Why Does My Nose Often Run When I Eat Spicy Food? This Is The Reason

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JAKARTA - Consumption of spicy food makes the mouth feel hot. In addition, the eyes and nose are also often watery. Even if you don't have a cold or allergies, you may need to wipe the mucus that keeps coming out of your nose a few times when it's hot. I wonder why this could happen?

Gustatory rhinitis is a term commonly used to describe a condition in which the mucus discharges when a person eats hot and spicy food. The cause of gustatory rhinitis is capsaicin, a chemical found in peppers, according to Dr. David Culpepper, MD, clinical director of LifeMD, launches Bustle, Friday, August 19.

Basically, when food is very spicy, the body responds to capsaicin as if it were a foreign object. The mucous membranes make more mucus to 'dissipate' the annoying heat, and this is what causes a runny nose.

It is not known why the body reacts this way. But you can think of it as a non-allergic cold that results from the nervous stimulation of the heat from spicy food, not the response of the immune system. Foods that can trigger a runny nose include chili peppers, hot sauces, hot soups, chili powder, curries, onions, and garlic.

The difference between a runny nose due to a cold and the consumption of spicy food is that the mucus that comes out is thinner and is not accompanied by nasal congestion, facial pain, and repeated sneezing. When a runny nose occurs while eating, and is not due to a cold or allergies, it is simply a reaction of the nasal nerves to stimuli by releasing mucus.

To prevent runny nose when eating spicy food, you can spray nasal spray in both nostrils an hour before eating. This method is effective in eliminating the annoying runny nose when eating. You can also clean your nose with saline water to remove irritation and excess mucus. If it really bothers you, you should avoid eating spicy food.