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia).
Mucous discharge from the conjunctival sac.
Dyshidrosis.
Heat.
Tachycardia.

Symptoms occur all at once or there may be only a few of them, it all depends on the degree of enzyme deficiency.

The severity of the symptoms requires contacting a doctor.

Diagnosis and treatment

Mild alcohol intolerance will go away on its own if you stop drinking alcohol. Choking or fainting is a reason to visit a specialist who will help you understand the cause of the incident and differentiate between allergies and intolerances.

The diagnostic algorithm consists of the following steps:

Collecting anamnesis, including hereditary and allergic.
Physical examination.
Skin allergy tests.
Laboratory tests: CBC, BAM, blood biochemistry (immunoglobulinogram with determination of IgE - a marker of allergy).

Treatment

Therapy is always complex, since the exact cause of intolerance or allergy is not clear:

Antihistamines: Claritin, Cetrin, Telfast - new generation drugs, not addictive and drowsiness, relieving itching, swelling of the nasal mucosa, relieving urticaria.
If there is a risk of suffocation, it is useful to have an adrenaline syringe pen with you. In a second, an injection will save a life, since adrenaline will relieve bronchospasm and allow you to get to the doctor.
An excellent help is a bracelet for allergy sufferers, which allows others to understand what is happening to a person in the event of a serious attack of suffocation or fainting.
Hodgkin's disease (lymphoma) requires special treatment in a hospital.

However, it should always be understood that the only way effective treatment intolerance, just like allergies, is complete failure from alcohol.

The main pathological reaction to alcohol develops in a period of time from half an hour to 3 hours from the moment of drinking. Therefore, always after the most minor but unexpected manifestations of alcohol intolerance, you should stop taking it and call ambulance, having previously given the patient sorbents (Polysorb, Enterosgel, Filtrum, Atoxil, Activated carbon) and, if possible, an anti-asthma drug. In case of fainting: lay on your side and clear the airways.

In the absence of suffocation, the algorithm is as follows:

Rinse the stomach after taking the sorbent first. Repeat in 10 minutes.
Diuretics: Furosemide, Triampur, Bumetanide.
Antihistamines: Allertek, Loratadine, Akrivastine.
Sorbent again after half an hour.
If there is no result, an injection of Prednisolone (per 1 kg of weight, 2.3 ml of solution) and urgent hospitalization.

Complications and methods of prevention

If toxic effect If alcohol does not stop the body, complications may develop in the form of:

Syndrome of migraine headaches due to histamines contained in alcohol and irritating the receptors of nerve endings that go to the centers of the brain, with simultaneous vasospasm as a result alcohol intoxication and disruption of the blood supply to neurons.
Anaphylaxis with fatal outcome.
Deep coma due to alcohol poisoning and blocking of nerve trunks with the death of brain neurons.
Asthmoid attack as a result of receptor damage respiratory tract, spasm of bronchial smooth muscles.

Prevention methods

Alcohol intolerance cannot be prevented or cured. The only way to solve the problem is to give up alcohol. Allergies require extremely correct use of ethanol with mandatory monitoring of the components according to the label and a test sip for sensitivity to them (half an hour wait for a reaction).

Alcohol intolerance is physical reaction the body to the effects of alcoholic beverages. In the presence of this disorder, a person’s well-being is severely disturbed several hours after drinking alcohol. Key Feature intolerance is nasal congestion or redness of the skin.

Sometimes people are allergic to various ingredients in alcohol. Many drinks include all sorts of preservatives, stimulants and coloring compounds. Allergic reactions should not be confused with congenital intolerance to alcohol. To put accurate diagnosis, you should consult a doctor.

The key signs of alcohol intolerance are nasal congestion and hyperemia of various parts of the body. That is why the disorder is often mistaken for an ordinary allergy. However, in reality the situation is more complex.

Individual alcohol intolerance is a genetic disorder. With this problem, the human body cannot break down alcohol. To prevent a reaction to alcoholic drinks, you need to completely abstain from them.

To avoid similar symptoms you should completely stop drinking alcohol

However, often self-identified intolerance to alcohol is a common allergy to additional ingredients that are present in drinks. These may be aromatic additives, preservatives, herbal extracts or coloring agents.

Negative reactions may be triggered by snacks or medicinal substances, which a person takes while drinking alcohol.

In extremely rare cases, alcohol intolerance can help identify dangerous pathologies, one of which is Hodgkin's lymphoma. This disease is accompanied by severe painful sensations, which arise almost after the first glass of alcohol.

Causes

Problems with the absorption of alcohol are manifested in the fact that human body cannot break down alcohol. This is due to the action of enzymes. One of them promotes the transformation of ethyl alcohol into acetaldehyde, and the other takes part in its decomposition to acetic acid.

If the first substance is produced too actively, and the effect of the second is reduced, a toxic substance, acetaldehyde, accumulates in the body. This element causes serious discomfort.

The main causes of alcohol intolerance include the following:

Genetic factors - in this case, a person experiences congenital disorder absorption of alcohol, associated with the presence of a hereditary predisposition.
Oncological lesions of various organs.
Race - there is evidence that certain peoples suffer from alcohol intolerance.
The use of antibiotics or antifungal medications - the combination of such medications with alcoholic beverages can cause alcohol intolerance.
Application medicines to combat alcohol addiction.

