Alcohol and difficulty breathing and can't sleep! - Asthma Message Board

singer1 · 06-11-2006, 08:49 AM

Hey everyone. I know that the majority of asthma problems stem from allergies and I wanted to know if anyone has ever experienced any breathing difficulties about 2 hours after drinking alcohol? I drink that often at all, but I did have some red wine and noticed that my body felt very relaxed, I could not sleep (so I finally got up at 2:30am) and all through the night I had to get on my nebulizer machine. Is there any links between alcohol and asthma symptoms?

zippy_mouse · 06-11-2006, 10:25 AM

Hi. Though I'm not a medical professional, I've heard from a doctor that alcohol can worsen asthma.
Actually, alcohol helps open airways just after you drink it. (I've heard that in the past it was used as a bronchodilator.)
However, it deprives our body of water when it is broken down in the liver.
When your asthma is not well controlled, the lack of water could exacerbate the airway inflammation and asthma symptoms.
Considering that you experienced breathing difficulties a few hours after drinking wine, the breakdown of alcohol might be the trigger.
One way to deal with it is to drink a lot of water after drinking alcohol.
Another way is to better control your asthma!
Hope this helps. Be well.

singer1 · 06-11-2006, 05:04 PM

guess I'll have to give up the wine

dazedandconfused10 · 06-11-2006, 07:52 PM

or drink more water?

singer1 · 06-12-2006, 03:43 PM

I actually heard that the more water a person drinks, the less symptoms of allergies and asthma. But how much? I did put myself on some prednisone that I had so hopefully, that will help too. Thanks everyone!!!