It is a common belief that drinking milk can cause or worsen a stuffy nose. According to Andorra Pediatrics in Philadelphia, Pa., milk does not increase mucus production, and it does not cause sinus irritation in either healthy children or healthy adults. If you experience a stuffy nose after consuming milk-based products, you may have a milk allergy or intolerance, which would lead to nasal congestion. If you experience adverse reactions after drinking milk, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and receive an official medical diagnosis.
Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion, or a stuffy nose, is the result of inflammation in the sinus cavity. When the sinuses become irritated, the mucus glands on the surface of the nasal lining begin to produce more mucus. Inflammation results from sinus irritation, causing the sinuses to swell. This swelling cuts off the person's ability to breathe and drain mucus properly. Nasal congestion can cause sneezing, sinus pressure and postnasal drip.
Milk Allergy
A stuffy nose from milk is not common for healthy people. If you experience a stuffy nose from drinking milk, you are most likely allergic or intolerant of cow's milk. A milk allergy is a hypersensitivity to the proteins found in milk. The immune system mistakes the proteins as harmful and forms a defense system to protect the body. During this defense process, the body creates antibodies and histamines to ward off the milk proteins, leading to common milk allergy symptoms.
Milk Intolerance
The most common condition associated with milk intolerance is lactose intolerance, the inability to breakdown lactose. Lactose is a common sugar found in cow's milk that requires the production of the enzyme lactase. If you are lactose intolerant, your body does not produce enough lactase and therefore causes the body to reject the sugar, leading to digestive difficulty and nasal congestion. You also may have a general intolerance to the proteins in the milk that is unrelated to an allergy.
Other Symptoms
If you develop a stuffy nose from milk, you will develop other symptoms alongside the congestion. Other symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, hives, eczema, skin inflammation, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain.
Treatment
Talk to your doctor about removing milk from your diet if you consistently develop nasal congestion after consuming it. Nasal congestion is commonly treated with decongestants, pain relievers and antihistamines.
