Your doctor can give you medications to lessen the symptoms of alcohol intolerance, such as anti-inflammatory medicines for pain. Additionally, medications only help mask symptoms and do not help with the underlying problem. High acetaldehyde levels increase your risk of cancer, making it best to avoid using alcohol completely if you have alcohol intolerance. There is no cure or treatment for alcohol intolerance unless it is due to medication use or a medical condition. For people who have alcohol intolerance due to a medication, stopping the medication will likely resolve the alcohol intolerance. If it is an inherited genetic condition, medical professionals are limited to providing ways to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of alcohol intolerance.
In some cases, the effect of alcohol can exacerbate existing alcohol intolerance health conditions like asthma or gastrointestinal disorders. This can be particularly concerning for individuals who have previously consumed alcohol without any adverse effects. Alcohol intolerance is a physiological condition where the body is unable to effectively metabolize alcohol. Unlike alcoholism, which is an addiction requiring alcoholism treatment, alcohol intolerance can lead to immediate and sometimes severe reactions upon consuming alcohol, even in small amounts.
This genetic deficiency results in decreased levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks acetaldehyde into non-toxic chemicals. Those with normal aldehyde dehydrogenase levels break acetaldehyde down almost instantaneously, while those with ALDH2 deficiency metabolize it quite slowly. The color change will generally be quite noticeable and affect your entire face. You may notice a feeling of warmth in the skin of your face as the blood flow increases. The immediate symptoms of alcohol intolerance will occur right after drinking alcohol.
Contact us with questions or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. For those seeking addiction or mental health treatment, The Recovery Village Indianapolis Drug and Alcohol Rehab stands as a beacon of hope. It is important to note that there are no specific diagnostic tests for alcohol intolerance. Therefore, the assessment often relies on excluding other potential causes and carefully considering symptoms.