Classification

The main types of pathology include the following:

Congenital – is a genetically determined characteristic of an organism. In this case, from birth a person cannot absorb ethanol and its breakdown products.
Individual - such a disorder is associated with the characteristics of metabolic processes in the body. It is typical for people who have the third stage of alcoholism. Such patients previously tolerated ethyl alcohol well. However alcohol addiction over time, it disrupts organic structures and leads to the appearance of individual sensitivity to alcohol.
Acquired – certain types of disorders can lead to the development of this disorder medications, systemic pathologies, traumatic lesions brain and other factors.

Symptoms

A key sign of alcohol intolerance is severe redness of the dermis. Due to this feature, this condition is often called flash syndrome. The person blushes and the blood rushes to the face. Such symptoms appear almost immediately. Even a small amount of alcohol leads to them.

In children, flash syndrome can occur as a result of using drugs that include ethanol. This process is accompanied by accumulation in the body large quantity acetaldehyde, which cannot be broken down by the liver.

As a result of these processes, toxic substances provoke redness of the dermis on the body and face. If you ignore such reactions and continue to drink alcohol, the negative effects of harmful elements increase significantly.

Alcoholic drinks cause damage nervous system, heart, blood vessels, digestive organs.

The main symptoms of alcohol intolerance include the following:

Redness of the dermis of the face and body;
A rash that appearance resembles hives;
Watery eyes and redness of the eyes;
Increased sweating;
Itching sensation;
Increase in temperature indicators;
Rhinitis and cough;
Headaches, dizziness;
Fainting conditions;
Nausea and vomiting, heartburn symptoms;
Increased blood pressure, tendency to bleeding;
Symptoms of tachycardia;
Feeling of lack of air.

Alcohol intolerance does not cause all of the listed symptoms. Some people experience literally 2-3 signs, while others experience more vivid and varied manifestations. Such differences are associated with different levels enzyme deficiency.

In addition, the intensity clinical picture depends on the type of alcohol, its quality and quantity. In some people, just one sip of alcohol can provoke angioedema, anaphylactic shock, asthmatic attack or coma state. These violations can lead to death.

To identify alcohol intolerance, you must consult a doctor in a timely manner. The specialist will conduct necessary procedures and determine the causes of unpleasant symptoms.

With a visual examination, the doctor is able to detect symptoms of the disease

To do this, doctors perform the following types of studies:

Feature analysis. The patient must describe the symptoms of the pathology and explain what drinks provoke their appearance. In addition, the doctor will definitely be interested in the presence of close relatives who suffer from food allergies or have other types of reactions.
Inspection. Thanks to this procedure, it will be possible to detect or eliminate symptoms of various ailments.
Skin test to detect allergies. Thanks to this, it will be possible to identify allergic reactions to the components of alcohol - these could be grains that are present in beer. During the procedure, a small amount of allergen is applied to the skin, after which the skin in that area is pierced with a sterile needle. Scratches can also be applied using a scarifier. At positive result a blister or other reaction will appear in the area where the substance is applied.
Blood analysis. Using this study, it is possible to determine the immune response to a specific allergen. To do this, the doctor evaluates the content of immunoglobulin E in the blood. It is this substance that is responsible for the presence of allergies. To identify this element in laboratory conditions a blood sample is examined. Thanks to this, it is possible to detect the presence allergic reactions for some food products. However, the results are not always reliable.

First aid

When the first signs appear hypersensitivity to alcohol, you should immediately give up alcohol. Thanks to this, it will be possible to minimize the likelihood of developing negative consequences.

First aid upon arrival negative reactions involves performing the following actions:

Drink a lot of liquid and provoke vomiting reflex. Thanks to this, it will be possible to prevent its dissolution in the digestive organs.
If allergy symptoms appear on the neck or face, apply a cool compress to these areas. It's worth making it out of medicinal plants that have a calming effect - lemon balm, chamomile, mint.
If blood pressure increases and the heart rate increases, the patient should be placed on the bed and given strong tea.

When eliminating the symptoms of pathology, it is imperative to determine the causes of negative reactions and subsequently stop consuming such products.

This will help avoid negative health consequences.

The main condition successful treatment Alcohol intolerance is a complete abstinence from alcohol. If you have a slight allergy, you should take antihistamine. If a more serious condition is observed, the use of desensitization therapy and detoxification agents is indicated.

To cope with acute alcohol intolerance, hormonal therapy may be used. Sometimes hemosorption blood purification or plasmapheresis is performed. TO additional funds, which are used in this situation include enzymes and eubiotics.

People suffering from alcohol intolerance should use with caution. alcohol tinctures in the treatment of other diseases

After completing therapy, you need to be careful about treatment. Many medications contain alcohol, which can provoke an acute attack of pathology. If you are dependent on alcohol, you must undergo alcoholism treatment.

Possible consequences

In the event of an attack of alcohol intolerance, the toxic effect of ethanol on the body must be immediately eliminated. If this is not done, there is a risk of dangerous consequences for good health.

These include the following.