Sneezing after you eat peppers may be a sign of an allergic reaction. A pepper allergy is an uncommon food allergy, but it can affect your nasal passages. After eating pepper you may notice that your sinuses become congestion, you sneeze excessively and your develop sinus pressure. If you think you may be allergic to peppers, avoid eating them until you can be seen by your primary health care provider. Sneezing from eating peppers may also be related to oral allergy syndrome, which is related to hay fever.
Pepper Allergy
Peppers are not considered a common food allergy by the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you're allergic to peppers, the symptoms that develop are the result of an exaggerated immune system reaction. The immune system reacts to the proteins in the pepper as if they are a harmful substance to the body. This causes the immune system to react to the proteins by creating immunoglobulin E antibodies and other chemicals. Mast cells respond to this reaction by creating highly levels of histamine. Histamine released in soft tissue causes inflammation and irritation.
Sneezing
You sneeze whenever your sinus tissue becomes irritated. For example, if you breathe in dust particles, the particles irritate the lining in of your nasal cavities, causing them become itchy, which triggers sneezing. The same reactions can happen from eating a food that you're allergic to. The increased histamine in the sinus tissue causes irritation and inflammation, which will cause you to sneeze. Sneezing from an allergic reaction is commonly characterized by strong bouts of sneezing.
Oral Allergy Syndrome
If you notice that when you eat raw peppers your mouth is itchy and tingles, the sneezing may be related to oral allergy syndrome. This condition occurs because the immune system mistakes the proteins in the pepper for pollen from a birch tree, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Oral allergy syndrome typically causes itching in your mouth, lips, throat or tongue but can trigger common hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and sinus congestion. If you develop oral allergy syndrome from eating raw pepper, cooking the pepper before eating may help prevent your symptoms.
Treatment
As with any food allergy, the most effective way to treat an allergic reaction to peppers is to eliminate them from your diet. If you accidentally eat peppers, you may find relief from taking an antihistamine. If your sinus cavity becomes inflamed and congested, you may need to take a decongestant to reduce the inflammation in your sinus cavity.
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