Red Wine

[Homely2]

Does anybody get their asthma triggered by red wine. This is a new one to me, it does not see to be all red wine. It is most irritating, so looking at how to handle it, other than just stop drinking red wine. It responds well to my trusty fostair 100 luckily.

[Mandevilla]

To be honest, if you are starting to get a reaction to some types of red wine, then I would just stop drinking it completely. Alcohol has always been a trigger for me, since I was a small child eating sherry trifle at a family reunion, but I have got much more sensitive to it the older I have become and now, even sitting next to someone who has a glass of wine can be an issue. I've found that the increase in severity tends to happen in large leaps, without any warning, so I wouldn't risk it at all if I were you. (Sorry, I know that's probably not the news you were hoping for. The good news is that there are far more interesting non-alcoholic beverages available now, and much more understanding from others when you say you don't drink.)

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to Mandevilla]

Asthma I find puzzling, like a detective story.

In the summer my Asthma was settled and my consultant tried reducing my drug levels, within a month I was on prednisone, and have been on it for a course every six weeks or so ever since, with all my inhalers at maximum. I have though kept out of hospital.

So, I think you are correct, my Asthma has done a large leap, and my efforts to manage it with inhalers needs to be helped with a decent attempt to find and eradicate the new causes, which fortunately now includes red wine!!!!.

[Itswonderful in reply to Mandevilla]

Yes! Only drink decaf tea now. Red wine is a real trigger as is most alcohol. Luckily I don't really like it and I can't see what all the fuss is about..... 😬 (puts hard hat on and hides under the table....) 😂

[peege]

Yes, and it triggers my sinuses terribly. I just gave up all red wine then a sommelier friend told me it wasn't unusual and that I should try young wines like a Beaujolais - Fleurie, Morgan, Bruilly but Pinot Noir has been alright . It was trial and error for a long time and I never drink at people's houses - unless I brought the wine! Anything 'oaked' is dreadful - all the fungus i suppose. You could try organic, sulphite free wine but it gets a bit expensive. Mainly I cant be bothered anymore and stick to champagne or prosecco produced in stainless steel tanks, those seem fine.

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to peege]

Your advice is much appreciated.

[peege in reply to peege]

ps I could never eat grapes, my stomach would swell hugely. I tried polishing off the white bloom on them but it was a faff. Some grapes have more of the bloom than others. I only made the connection about it because the same happened with the the white skin on Camenbert or Brie ( 😭 ) & blue cheeses & mushrooms. Weirdly this all improved many years after menopause but wine effects didn't. It's salt in the wounds when such pleasures are removed.

I missed out a good Côte du Rhone on the wine list ! Pint Noir might be a good place to start (less expensive). Good luck and sending you thanks for all your here and good wishes for a happy healthy 2025. P

[Rattle in reply to peege]

Thanks for all those hints peege! I am on the outlook for what may be causing my sinuses to swell up & flare ups of sinusitis and this is really helpful to know!

[Carus in reply to peege]

Same for me Peege. I love wine but it isn’t reciprocated. And my sinuses go nuts. I find that white has a bit less effect but Prosecco is the least of all evils. Probably since it also has a generally lower level of alcohol.

[janedivney]

That’s a pity, I believe red wine in moderation is good for you. Perhaps you could experiment by buying lots of little 25cl bottles to find one which doesn’t affect you? Having said that, I don’t drink at all except for a bucks fizz with lunch at Christmas. I used to like a nighttime whisky, or a g&t on a summer’s evening, but I’m now taking so many drugs for my various lung conditions, I decided that metabolising them is enough of a challenge for my poor liver. I have to say, I don’t miss it one bit

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to janedivney]

I love your idea of lots of little bottles. I can then test peege's recommendations.

[Pipsqueak77 in reply to Homely2]

Hi

I know that sulphites can cause problems for asthmatics in food and especially wine.

Maybe look for sulphite free wines?

I think this kind of sensitivity can just develop out of the blue too.. so it could be something that has never caused you a problem before but does now.

Really annoying.. 😕 good luck

[Lynneypin]

I’m afraid all alcohol affects me. Started with wine ….tee total now. 🙁

[Collienut]

The first physio I saw for my lungs told me to avoid red wine completely, I thought he said it was to do with some contained sulphates. I occasionally had a sherry glass of red wine, but even that would irritate my breathing. Can no longer tolerate any alcohol it makes me feel ill.

[Yvonneh1234 in reply to Collienut]

I’m the same I don’t drink at all now I did when I was younger in moderation It didn’t matter what I had even if it was a little I would get a headache 🤕 I don’t no why even if I just had a sip ? So I don’t bother now I just prefer a decaf coffee now 🤣😊 that will do me 😊🥰xx

[Collienut in reply to Yvonneh1234]

I've always had a low tolerance to alcohol and didn't drink at all in my teens, I was quite popular as everyone assumed I would drive them! I'm on decaf coffee too. ☺️xx

[Yvonneh1234 in reply to Collienut]

lol 😂 me too I was everyone’s chauffeur 😂😂😂xx

[Mandevilla in reply to Collienut]

I was always very popular in my teens and twenties too, as everyone knew they had a designated driver if I was in the group! I've never felt like I was missing out - because we picked up the intolerance while I was very young, based on tiny amounts in deserts, I never started drinking in the first place. I do feel for people who have spent years enjoying their alcoholic drinks and suddenly have to give them up.

