Why Does My Nose Run When I Eat? Symptoms And Treatment

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Why does eating give me a runny nose?

Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN — Written by Lori Smith, MSN, BSN, WHNP-BC on April 30, 2018

Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook

Having a runny nose after eating is usually associated with eating spicy food, but there are many other reasons that your nose can run while eating. Some have nothing to do with the type of food but instead are symptoms of other conditions.

The medical term for a runny nose is rhinorrhea. A person’s nose might run after eating because they have food allergies, which is called allergic rhinitis.

If a person’s nose runs without their having a food allergy, this is called gustatory rhinitis, which is a type of non-allergic rhinitis.

This article discusses the many causes of a runny nose while eating.

Symptoms

Why does my nose run when I eat — A person’s nose might run after eating if they have allergic rhinitis caused by a food allergy.

A person may experience a runny nose and other symptoms either after eating a particular kind of food or, in some cases, after eating any food.

A runny nose may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

a stuffy, congested feeling in the nose
postnasal drip, or excess mucus in the back of the throat
sneezing
coughing

Causes

Some people may experience a runny nose due to the food they ate, a food allergy, seasonal allergies, and other causes. Read on for a list of possible causes for a person to experience a runny nose after eating.

Gustatory rhinitis

When a person’s nose runs after eating without any other symptoms of an allergic reaction occurring, this is referred to as gustatory rhinitis.

Gustatory rhinitis affects many people after they eat hot or spicy foods. When a person eats these foods, a nerve called the trigeminal sensory nerve is stimulated, which causes the nose to run.

A person may prevent gustatory rhinitis by avoiding trigger foods. If their nose runs after eating any food, they can take certain medications to manage their symptoms. One such medication is topical intranasal atropine.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a condition affecting up to 60 million people within the United States. People can experience it seasonally or all year round.

Typically, an environmental trigger can trigger symptoms, such as dust mites, pollen, or pet dander. Some people may have this kind of allergic reaction to certain types of food.

Allergic rhinitis can cause the following symptoms:

a runny or stuffy nose
itchy eyes, mouth, throat, or skin
dry eyes
watering eyes
sneezing
fatigue

Food allergies

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Hives is one of the more severe food allergy symptoms, and a person experiencing a breakout may need medical assistance.

While food allergies do not typically cause a runny nose, they can cause nasal congestion and other symptoms that typically appear within 2 hours of eating a particular food.

Severe food allergies are a medical emergency.

Food allergy symptoms may range from mild to severe, and may include:

nasal congestion
wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath
throat tightening or a raspy, hoarse voice
hives
itchy skin
a tingling or itching sensation in the mouth
facial swelling, including the lips, face, tongue, and throat
body swelling
dizziness

In severe cases, a food allergy may cause anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Common food allergy triggers include:

shellfish and other fish
peanuts and tree nuts
eggs
dairy
wheat
soy

Vasomotor rhinitis

Vasomotor rhinitis, also called idiopathic rhinitis, is a type of runny nose that is not triggered by an allergen but by certain environmental and physical changes that cause the lining of the nose to become swollen.

Triggers that may bring on vasomotor rhinitis include:

certain odors, such as perfume, cigarette smoke, and inks
weather changes, including temperature, humidity, and air pressure
hormonal changes
bright lights
changes in emotions
eating certain foods, such as alcohol and spicy foods

Alongside a runny nose, those with vasomotor rhinitis may experience symptoms such as:

congestion
sneezing
postnasal drip
headaches
feeling pressure in the face
coughing

Diagnosis

If a person suspects that a food allergy or allergic rhinitis is the cause of their runny nose, a doctor may perform the following tests:

A skin prick test, also called a patch test, where the skin is pricked with an allergen to check for a skin reaction.
An intradermal test, where the skin is injected with an allergen to check for a skin reaction.
A blood test, such as RAST or ELISA, which checks a person’s blood for antibodies that are related to specific allergens.

If the cause of a person’s symptoms is found to be non-allergic, a person may have gustatory rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis.

Treatment

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Antihistamines are the most common treatment for allergies.

Treatment of rhinitis will depend on several factors, including the trigger for the condition and any other accompanying medical conditions.

A person may be able to prevent the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by avoiding the specific triggers that they are allergic to. A doctor can help to find out which substances a person is allergic to by performing skin or blood tests.

People can treat both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis in the following ways:

Decongestants. Decongestant medication can reduce symptoms of a blocked or stuffy nose. They can help with allergic reactions and sinusitis.
Antihistamines. The most common treatment for allergic reactions is antihistamines, which are available online as tablets, nasal sprays, eye drops, and creams.
Nasal sprays containing decongestants or corticosteroids may also be useful for relieving a runny nose and other sinus-related problems.
Immunotherapy. A doctor may recommend immunotherapy for severe allergies, where a person is desensitized to an allergen.

Decongestants are not recommended for everyone. A person should talk to their doctor before taking these medications if they are pregnant or have one of the following conditions:

high blood pressure
heart disease
glaucoma
hyperthyroidism

If a person has severe allergies, they may need to carry around an epinephrine shot for emergency use.

Outlook

There are many reasons why a person might experience a runny nose while eating. Some causes are allergic reactions while others are unrelated to an allergy.

A person should speak with a healthcare provider, such as an allergist, to help determine the cause, especially if it could be an environmental or food allergy.

The outlook for those with rhinitis depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Certain allergies can be life-threatening and require close monitoring.

Many over-the-counter and prescription treatments exist to treat rhinitis. However, results of treatment may vary.

In the presence of a severe allergy, extreme caution should be taken to avoid the trigger, especially if the allergy may cause a severe reaction.

Allergy
Respiratory
Ear, Nose, and Throat
Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Allergic rhinitis: Overview. (2018, February 6)https://acaai.org/allergies/types/hay-fever-rhinitis
Allergy medication: Overview. (n.d.)https://acaai.org/allergies/treatment/medication
Allergy symptoms. (n.d.)https://acaai.org/allergies/symptoms
DeShazo, R. D., & Kemp, S. F. (2017, February 1). Patient education: Allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergies) (beyond the basics)https://www.uptodate.com/contents/allergic-rhinitis-seasonal-allergies-beyond-the-basics
Food allergy: Overview. (n.d.)https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergy
Fried, M. P. (2017, September). Nonallergic rhinitishttps://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/nose-and-paranasal-sinus-disorders/nonallergic-rhinitis
Jovancevic L., Georgalas, C., Savovic, S., & Janjevic D. (2010, March 2). Gustatory rhinitis [Abstract]. Rhinology, 48(1), 7–10https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20502728
Kaliner, M. A. (2009, June 15). Classification of nonallergic rhinitis syndromes with a focus on vasomotor rhinitis, proposed to be known henceforth as nonallergic rhinopathy. World Allergy Organization Journal, 2(148)https://waojournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a9d55b
Nonallergic rhinitis (vasomotor rhinitis). (n.d.)https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/nonallergic-rhinitis-vasomotor
Tran, N. P., Vickery, J., & Blaiss, M. S. (2011, July) Management of rhinitis: Allergic and non-allergic. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, 3(3), 148–56https://www.uptodate.com/contents/allergic-rhinitis-seasonal-allergies-beyond-the-basics
Wheeler, P. W., & Wheeler, S. F. (2005, September 15). Vasomotor rhinitis. American Family Physician, 6,1057–1062https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0915/p1057.html

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Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN — Written by Lori Smith, MSN, BSN, WHNP-BC on April 30, 2018

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