Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 11/16/2011

Question
I live in Atlanta, Ga and own 1 cat.  I do have asthmas
and take albutorol, singular and asthmanex.  I have not had
an attack for 7 months until last night.  I drank a glass
of red wine with dinner last night and woke up about 2.30 am
could not breath and my heart beating fast.  Could the
red wine trigger a asthma attack...it was very scary. I had to relax and control my heart from beating so fast..while trying
to breath.  

I'm 58 year old

Answer
Hi Delane,

Sorry for the delay. Never received the notification email.

There have been reports of patients having an asthmatic response to red wine. In 1986, a study was run hoping to isolate any factor which may paly a role. It appears that red wines that are high in sulfur dioxide (SO2) have the greatest correlation with an asthma attack. I'd try to identify the particular product you had, including vintage year, and go to a wine store and see if they can check into it further. The biggest problem was that this information is not required to be on the labeling. I just check an assortment of red wines I have here at home, and the best info I found was "contains sulfates". (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1986 Dec;78(6):1126-9)

I'd find a liquor store with an extensive wine department, and someone highly trained to guide you in selections. Another option would to contact the vineyards (say..Robert Mondavi for instance), and ask about reds with a low SO2 content.

At the liquor store, if they acknowledge your request, suggest a marketing idea for a wine tasting event of low-SO2 products for people with asthma and COPD. I'd certainly do that if I'm a retailer with an opportunity to offer something unique in the marketplace.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

Marc