- With Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist
James T. Li, M.D.
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James T. Li, M.D.
James T. Li, M.D.
"People with allergy or asthma can lead full and healthy lives." — Dr. James Li
Dr. Li is chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. He hopes his expertise and the information on the site educates health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses.
"There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," says Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is a past director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with its Special Recognition Award.
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Question
Alcohol allergy: Is there such a thing?
Is there such a thing as alcohol allergy? After drinking just one alcoholic beverage, I get a rash all over and I throw up.
Answer
from James T. Li, M.D.
Some people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than are others. However, this doesn't mean you have an alcohol allergy.
A true food allergy involves your immune system. In such cases, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a component of that food as a harmful substance. Your immune system triggers certain cells to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the "enemy" food or food component. Signs and symptoms of food allergy include tingling in the mouth, hives, breathing difficulties, and swelling of your lips, tongue or throat.
An alcohol allergy would be very uncommon. However, you could be allergic to other ingredients in an alcoholic beverage, such as wheat or sulfur dioxide, a preservative. There are also substances in some alcohol beverages such as wine that can cause flushing or even rashes.
Still, it's more likely that you have an alcohol intolerance — which means you are more sensitive to the normal effects of alcohol. Alcohol can cause a variety of immediate adverse effects on the body, including headache, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, nasal congestion, or warm, red, itchy skin.
Many people of Asian descent experience an unusual flushing reaction after drinking alcohol — even in very small amounts. This is caused by a genetic disorder in which the body is unable to break down alcohol completely. Some research suggests that people who experience alcohol flush reaction may be at increased risk of alcohol-related conditions, such as cancer of the esophagus and liver disease.
The only solution to all of these problems is to avoid alcohol.
Rarely, severe pain following alcohol ingestion may be a sign of a more serious underlying disorder, such as Hodgkin's disease — also known as Hodgkin's lymphoma. If you experience unusual symptoms after ingesting alcohol, consult your doctor.
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