Why You Get Stuffy Nose After Drinking Alcohol and How to Stop It

Experiencing phlegm after eating can often leave you puzzled about what’s triggering this bodily response. This occurrence isn’t just random; it’s usually a signal from the body reacting to various dietary and lifestyle factors. Identifying these triggers is the first step toward reducing their impact. Here are some common causes of phlegm production following meals, each with its own considerations and solutions. Allergies can cause a host of symptoms, from itchy eyes and sneezing to congestion, chest tightness, and coughing.

Abdominal Pain Symptoms & Alcohol

Touch base with your doctor, too, if you’re experiencing facial pain or pressure, or abnormal nasal discharge or bleeding. These could be signs of an infection that require treatment. In this stage, symptoms are mild and might resolve completely. The remaining symptoms in stage 3 typically include cough, congestion, and runny nose.

What are the symptoms that indicate your cold is almost over?

Experiencing phlegm after eating is not always a cause for concern. Nasal polyps are soft, noncancerous growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. A polyp, an object such as a small toy stuck in the nose, or a tumor might cause the nose to run from only one side. Having sluggish ALDH2 enzymes, or lower levels of it altogether, is ultimately the product of having genetic variation in your ALDH2 gene. Specifically, genetic changes that make your corresponding ALDH2 enzyme bad at its job. What’s more is that this genetic variation can be passed down from parent to child, making alcohol intolerance an inherited condition.

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Then, your immune system kicks in, flooding your nose with mucus that’s intended to wash away intruders. Swollen nasal tissues and mucus combine to block your nose, making your condition worse. Nonallergic rhinitis involves sneezing or a stuffy, drippy nose.

Alcohol intolerance

If your body is unable to remove acetaldehyde from the body, symptoms like congestion, flushing, headaches, and more can persist. Read on to uncover the science behind the stuffy nose phenomenon as well as key strategies to prevent it from becoming an inevitable side effect of drinking alcohol. Coughing often intensifies at night or when lying down due to the gravitational shift that affects the movement of the phlegm. In a reclined position, mucus from the nasal passages and sinuses can accumulate in the throat, triggering the cough reflex. To alleviate this, try sleeping with the head elevated and maintaining a well-humidified environment to soothe the throat. Identifying and avoiding specific food allergens is crucial.

When to see a doctor

• Simply avoid alcohol, limit how much you drink or avoid certain types of alcoholic beverages.
• However, if you cough it out and it doesn’t seem to resolve, it may be a sign of an infection or other condition.
• Vasomotor rhinitis does not involve an allergic reaction, although the exact mechanisms leading to congestion remain incompletely understood.
• If your excess mucus is triggered by a bacterial infection, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics.

From dietary adjustments to lifestyle modifications, each step offers a path to greater comfort and well-being. Consuming why am i congested after drinking large meals can put pressure on the stomach and lead to acid reflux. This reflux then causes the body to produce extra mucus to protect the esophagus from stomach acid. If throat mucus overproduction becomes a regular and uncomfortable occurrence, consider consulting with your healthcare professional for a full diagnosis and a treatment plan. Instead, most people who have a stuffy nose only at night have a condition called inferior turbinate hypertrophy, Dr. Yong says. Here’s how to tell if you’re affected and what you can do to find relief.

• Many people find that symptoms start to ease on days 7–10 of their cold.
• Allergies can also cause extra mucus in your nose and throat.
• The bottle might be labelled „expectorant.” Guaifenesin loosens up mucus in your chest, allowing you to cough it up.
• The condition is often self-limiting in most cases (within a few days).