There's nothing like unwinding with a nice glass of wine after a long day or splitting a bottle with your honey on date night at a fine restaurant. Unless, of course, you are allergic (to the wine, not your date). In this case, a toast to health and happiness won't relieve you from the dread of what's to come after you've swirled, sniffed, and sipped. Even the most expensive bottle of cabernet won't make you feel any better. An allergy to wine is no joke, and if you experience any or all of these 3 signs after a glass or more of vino, you may want to say "cheers" to a different beverage in the future.
1. Wheezing
Lots of wines have added sulfites, which are a "preservative to wine," as per Wine Folly and can actually "occur naturally in the process of making wine," according to WebMD.
Bustle tells us that "Wheezing, labored breathing, coughing, and other respiratory symptoms can be caused by the sulfites in wine (especially if you have asthma)." If you were feeling fine all day and suddenly start wheezing after you've had some wine, chances are it's the wine that's the issue. Try a sulfite-free wine to see if that makes a difference. Food Republic recommends 5 wines without sulfites which are all reasonable priced and delicious.
2. Headache
A headache from a nasty hangover is different than getting one just because you've had a glass or two of wine. According to Livestrong, "The so-called 'red wine headache' can occur after drinking less than one glass for people with allergies."
The cause of such headaches may be due to histamines in wine. According to mindbodygreen, "Histamine is a chemical involved in your immune system, proper digestion, and your central nervous system. Histamine causes your blood vessels to swell, or dilate, so that your white blood cells can quickly find and attack the infection or problem. The histamine buildup is what gives you a headache."
Like sulfite-free wines, there are low-histamines on the market too, so the next time you're at the wine shop, ask the clerk to steer you towards some varieties that may not cause you to suffer from wine-related symptoms.
3. Flushing
If you've ever developed facial flushing after drinking some wine and it wasn't because your lowered inhibitions caused you to embarrass yourself and blush, this is another sign you may be allergic.
As per Wine Spectator, "The most common reason for a glass of wine to make someone's face turn red is what is known as alcohol flush reaction. People who have alcohol flush reaction do not have enough of the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol in their bodies. As a result, when they drink alcohol, they get an excess accumulation of acetaldehyde, a component of alcohol, which is responsible for flushing or swelling of the skin accompanied by itching or irritation."
In addition, those withrosacea, a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that most often affects the face, may find their condition may become aggravated after drinking wine.