Can Alcohol Allergies Develop During Menopause?
Updated: 2h
Going through the journey of menopause and peri-menopause is a unique experience for every woman. While numerous blogs discuss the typical symptoms of menopause, In this article, we focus specifically on how alcohol consumption affects menopause and how previously normal drinking habits can suddenly start causing new problems.
Menopause can Lower your Alcohol Tolerance Have you found yourself feeling more affected by alcohol than you used to, perhaps becoming tipsy or experiencing hangovers after just a few drinks? If you're questioning why your usual drinking habits are suddenly hitting you harder, you're not alone. As you transition into menopause, you might be developing an alcohol intolerance. This intolerance can be perplexing and frustrating, especially if you've enjoyed your favourite drinks for years without issue.
Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance and Menopausal Discomfort
Menopause can amplify the typical symptoms of alcohol intolerance, leading to uncomfortable and often disruptive experiences. Here are some common issues you might encounter:
Night Sweats
Alcohol can cause your body temperature to rise, leading to intensified night sweats. This is due to alcohol's effect on dilating blood vessels and accelerating heart rate, which in turn can make your skin flush and trigger excessive sweating.
Sleep Disturbances
A restful night's sleep is crucial, yet elusive, during menopause. Alcohol, being a diuretic, not only increases night-time trips to the bathroom but also disrupts your circadian rhythm and hampers the quality of your sleep.
Mood Swings
Perimenopause is a time when women are particularly vulnerable to mood disorders like depression, partly due to fluctuating estrogen levels affecting brain chemistry. Alcohol, a depressant, can further dampen mood and exacerbate feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Why Does this Happen?:
Research points to several physiological changes:
Liver Function : As you age, particularly during perimenopause, your liver's efficiency in processing alcohol diminishes. This slower metabolism means alcohol lingers longer in your system, intensifying its effects and the subsequent hangover.
Enzyme Levels : Women naturally have lower levels of the enzymes needed to metabolize alcohol. During menopause, these levels can drop further, decreasing your tolerance and making those couple of drinks feel like several more.
How Can I Feel Better?
Adjusting how and what you drink during this time can bring relief from some of the symptoms and help you enjoy better physical and mental health.
While the menopause needs to take its natural course, we can help you during the transitional phase. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health.
Our easy-to-use alcohol intolerance test can help you make better, informed decisions about what to drink and what not to drink. . By identifying your specific trigger drinks and tolerance levels, you can make informed choices that support your well-being during this transitional time.
Get Smart ... Get Tested. Take an alcohol intolerance test and identify exactly which drinks are problematic for you.
