Sneezing after Eating
Have you had the problem of sneezing after eating? This may not sound as a serious problem but in some individuals it is a big problem. Sneezing repeatedly after eating could make you loath food or even be afraid of eating. However, you need to get a solution to the problem instead of avoiding food altogether. You know that avoiding food could make you starve to death. There’s always a way round every difficult situation, and this challenge also has a solution as well.
In this post, we shall talk about what sneezing after food is, its causes and treatment. Applying our simple tips can go a long way at helping to solve your simple but embarrassing problem. So, make sure you read this post to the end as every tip is useful and may turn out to be the solution you need.
What is sneezing after eating?
This is a condition whereby an individual sneezes uncontrollably after eating. The sneezing can happen after breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it’s a common condition which many people suffer from. One thing is sure; sneezing is the body’s natural reaction to the presence of foreign bodies (like allergens, dust, pepper) in the respiratory tract.
The individual sneezes as the body attempts to get those foreign bodies or particles (irritants) out of the airways. The frequency and seriousness of the sneezing depend on how irritating the offending particle is. This is why one can sneeze several times after inhaling particles of pepper, some chemical substances, teargas, etc.
Causes
Sneezing after eating can come from various causes. Below are a few reasons why it happens:
Gustatory Rhinitis
This comes with a congestion in the nose, sneezing and runny nose after eating your meals. Some types of foods particularly provoke the symptoms in some individuals. Examples of such foods include cold foods, spicy foods and alcohol, which stimulate the nervous system to produce the symptoms which are usually as a result of swelling in the nasal membranes.
Minor Food Allergies
In certain individuals, sneezing after eating is a sign of allergy to specific foods. A few examples of such foods include wheat, milk, peanuts, eggs and seafood.
Airborne Causes
This comes from allergy to substances in one’s environment including dust, pollen, perfume, pet fur, etc. The allergy can sometimes be provoked by cold or hot weather.
Snatiation
This is sneezing excessively after heavy meal consumption. The condition is believed to have some genetic links. In such persons, as soon as the brain registers that their bellies are full, they start to sneeze uncontrollably. The type of food eaten does not matter; the sneezing is provoked by stomach fullness and there could be between 3 and 15 consecutive sneezes as soon as there is distention of the stomach. The sneezing is usually out the person’s control.
Treatment for Sneezing after Eating
This problem can be treated in different ways. Some of the things to do to stop the symptoms include:
Take Medications
Different medications with specific roles are available for you.
- Nasal Decongestants: They act by clearing the nose and sinuses of stuffy feeling. They should however, not be used for more than 5 days in a roll as this may result in nasal congestion. Nasal decongestants should not be used excessively because of their ability to cause rebound congestion.
- Antihistamines: These are efficacious if you are managing sneezing due to allergic reactions. They come in form of nasal sprays, tablets or syrups. They help to dry up those secretions in the nasal passage thereby providing you relief.
Relieve Symptoms of Allergy
Symptoms caused by allergy can be relieved by employing some of the following tips at home:
- Blow your nose regularly: This can assist in clearing your nasal passage of any congestion or accumulation of mucus.
- Take care of your dining area: Since allergens in the environment can cause sneezing after eating, our primary concern should be to get the environment rid of possible allergens. We can do this by asking our dining companion not to wear a perfume to dinner or to change their perfume. We can also clear the area of pet furs and other substances capable of triggering an attack.
- Use steam: You can make use of steam from humidifier or hot shower. This goes a long way in breaking up the thick mucus in the nose and also removing congestion from the sinuses.
- Saline nasal spray: Some commercially available saline nasal sprays give you the needed relief by helping to flush out the irritants from the nasal passage and providing some moisture that soothe the nasal membranes and prevent further irritation.
- Nasal lavage: Where the saline nasal sprays are not available, you can make use of nasal lavage. It involves irrigating your nose with the aid of some devices such as squeeze bottle, bulb syringe, or neti pot. You use the devices together with distilled or sterile water for flushing the irritants out to the nasal passage. Using the nasal lavage daily is quite helpful in overcoming sneezing after eating.
- Take plenty of fluids: This will help to keep the body hydrated and reduce the possibility of the mucous membranes drying out. This eventually minimizes irritation of the nasal passage and prevents sneezing.
Change your eating habit
Stop eating heavy meals at a time if the symptoms you have are as a result of feeling of fullness in your stomach. Instead, take smaller meals at frequent intervals in order to prevent distension of your stomach. This will put the sneezing under control.
Drink Ice Water
For sneezing that is caused by hot body temperature, drinking ice water or sucking ice cubes brings the situation under control. In some people who are genetically predisposed, their body temperature rises after eating hot meals. But taking ice water will cool the temperature down and stop the sneezing.
Conclusion
Sneezing after eating is preventable and treatable as well. All you need to do is follow our tips and everything would be fine. However, if symptoms do not abate after applying the tips, see your doctor for help. Remember that these tips are not intended to replace medical intervention; further investigations may be needed to know the exact cause of the problem.
