A runny nose, while not a serious symptom, can be annoying when trying to enjoy your favorite burger at the Copper Spoon. Gustatory rhinitis is the medical term for a runny nose brought on during a meal or after eating food. Additional symptoms you may experience with gustatory rhinitis include congestion, postnasal drip (the feeling of phlegm in the throat) and clear discharge from the nose.
Let’s take a look at a few reasons you might be experiencing gustatory rhinitis and what you can do to manage it for a better culinary experience.
What Causes Gustatory Rhinitis?
Gustatory rhinitis is usually triggered by eating spicy or heavily spiced foods. One theory as to why spicy foods trigger a runny nose is their impact on the trigeminal nerve, the nerve responsible for recognizing pain and touch sensations. When you eat spicy food, a chemical in the food called capsaicin triggers the trigeminal nerve, causing your nose to run. A few foods that may exacerbate gustatory rhinitis include:
- Hot peppers like jalapeños, poblanos and cayenne
- Curry
- Hot sauce
- Salsa
- Ginger and garlic
Typically, symptoms of gustatory rhinitis will stop a few minutes after you’re finished eating.
How Can You Prevent Gustatory Rhinitis?
The most direct way to prevent gustatory rhinitis is to avoid the foods that trigger it. If you’re someone who loves spicy foods and extra garlic and doesn’t wish to remove these triggers from your diet, there are a few alternative treatment options to help lessen your symptoms, including:
- Saline nasal flushes
- ENT provider-approved or prescribed nasal sprays, decongestants or steroid sprays
How Is Gustatory Rhinitis Different From Other Types of Rhinitis?
Gustatory rhinitis is a type of nonallergic rhinitis specifically triggered by food. Nonallergic rhinitis is a long-term condition causing sneezing and a stuffy or runny nose. Rather than being triggered by food, nonallergic rhinitis triggers can include dust, fumes, weather changes, medicine and other long-term health problems.
Another common type of rhinitis is allergic rhinitis. Also called allergies, symptoms of allergic rhinitis are triggered by substances your immune system is sensitive to, including but not limited to:
- Pollen
- Mold spores
- Pet dander
- Dust mites and cockroach droppings
When attempting to treat your runny nose, ensuring you have the right diagnosis is important. The best way to identify your specific rhinitis is through an ear, nose and throat consultation. To schedule a consultation with one of our specialists, contact Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today.