Gluten has become widely known as the trigger for Celiac disease, but if you develop post-nasal drip from consuming the protein, you may have a gluten allergy, not intolerance. Food allergies and intolerance are easily confused because they can trigger similar symptoms after eating foods, but they are very different conditions. Post-nasal drip occurs when excess mucus drips down the back of your throat because of inflammation in the sinus cavity. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and receive a clinical diagnosis.
Gluten Allergy vs. Gluten Intolerance
Post-nasal drip is a result of an allergic reaction to gluten, which is not the same condition as gluten intolerance, also called Celiac disease, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Celiac disease is a digestive condition that causes gastrointestinal complications after eating foods that contain gluten. A gluten allergy is not a digestive condition, but rather an immune system malfunction. Gluten is one of the proteins found primarily in wheat, but is also in rye and barely. If you're allergic to gluten, your immune system will overreact when you ingest the protein, triggering a chemical chain-reaction.
Chemical Chain-Reaction
Once gluten enters your digestive system, your immune system mistakes the protein as a dangerous substance, when in actuality it is harmless to the body. The immune system releases immunoglobulin E antibodies that attack the protein. The presence of IgE antibodies causes white blood cells, also called mast cells, to produce histamine, a chemical that protects the body from infection. Histamine released in soft tissue causes inflammation and swelling. Common places of inflammation from increased histamine include the sinuses, lungs, digestive system and skin.
Post-Nasal Drip
As histamine is released in the sinuses, the nasal tissue becomes inflamed, cutting off your ability to breathe and drain mucus from your nostrils. Higher histamine levels will also stimulate more mucus production, complicating the sinus problem. The result of swollen sinuses and increased mucus production is blocked nasal passages that need to drain mucus, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The only other place the excess mucus can drain is down the back of your throat. Post-nasal drip can lead to bad breath, a sore throat and coughing from increased mucus in your esophagus.
Treatment
The most effective treatment for a gluten allergy that causes post-nasal drip is to avoid all foods that contain gluten. If you accidentally ingest gluten, you can use an antihistamine and decongestant to stop histamine production and reduce inflammation in your sinus cavities. Talk with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medication.
