Do I Have Alcohol Intolerance?

Do you have immediate, uncomfortable reactions after you drink small amounts of alcohol?

Do your face, neck and chest become warm and pink or red immediately after drinking alcohol?

Do you have nausea and vomiting?

Do you have a fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or palpitations?

Do you have low blood pressure?

Do you have a throbbing headache, fatigue and other hangover-like symptoms?

Do you have a stuffy nose?

Do you have diarrhea?

If you are an asthmatic, do you have worsening asthma?

Are you of Asian descent?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is a medical condition that is characterized by unpleasant symptoms immediately after drinking a small amount of alcohol. It is an inherited disorder that most often occurs among Asians. It should be emphasized that alcohol intolerance and alcohol allergy are not the same conditions, although they may have similar symptoms. Alcohol intolerance is a metabolic disorder in which your body does not process alcohol as it should, while alcohol allergy is actually an improper response of your immune system to an ingredient in a certain alcoholic beverage.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by a lack of a certain enzyme that helps your body metabolizes alcohol. Immediately after drinking even small amounts of alcohol, your face may become warm and red (alcohol flush). Some people also feel nauseous. People with alcohol intolerance inherited a mutated gene from each parent. Very often, the parents themselves do not suffer from alcohol intolerance, but they can still pass on the altered gene to you. A diagnosis is based on your symptoms and an ethanol patch test.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is a genetic disorder in which your body cannot easily process alcohol. It is not the same as being intoxicated; alcohol intolerance does not mean that you will get drunk faster from a small amount of alcohol. Alcohol intolerance cannot be cured. The only sure way to avoid symptoms is to avoid alcohol. Some people resort to taking antacids or antihistamines to mask the symptoms of alcohol intolerance. However, in that case, you can drink more alcohol, which will only make your condition worse later.