Experiencing Difficulty in Enjoying Wine Due to Long COVID? You’re Not Alone! Chris Lehoux, March 27, 2024 A Stanford report connects long COVID to heightened sensitivity to alcohol, including exacerbated headaches and hangovers, however, the exact reasons are still being investigated. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has moved beyond its worldwide crisis point, there are many people, including some wine connoisseurs, who are still feeling its impact. Based on observational evidence, there seems to be potential correlation between previous COVID infection and heightened sensitivity to alcohol. This sensitivity could lead to headaches, severe hangover-like reactions and other effects, even with the consumption of a small amount of alcohol. New research has emerged, deepening our understanding of how the so-called ‘long COVID’ could affect individuals’ enjoyment of alcohol. This study was conducted by the research team at Stanford Health Care and has been published in the Cureus journal late last year. It discovered that some people who are living with long COVID have a significantly diminished tolerance to alcohol, even in small doses. The study specifically reported on the cases of four individuals with long COVID who experienced heightened alcohol sensitivity, forcing them to alter their drinking patterns. The term ‘long COVID’ (officially known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2) refers to the symptoms experienced after the initial acute viral infection with COVID-19 has subsided. These symptoms and their severity can immensely vary from one person to another, and they can persist anywhere from a couple of months to more than a year. It is common for patients to disclose symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and disrupted sleep patterns. These symptoms are consistent with what is observed in other medical conditions that follow a viral infection, including conditions like Hodgkin’s lymphoma, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and complications from Epstein-Barr infection. Emerging research is suggesting that sensitivity to alcohol might also be a probable symptom of long COVID. However, the research in this field is still in its nascent stage. The current document discusses a limited study, which focuses on four patients at Stanford, who had long COVID symptoms extending beyond a month, and proposes a potential correlation. The experiences of these individuals varied significantly, from a slight increase in sensitivity to alcohol to an extreme intolerance. One of the four patients, a man aged 60, used to consume alcohol bi-monthly without any complications, prior to contracting COVID. Post-COVID, he suffered from regular, daily headaches as a part of his long COVID symptoms. Alcohol consumption would further trigger these headaches. A 36-year-old woman, another patient, used to drink socially without any problems. She currently reports that the same amount of alcohol causes “bouts of flushing and headaches.” The remaining two patients reported severe decreases in their tolerance to alcohol. One such patient is a 49-year-old woman who used to consume several glasses of alcohol weekly before contracting COVID. Her tolerance to alcohol decreased dramatically, to the point where she has avoided consuming any form of alcohol for the past seven months. She once experienced a severe adverse reaction to a single glass of wine, describing the intensity of her symptoms to be akin to a “bad hangover.” She experienced headaches, grogginess, and a crippling fatigue the following day. A single drink a week later resulted in similar symptoms. Long COVID often results in alcohol sensitivity, although the cause remains obscure. One theory suggests it might be due toenhanced orthostatic intolerance, a condition that’s progressively linked with long COVID. Orthostatic intolerance involves insufficient blood flow to the heart and brain when a person changes their posture to a standing or sitting position. As alcohol relaxes blood vessels and acts as a diuretic, it may intensify issues with low blood pressure, curbing blood flow further and exacerbating long COVID symptoms. An additional possible cause could be the disturbance of the gut microbiome, frequently reported in long COVID patients and also potentially caused by alcohol consumption. This disruption may alter how alcohol is absorbed and could initiate inflammation in the liver, brain, and other parts of the body. This inflammation could then be linked to worsened symptoms and discomfort in patients. According to the authors, current suggestions for managing alcohol sensitivity in long COVID encompass “abstinence, avoidance, or the use of antihistamines to see if the severity of the reaction can be reduced.” They mention that patients may be advised to avoid certain drinks or ingredients that incite symptoms. More research is still needed to ascertain whether different forms of alcohol impact individuals differently. Dr. Linda Geng, a clinical associate professor of primary care and population health at Stanford and one of the study contributors, advised Wine Spectator that, “People who experience new alcohol sensitivity following a COVID infection should discuss with their doctor and consider abstaining from alcohol until permitted to resume as per their doctor’s guidance. At present, we do not comprehend what causes this sensitivity to alcohol, hence specific medications or therapies cannot be recommended.” The authors are aware of several limitations in this study. Given it’s a case report involving only four patients, it’s impossible to establish a direct causal relationship between ‘long COVID’ and increased alcohol sensitivity. It’s also worth noting that all four patients involved in this study were either white or Hispanic. The authors suggest that this underlines the need for more large-scale studies. Would you like to know more about how wine can contribute to a healthier lifestyle? Click here to sign up for Wine Spectator’s complimentary e-newsletter about Wine & Healthy Living! Get the latest health updates, feel-good recipes, wellness tips, and more delivered directly to your inbox every fortnight! About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. 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