Allergic Rhinitis and Gustatory Rhinitis: What's the Difference?
Ranking with headaches, colds, and lower back pain, allergic rhinitis is one of the most common health complaints in the modern world. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nose, and allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the nose triggered by contact with an allergen, a normally harmless substance that the immune system somehow comes to believe is harmful.
One producer of a well-known California-based radio health show, for example, always had post-nasal drip, but only on the days she taped her show. At first she thought it was "nerves," but when she realized she always ate a tomato sandwich for lunch on the day she taped her show she then was able to stop the problem—just by not eating tomatoes.
Gustatory rhinitis is not a food allergy. It's a different kind of biochemical reaction that dilates blood vessels in the nose so that they "leak" fluid, fluid that drips, drips, drips down the back of your throat. Symptoms usually set in about 2 hours after the offending food is eaten. Symptoms are worse in older people who do not have enough stomach acid; ironically, people who have heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease are more likely to have too little acid than too much, and are more likely also to have gustatory rhinitis.
What is Allergic Rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is usually seasonal. It's bad for a few days or for a few weeks about the same time every year, but then it goes away. It's treatable with antihistamines, and it's preventable with HEPA home air filtration. Gustatory rhinitis, however, can occur over and over again until its real causes are recognized.What is Gustatory Rhinitis?
Gustatory rhinitis is triggered by eating. It inflames the inside of the nose. It causes runny nose, but this runniness is usually experienced as post-nasal drip. The symptoms keep recurring as long as the offending food is eaten.One producer of a well-known California-based radio health show, for example, always had post-nasal drip, but only on the days she taped her show. At first she thought it was "nerves," but when she realized she always ate a tomato sandwich for lunch on the day she taped her show she then was able to stop the problem—just by not eating tomatoes.
What Foods Cause Gustatory Rhinitis?
Gustatory rhinitis is not unusual when people eat foods made with curry or hot chili peppers. But this kind of nasal inflammation can also occur when there is just a personal sensitivity to a food. Vinegar, tomatoes, oranges, lemons, limes, coffee, tea, alcoholic liqueurs, and chocolate are common offenders. Some people will have a reaction to cow's milk but not to goat's milk, but other people will have a reaction to goat's milk, not to cow's milk.Gustatory rhinitis is not a food allergy. It's a different kind of biochemical reaction that dilates blood vessels in the nose so that they "leak" fluid, fluid that drips, drips, drips down the back of your throat. Symptoms usually set in about 2 hours after the offending food is eaten. Symptoms are worse in older people who do not have enough stomach acid; ironically, people who have heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease are more likely to have too little acid than too much, and are more likely also to have gustatory rhinitis.
Is Gustatory Rhinitis a Food Allergy?
In a word, no. Gustatory rhinitis is not caused by any kind of allergy. Antihistamines won't help. Mucolytics (sprays to break up hard mucus) won't help. Nasal sprays won't help. You simply have to find out which foods cause your symptoms and then avoid them. It's typically a food that you eat all the time.Would a HEPA Home Air Filtration Unit Help?
You really have to find out the food that causes gustatory rhinitis. Most people who have gustatory rhinitis, however, also have some degree of allergic rhinitis. Why not get rid of both? Home air filtration units located strategically around your home and office will remove the airborne allergenic particles that cause hay fever and allergic rhinitis, and by using them after you change your diet you can get rid of all your allergies for good.
Allergic Rhinitis Articles
- What Is Allergic Rhinitis?
- Is Allergy The Same as Allergic Rhinitis?
- Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms
- Is It Allergic Rhinitis or Vasomotor Rhinitis
- Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: They Are Not Necessarily What You Think
- Rhinitis Symptoms: Is It Allergic Rhinitis or Viral Rhinitis?
- How Allergic Rhinitis Becomes Viral Rhinitis and What You Can Do to Stop It
- How Allergic Rhinitis Can Become Atrophic Rhinitis, and What You Can Do to Stop It
- Allergic Rhinitis and Gustatory Rhinitis: What's the Difference?
- The Best Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis Doesn't Come from Your Drugstore
