NE Kentucky News

There may be more to blame than just green beer when you find you're not feeling your best after this year's St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Alcohol can cause several problems in the body, and the sinuses are likely to be impacted. One study published in the medical journal Respiratory Medicine showed that alcohol-induced nasal symptoms (ANS) seem to be associated with allergic rhinitis.

"Red wine and white wine were the most frequent triggers of ANS, reported by 83% and 31% of the subjects, respectively," the study reads. "Nasal blockage was the most prominent symptom, but also sneezing, nasal discharge, as well as lower airway symptoms, occurred after intake of alcoholic drinks."

Hearty food ingested during St. Paddy's Day celebrations may also cause sinusitis after the Irish cultural holiday. A study published in 2021 in the medical journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine confirmed the association between acid reflux and nasal issues.

Right around March 17, which is the date on which St. Patrick's Day is traditionally celebrated, seasonal allergies tend to worsen. Although spring allergies typically begin in February, true spring is just days away by mid-March in many area of the country.

Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center says one way to relieve these sinus issues is by undergoing a minimally invasive procedure called balloon sinuplasty. 

"The sinuses, they are air-filled pockets, and a lot of times allergies, smoke, secondhand smoke will cause a blockage of the opening of the sinus," Mongiardo told NE Kentucky News.

Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively new procedure, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005, which is minimally invasive and carries a very low risk of side effects. Usually recovery time is quick, and most patients find they have a dramatic improvement in their sinus health.

To see if you may be suffering from seasonal allergies or sinus infections and want to evaluate your symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.