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These 6 Foods Can Cause Gustatory Rhinitis (AKA An Eating-Induced Runny Nose), According To An ENT Doctor
Do you ever dig into a meal only to find your nose dripping like a leaky faucet within seconds? Truth be told, this happens to me on the regular… and not only when I chow down on yummy soups or stews and super spicy fare (or if my palate is in for a treat, both). Nevertheless, the term "gustatory rhinitis" has remained new to me—until, well, now-ish.Although it can be a bit embarrassing when I'm dining in public or in the company of others, I never thought too much about it. But lately, I've been pondering about the what and why behind my long-term nasal overactivity, including if something more serious could be at play.
Ahead, Ashley Agan, MD, an otolaryngologist (aka ENT doctor) with UT Southwestern Medical Center, unpacks why your nose may run when you eat and what you can do to stop it.
Gustatory rhinitis, the who-knew reason your nose runs while eatingIt turns out that there's a medical term for a food-induced runny nose: gustatory rhinitis. According to Dr. Agan, the exact mechanism of why it occurs remains unclear, but she shares where the current consensus stands. "It is hypothesized that stimulation of the trigeminal nerve causes a reflex leading to parasympathetic activation, which causes the nose to run," she explains.
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The largest and most complex of the 12 cranial nerves, the trigeminal nerve is responsible for facilitating sensations to the face, mucous membranes, and other parts of the head. In other words, stimulating it could drive that inopportune post-nasal drip when you're trying to enjoy your meal in snot-free peace.
"Having other forms of rhinitis, like allergic rhinitis, may make patients more likely to experience gustatory rhinitis."—Ashley Agan, MD, otolaryngologist (ENT doctor) with UT Southwestern Medical Center
Some people may be more prone to developing gustatory rhinitis than others. "Having other forms of rhinitis, like allergic rhinitis, may make patients more likely to experience gustatory rhinitis," Dr. Agan shares. Moreover, she says that it's more commonly seen in older adults. Meanwhile, a 2010 review in the journal Rhinology adds that people can develop the non-immunological condition due to cranial nerve dysfunction as well as following certain surgeries and traumas.
Foods that cause gustatory rhinitisSpecific foods and drinks are most commonly associated with gustatory rhinitis, so you might want to aim to limit your intake if constantly searching for the nearest napkin grows tiring. (However, a 2008 study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that 65 percent of participants chose not to avoid their causative foods, and nearly half were unbothered by their symptoms.)
"Hot or spicy foods are the most common triggers," says Dr. Agan. Per a 2021 review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, the most common dietary instigators contain capsaicin, including:
Sadly, these are all staples in my regular rotation, and my nose acts up even if I stick to colder and milder fare. What gives?
"This is a benign condition, but if it is bothersome, you should seek advice from an otolaryngologist. Typically, it can be treated quite easily with ipratropium bromide nasal spray. There is also a procedure to treat/ablate the posterior nasal nerve, which is effective as well."
Gustatory rhinitis treatmentDr. Agan confirms that I'm not alone, as gustatory rhinitis has the ability to rear its head when eating or drinking anything. Though inconvenient, the silver lining is that it's not a cause for concern. "This is a benign condition, but if it is bothersome, you should seek advice from an otolaryngologist," she shares. "Typically, it can be treated quite easily with ipratropium bromide nasal spray. There is also a procedure to treat/ablate the posterior nasal nerve, which is effective as well."
Both are good options if you want to stop the sniffle and defeat the drip for good when it's time to eat. But in the meantime, keep your tissues handy at the table and don't forget to sanitize your hands post-use—especially if you're dining family-style and handling the same condiments, drinks, and utensils.
Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.
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How To Spot The Difference Between Hay Fever, A Cold And Covid - Full List Of Symptoms
Expert explains when hay fever is worstAlthough we might finally have left winter behind in the UK, it doesn't mean we are out of the woods when it comes to some seasonal illnesses. In fact, during the spring we have the additional worry of hay fever to contend with.
For this reason it could be easy to assume that symptoms such as a sniffly nose are linked to a pollen allergy.
However, this might not always be the case with other common illnesses such as a cold or even Covid-19, also causing issues such as a stuffy, blocked or runny nose.
Without knowing the difference you could be choosing the wrong course of treatments, meaning your symptoms get no better.
So how can we tell them apart? Luckily experts at the NHS have shared the telltale symptoms of each ailment to help you distinguish between them.
Like a cold or Covid, hay fever can lead to a runny or blocked nose as well as a cough.
However, you are unlikely to experience itchy or red eyes with the other two.
According to the NHS, symptoms of hay fever include:
Hay fever is most likely to occur between late March and September, especially if conditions are warm, humid and windy.
"This is when the pollen count is at its highest," the NHS says.
If you're suffering from hay fever, you can try the following tricks to ease symptoms:
Although colds are more common in the winter, they can strike at any time of year.
Symptoms include:
It can also cause a high temperature, aching muscles, a loss of taste and smell and a feeling of pressure in your ears and face.
