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!!!!.

[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!

[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

[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.