Phlegm After Eating: 10 Causes & Solutions

why am i congested after drinking

It’s common for nasal discharge in the final days of a cold to be yellow or green. This happens as a result of your immune system fighting the cold. As a result, their bodies produce inactive ALDH enzymes that are unable to properly break down the alcohol into acetic vinegar. This incomplete processing of the alcohol can cause the body to react by producing symptoms that reflect an allergy to the alcohol. People with this gene deficiency suffer two-fold from allergic symptoms to alcohol.

why am i congested after drinking

Why Does Wine Cause a Stuffy Nose?

Notice an increase in stuffiness around the time you started a new prescription? Medications used to treat high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, depression and seizures all have the potential to trigger chronic congestion, according to the Mayo Clinic. Oral contraceptives and even OTC pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen are also possible culprits.

  • If lying down causes snot to drip and you to cough, try propping your head up with pillows or raising the head of your bed, if it’s adjustable.
  • If acid reflux is a concern, avoid lying down immediately after eating and monitor the portion sizes of acidic foods.
  • But they’re especially bothersome first thing in the morning, when mucus and congestion can sap your energy and turn you into a dripping, zombie-like mess.
  • If the sinuses become inflamed and swollen, a person may develop sinusitis.
  • Take a deep breath through your nose and hold for 2 counts.
  • By the last days of a cold, most symptoms will have faded and your energy will have returned to your usual levels.

Stuffy Nose at Night? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

  • Other irritants in the air can make mucus production worse, so make sure your heating and cooling system filters are clean and up to date.
  • This may be a sign that your airways are inflamed, but small amounts of white or clear mucus aren’t worrisome.
  • If you’re experiencing symptoms of nasal congestion, you may still benefit from placing humidifiers around your house or office.
  • “This may manifest as nasal congestion, dry cough or frequent throat clearing.”

Look for a cough medicine listing guaifenesin in its ingredients. The bottle might be labelled “expectorant.” Guaifenesin loosens up mucus in your chest, allowing you to cough it up. Drink plenty of water and other fluids, like herbal tea and broth. Stay away from fluids that can dehydrate you, such as coffee and alcohol.

why am i congested after drinking

Symptoms and Causes

  • It doesn’t happen to everyone, but those who do get congested after a glass or two know just how much of a buzzkill it can be.
  • Notice an increase in stuffiness around the time you started a new prescription?
  • Rarely, a tumor or polyp in your nose may make your nose feel congested.
  • It’s important to drink plenty of fluids if you suspect you have a cold or are experiencing flu symptoms.
  • It’s about tuning into the body’s cues and recognizing its way of signaling that something needs attention.
  • When you sneeze or blow your nose, you’re kicking intruders out of your system.

A cold typically resolves after about a week, although congestion, cough, and runny nose can linger. Your cold may be improving if you have more energy and your symptoms are milder. A stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, can be frustrating and often affect your day-to-day life. The key to treating phlegm due to GERD is to control the acid reflux causing irritation to the throat and respiratory passages. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or chronic acid reflux is a condition that results from recurrent reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus and throat.

Other irritants in the air can make mucus production worse, so make sure your heating and cooling system filters are clean and up to date. It’s not glamorous, but you can clean out your clogged nostrils with a Neti pot. A neti pot is a container designed to flush mucus and fluids out of your nasal passages.

why am i congested after drinking

As blood vessels expand and swell, they transport more blood. This is especially evident on the surface of the skin and is why people tend to get more flushed or red when they drink alcohol. Some people have noses that are stuffy and run all the time why am i congested after drinking without a known reason. This is called nonallergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis.

why am i congested after drinking