[Yvonneh1234 in reply to Mandevilla]

I’m more a cake person 😂🤣 but after today and my little cake tonight I will be back into it and hopefully will lose the one stone that won’t seem to budge especially after all the treats and rich foods over Christmas . . . Happy new year to everyone and good health in the new year to all 😊xx

[runcyclexcski in reply to Collienut]

Distilled hard liquor all the way -- less constituents, no sulphites, and less headache next morning (per unit alcohol consumed!) 😊

[ReedB]

Hi Homely, I think I've picked up in various places that red wine (amongst others) can be high in histamine. May be a contributing factor!

[fraid]

Insult to injury! I couldn't do without a glass of red at Xmas or on a Sunday with lunch, and never had a problem. Such a shame you can't find one that suits you yet, hopefully you will. My fav was Chateau neuf de pape, but so expensive now, more than Champagne, so settled for a nice Cote de Rhone. If I was allergic to Stella I'd go nuts! 😂Have you tried taking an antihistamine before you open the bottle? May be the fumes you're allergic to, so let it air a while. Hope you find a solution for New Year- is white ok for you? Happy New Year to you and all on this forum. 🤗🍷🥂🥳

[Gareth57]

it's more likely to be white wine which also upsets my IBS. I find my asthma is always changing currently for the better, since retiring!

[Josephone]

people who suffer from asthma and hay fever are likely to have an allergic reaction to red wine, I had to stop drinking because I used to get a terrible reaction, I’m not a drinker anyway so I didn’t have a problem giving up red wine.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I have an idea I've reacted to red wine before, but then it's difficult to tell as my alcohol tolerance has always been so low I can't really drink. Not related to asthma, I just can't process it normally.

I don't think my asthma reacts to alcohol in itself as I can still have sips, and do - unless it's gin which is full of botanicals and will set me off if I so much as put my nose near it. Ditto cocktails if they have botanical or floral ingredients. Annoyingly this is also an issue with many non-alcoholic drinks as they're often heavily floral/botanical based and don't always list all their ingredients.

Or they randomly add stuff to my 'safe' flavours like raspberry or orange - I have to google them now as I've discovered rose and juniper in bottled drinks where you would never expect them, and I will react even if I can't taste them.

[Poobah]

Wines and beers contain sulphites, so I just don't imbibe. I gave up alcohol before I even got started. The occasional toast of champagne or sparkling wine just sets me off and it feels like I have a chest infection within a couple of hours. It's just not worth the misery.

Spirits are supposed to be sulphite free, and I do have brandy in hot chocolate when I get a cold or sore throat - certainly helps me sleep. But thankfully nowadays, most hostelries have a good selection of soft drinks, however, I still avoid drinks that are full of E numbers and preservatives.

And my SIL put me on my guard against cola type carbonated drinks decades ago because of their affect on bone density, especially in women. Ideally, she ascribes water or extremely weak tea...we love her, but not her advice. 😉 But at 86 she has the bone density of a 50yo.

[runcyclexcski in reply to Poobah]

I agree re: sulphites. Anything with sulphur (no matter the oxidation state) smells to a degree.

[Beth_19]

yes red wine triggers my asthma too. The last time I had a glass of red wine I had an asthma attack so stopped drinking it, my mum (also asthmatic) can’t tolerate red wine either. white wine is better though it did leave me a little wheezy. I don’t drink now at all because of the other meds I take

[Hil101]

Hi, I’m really glad you asked this question as I now realise that my asthma improves when I don’t drink. Some combination of histamines, sulphites and tannins - apparently sulphites can cause the body to produce histamine and some wines are already high in histamine, reds especially). I found this article which is helpful and informative:

drinkwelluk.com/blogs/news/...

I find that sparkling wine works best for me.

Incidentally, foods high in histamine such as some cheeses and preserved meats might also annoy asthma. I will watch out for that

[Mandevilla in reply to Hil101]

I've noticed that I get a bit tight-chested after eating something that has a lot of cheese in it...that annoys me far more than not being able to drink alcohol!

[runcyclexcski]

I wonder what the circumstances of drinking the red wine were :). If it was gluwine at a christmas market, there are a lot of things going on in addition to the red wine. I avoid those b.c. of smokers and generally bad air quality due to cooking smells etc.

[strongmouse]

if you are prone to allergies or lactose intolerant, it is worth remembering that some wines can contain milk (lactose), egg or fish. These can be used in the refining process. They have to be stated on the label. I can't tolerate red wine it gives me a headache, and also any wine likely to be contaminated with lactose or egg (sparkling wine in particular).

huffpost.com/archive/ca/ent...

I've never worked out any logic to triggers of allergies or what triggers exacerbates asthma! Lactose can aggravate rhinitis and the production of mucus I find. It is about being one's own detective.

[EJS87]

I'm allergic to sulphites which are in wines. Also wine has high levels of histamine which won't help

[LHP118]

Agree, it could be the sulphites,

Also, can't hurt to look at every ingredient and the type of wine (regions may be linked to processes), and diarise.

My allergies and other symptoms have now, finally (!!!), been linked to a core issue which I am in the process of resolving.