Breathing problem

[girl511]

I have breathing difficulties when I drink alcohol. I know I should just stop it  but I am worried whether it is something which I have address before it is too late. Any advice please?

[gnorb]

Two thoughts:

1) The alcohol is causing acid to reflux into your lungs. This can lead to carious issues, including COPD.

2) You're actually having an allergic reaction to either the type of alcohol(s).

Those aren't the only things, just the two that come to mind first.

In any case your first instinct is right: you should STOP drinking alcohol. But also go to the doctor about this, as it could indicate a larger overall issue.

[ChitChatNine]

Hi .. I agree.  It could be an ingredient in the liquor or reflux aspiration which can be life threatening .. esp. with the alocohol .. it can burn right into the lining of the lungs I would think.

[MaddieH]

....  if you have reflux (very likely with alcohol ), alcohol doesn't even have to reach your lungs physically - the nerve irritation (phagus nerve ??) in some part of the esophagus
is quite enough to cause the problem ....  

One question: does it make any difference what you drink and how much?    

I had occasional strange breathing problems for 20 years which stopped when I started PPI medication ( + strict reflux friendly diet + lifestyle changes).      
  

[chip2255]

I have noticed that when I have a couple of glasses of wine I usually have a little bit of a shortness of breath.   I can workout and everything but it is a little feeling that I get.
I usually will have one or two glasses of red wine with dinner and it doesn't happen then but if I have 3 glasses of wine then it happens.   What is going on?  Is this serious?
Obviously, when I don't drink at all it doesn't happen.

[FurballsMom]

There are also sulfites in all alcoholic drinks.  Sulfites aggravate GERD, so it's not just the alcohol that is bothering your GERD.  It's both.  Yes, it's serious.  It means you must not drink when you have GERD.