If you do feel as though you have a cold, the NHS recommends you should:
Although cases of Covid are nowhere near as high as they once were in the UK, the disease is still doing the rounds.
Currently the variant known as JN.1 is among the most common types of the virus.
The NHS acknowledges that Covid symptoms can be really similar to a cold, but there are subtle differences.
Symptoms include:
You are no longer required to do a lateral flow test if you think you have Covid, but you may want to check whether you have it as you may prefer to stay at home while you're testing positive.
The NHS recommends people "try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test".
A Runny Nose During Exercise Is *So* Annoying. Here's How To Put A Stop To It
Have you ever gone for a run or taken a group fitness class and found yourself wiping your nose the entire time? Annoying, yes. But it's also pretty normal for your nose to run during exercise."The nasal passages have a normal physiologic response to different levels of activity," says Michael Yong, MD, board-certified otolaryngologist and fellowship-trained neurorhinologist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California.
Aerobic activities such as cycling, running, and hiking tend to create more of a response, but any exercise can have an effect, Dr. Yong continues. When your heart rate increases, the lining of your nasal cavity tightens up so more air is able to travel into your nose. When this happens, the mucus produced in the nose becomes thinner and runnier than normal.
"This can result in some dripping in the front of the nose or at the back of the throat," Yong says.
Still, some people may be more prone to a runny nose during exercise (aka exercise-induced rhinitis) than others. Some people even experience sneezing, itching, and congestion.
Ahead, experts break down the potential reasons your workouts give you the sniffles and how to prevent them.
1. You have allergic rhinitisWith more air flowing into the nasal passages during exercise, there's a greater risk of irritants finding their way in—especially if you have allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies).
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Allergic rhinitis is also commonly known as hay fever. It occurs when your immune system overreacts to something in the environment, such as pollen or mold, causing runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, mouth, or skin, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Combine an allergen with the normal effects of exercise on the nasal passages, and you've got a surefire recipe for a runny nose disaster.
To lower your odds of a runny nose, choose your workout location carefully. For example, avoid exercising outdoors on high pollen days if you're allergic to pollen, says Tiffany Owens, MD, allergist and immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
A daily nasal spray with antihistamines and/or corticosteroids may also help by lowering inflammation of the nasal lining. "Some patients with allergic irritation inside the nose find that this helps it be less reactive during any time, but especially when exercising," Yong says.
You can get prescription and over-the-counter nasal sprays using different medication types. Chat with your doctor to find the best option for you.
It's perfectly normal for your nose to get runny during a workout.
2. You have nonallergic rhinitisIf your nose gets stuffy or drippy during exercise but you don't have itchiness (or illness), you may have nonallergic rhinitis.
Unlike allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis has no clear cause, per the Mayo Clinic. However, Yong describes it as an issue of nerve sensitivity inside the nose. Basically, the nerves inside your nasal passages are over-sensitive to certain triggers, which could include weather changes, medications, smells, hot or spicy foods, and irritants like dust or fumes. When exposed to these triggers, your nose reacts by creating more mucus.
Similar to its allergic cousin, nonallergic rhinitis can make your nose run during exercise if you encounter triggers. Think: Walking outside during the winter when it's a bit colder out, doing yoga in a heated room, or inhaling greater amounts of fumes from passing cars while running.
Avoiding your triggers is the best way to prevent a runny nose during exercise. However, because this isn't realistic for many of us, it's worth talking to your doctor about other options, including medication.
"We often prescribe an anticholinergic spray called Atrovent, which acts to really dampen the nerve sensitivity and reactivity inside the nose, which can help to reduce the stimulation of the mucus glands and ultimately reduce the amount of mucus produced during those periods of activity," Yong says.
The anticholinergic spray is typically used on an as-needed basis, so if you often have reactions from exercise, you could take it before your workout, Yong adds.
3. You have a deviated septumOwens notes that there could be a structural reason for your runny nose during exercise: A deviated septum.
If you have a deviated septum, the thin wall of bone and cartilage that divides the inside of the nose in half (the nasal septum) is displaced to one side. This makes one nasal passage smaller than the other.
It's estimated that as many as 80 percent of people have a deviated septum, per the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Some of us were born with it, while others got it from trauma or injury to the nose.
For many, their deviated septum causes no issue. However, for others, their deviated septum is severe enough to block one side of the nose and create congestion. You may find this congestion causes your nose to run during a workout sesh.
If that's the case, your doctor can recommend medications that can manage your symptoms. These may include decongestants (best used short-term) to reduce nasal tissue swelling, antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, and nasal steroid sprays to reduce nasal swelling, per the Mayo Clinic.
Who's most likely to get a runny nose during exercise?It's perfectly normal for your nose to get runny during a workout. However, people with allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis, and/or a significantly deviated septum are more likely to experience nasal drippage.
Even within those groups, certain people may be more affected than others. "For nonallergic rhinitis, we tend to see, anecdotally, as people get older, sometimes that can have an effect on the nerves inside the nose, which can end up in people having more mucus production," Yong says.
Yong adds that people with sinus infections may have a higher likelihood of a runny nose during everyday life and exercise.
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