Can alcohol trigger an asthma attack?

Alcohol is one of the most common asthma triggers. It can cause an asthma attack in up to 10% of people with asthma. Alcohol has a number of effects that can worsen asthma, including:

Relaxing the smooth muscle in the airways, making it easier for them to narrow

Increasing the production of histamine, a chemical that causes inflammation in the airways

Dehydrating the body, which can make asthma symptoms worse

Irritating the airways

Alcohol is also known to worsen the symptoms of allergic asthma. This is because alcohol can increase the levels of certain chemicals in the body that are associated with allergic reactions.

If you have asthma, avoiding alcohol is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of having an asthma attack. However, if you do choose to drink alcohol, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of an asthma attack:

Ask your doctor about what kinds of alcohol are safest for people with asthma. Some types of alcohol, such as wine, are less likely to cause asthma symptoms than others, such as beer.

Drink slowly and in moderation. The more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk of an asthma attack.

Avoid drinking alcohol before or during exercise. Exercise can worsen asthma symptoms, and alcohol can make the effects of exercise even worse.

If you start to have asthma symptoms after drinking alcohol, stop drinking immediately. You may also need to take your asthma medication.

If you have any questions or concerns about alcohol and asthma, talk to your doctor.