Why Does My Throat Hurt After Drinking Alcohol?

Getting a Sore Throat After Drinking? Find Causes and Get Help

Many people are aware that drinking alcohol can be associated with some unpleasant side effects, including hangover symptoms that persist into the next day.

But there are other painful effects triggered by inflammation and alcohol, including some that you might not immediately associate with booze… like a sore throat.

This leads to the crucial question: Why does my throat hurt after drinking alcohol?

At its core, a sore throat after drinking can be caused by acid reflux, dehydration, and acetaldehyde exposure. In some people, it may be a marker of a grain allergy triggered by certain alcoholic beverages.

And for all of us, alcohol can trigger general inflammation in the body (and the throat is no exception), resulting in pain.

Purpose Healing Center helps you overcome an issue with excess alcohol consumption. We get to the bottom of your sore throat and address the issue at its core by helping you enter recovery.

Here’s what you need to know about how alcohol affects your throat.

Why Does Alcohol Consumption Lead to a Sore Throat?

When drinking alcohol, there are a number of side effects that can surface. The throat and vocal cords might be one area that you aren’t prepared for pain in the aftermath of drinking booze. However, these parts of the body are often very much affected by alcohol addiction.

Why does throat irritation occur with repeated alcohol abuse? Here’s what you need to know about any throat pain you’ve been experiencing when you have a night out where drinking is prominent.

How Alcohol Irritates Acid Reflux: Does Your Stomach Acid Burn?

Alcoholic beverages cause relaxation–not just relaxation of your mind, but also when it comes to your stomach. Your esophagus has a sphincter at the bottom of it that closes to prevent stomach acid from rising back up your throat. Booze relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and allows stomach acid to flow upward.

A slight backflow of stomach acid into the throat can cause significant irritation and pain, but it can also contribute to long-term issues with throat irritation. If you continue to drink, an irritated throat may be a part of your long-term symptoms due to inflammation and tissue damage.

GERD, in general, can worsen with alcohol consumption.

Dehydration: Alcohol’s Effects on Throat Irritation

What many people don’t realize while drinking heavily is that alcohol consumption leads to dehydration. Instead of nourishing the body’s tissues with moisture and lubrication, alcohol strips them of the water needed to keep the throat moist.

The result is a sore throat that often doesn’t resolve even with a sip of ice-cold water. The sore throat persists because the throat has no protective mucus membranes left to decrease inflammation, and it makes it more likely to fall victim to friction, such as yelling over loud music in a club or bar.

One of the best things you can do to counteract consuming alcohol is to continue drinking water for your saliva production and throat smoothness. You may even consider drinking electrolytes if your throat really hurts after heavy drinking.

Can Alcoholic Drinks Lead to Acetaldehyde Exposure?

Throat soreness can also be caused by a chemical reaction in the body when exposed to alcohol. The metabolic process that allows the body to process your alcohol consumption also produces a volatile compound known as acetaldehyde, which has far-reaching effects on the body.

Acetaldehyde damages the mucous membranes in the throat, making it more likely that you’ll have pain after heavy drinking. Not only does it cause immediate pain, but it can also lead to long-term damage, making it harder for you to recover even when drinking plenty of water.

It interferes with cell repair and causes long-term oxidative stress, significantly impairing throat health. You’re at greater risk of the effects of acetaldehyde if you flush easily while drinking or engage in binge drinking.

Do You Have a Grain Allergy or Allergic Reactions to Certain Alcoholic Drinks?

Some people may have a reaction to drinking grain alcohol even if they don’t realize it. Throat tissues can be irritated if you drink certain alcoholic beverages, marking a potential allergy. Allergic reactions can lead to sore throats because they trigger inflammation, as the stomach has difficulty processing the ingredients.

Those who are highly sensitive may experience severe allergic reactions. The immune system could respond to them with symptoms more closely aligned with asthma symptoms: a swelling in the throat and coughing, both of which lead to more sore throats after drinking alcohol.

If you find that you have wheezing, coughing, or difficulty swallowing after drinking, it may be the result of an allergy more than a typical byproduct of alcohol. Certain people suffering from alcohol addiction also find that regular use of alcohol can cause throat irritation, even when in the past it did not cause such symptoms.

Do You Have Difficulty Swallowing Due to Inflammation?

While gastroesophageal reflux disease can be a cause of a sore throat after drinking, alcohol can be an irritant entirely on its own. Inflammation is one of the most common symptoms of booze in a process known as vasodilation. As throat tissues begin to swell, it can become harder to swallow with ease.

This is often caused by acetaldehyde, but not always. The body responds to the chemical compounds found in alcohol and creates tenderness in sensitive muscles, such as those in the throat. It’s often a byproduct of many causes of throat pain: grain allergy, dehydration, reflux, and more.

Inflammation isn’t typically resolved by drinking herbal teas. It has to run its course in your system. The only way to minimize throat discomfort is to prevent further irritation. In other words, you have to stop drinking for an extended period of time to allow the cells and tissues of the body to heal.

How to Eliminate a Sore Throat After Drinking

If you routinely suffer from throat pain after drinking alcohol, then it might be time to take preventive measures. The first and easiest thing you can do is hydrate your body if you know you’ll drink later on. Keep fresh water and herbal teas coming before, during, and after drinking.

A single glass of warm water prior to drinking won’t be enough to eliminate throat pain.

You can also continue to drink hot beverages, such as green tea with honey, or suck on throat lozenges. Both can moisturize the throat and provide temporary relief for symptoms of throat discomfort.

Preserve your voice as much as possible once that sore throat kicks in. That might mean leaving a noisy bar where you have to yell to be heard over the music in favor of a sit-down restaurant or an evening at home. You can also cut off your drinking to prevent a sore throat from worsening.

The good news is that all of these tips to reduce a sore throat can also help with hangover symptoms the next day. You might have fewer pounding headaches and symptoms persisting when you take the proper precautions to keep your blood alcohol concentration from rising.

Get Treatment for Common Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse at Purpose

A sore throat caused by excessive drinking is painful and can interfere with regular life, including your communication with loved ones. The burning sensation you experience with throat inflammation can heal with the right interventions and sober living. Purpose Healing Center helps you enter recovery.

Our comprehensive treatment center begins with a dedicated medical detox, where you can get alcohol out of your system. You’ll stop triggering allergic reactions and acid reflux while also decreasing your hangover symptoms. We also offer residential and outpatient treatment programs for all needs.

Let our enrollment team verify your insurance benefits in a quick call. We accept nearly all forms of Arizona Medicaid, AHCCCS, and most forms of private insurance in network as well. No matter how much alcohol you’ve been drinking, we can help you reduce inflammation and get back to normal.

Give us a confidential call today to secure a spot in one of our personalized, comprehensive programs!

 

References

1. Chen, S. H., Wang, J. W., & Li, Y. M. (2010). Is alcohol consumption associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease?. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B, 11(6), 423–428.
2. Inenaga, K., Ono, K., Hitomi, S., Kuroki, A., & Ujihara, I. (2017). Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake. The Japanese dental science review, 53(3), 78–85
3. Stornetta, A., Guidolin, V., & Balbo, S. (2018). Alcohol-Derived Acetaldehyde Exposure in the Oral Cavity. Cancers, 10(1), 20.
4. Bansal, R. A., Tadros, S., & Bansal, A. S. (2017). Beer, Cider, and Wine Allergy. Case reports in immunology, 2017, 7958924.
5. Grad, S., Abenavoli, L., & Dumitrascu, D. L. (2016). The Effect of Alcohol on Gastrointestinal Motility. Reviews on recent clinical trials, 11(3), 191–195.