runny nose during bowel movement

[happy1234]

I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this- My nose runs excessively during a bowel movement than when it is over it quits running - I have always had bowel issues but this has just started happening in the last 4 months- it is really weird!!

[johnr1961]

I have this too - sometimes really bad - also started in middle age - I'm wondering if this is adenoviridae sytemic infection from mucous membranes to colon and parasympathetic response in folks who are becoming immunosuppressed with age, that manifests when the stool decends to the lower colon.  Essentially a secondary infection of the common cold/adeno virus to the membranes of the colon and resulting "cold-like" reaction that then manifests with the presence of stool.   Any docs out there want to take a shot at this?  

[Bodine526]

I also have had this a few years where my nose runs when I poop. My legs used to shake a lot. They don't do that anymore. I'm 41 and I have bad sinus issues but clogged not running.

[Fou4u2]

This is unbelievable that so many people has the same reaction and no one really knows the answer.  I am 52 YOA I have been having this problem now for over 5 years.  I am very regular and usually do my business in the morning when I wake up.  It does not matter which bathroom I am using, my nose starts dripping and then I have to start blowing the mucus out of my nose continuously for about 1 hour after the BM.

[DmartinP]

It's due to smooth muscle contraction, the body signals the bowel to secrete mucosa as the muscles contract and relax to pass the feces. The same chemical signal stimulates tears and runny nose. You may even salivate a little. That's all, nothing more. See acetylcholine muscarinic/nicotinic effects for more info

[lallison]

I agree. This is  most likely a physiological response to the act of deficating. Although the reason behind the body's response eludes me. You can surmise that this mucus release is not just limited to the olfactory gland, but likely occurs throughout the gastrointestinal tract for lubrication reaons. It's just that we notice it more because it's more obvious to the person when his or her nose runs. A possible way to support this is to examine if there is a higher frequency of rhinorhea (runny nose) in  persons who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You would expect a higher incidence of rhinorhea on deification in IBS suffers.

[jamesfay123]

My nose runs when I poop. My eyes also water sometimes. This is not a bad thing. Dr. Oz actually addressed this when asked if this is normal. He described it as a parasympathetic release and said not only is it normal, it’s one of the necessary functions for cleansing out junk. There are only so many ways the body can eliminate toxins. You either poop, pee, cough or sweat it out. One action commonly triggers another, and we should all be grateful for this. When you sleep, the body detoxes. When you wake, the body is ready to eliminate these toxins. We jumpstart this by drinking a glass of water, a cup of coffee, stretching, taking a few deep breaths, having a cigarette, etc. The idea is that we’re getting the body moving internally. If you’ve ever dieted, detoxed or started an exercise regimen, you may have noticed a substantial uptick in bowel movements, urination, lymphatic cleansing or sweating. Your body is thanking you for finally stimulating the cleansing process via diet and exercise. I’m happy when a good poop makes my nose run. It makes me feel better and cleans me out. Mucus is eliminated rectally and lymphatically. The two go hand in hand. If you’ve noticed only a recent uptick in nose runs while pooping, you may be able to attribute this, at least in part, to eating an unhealthy diet and not exercising enough. If you’ve recently started taking better care of yourself, your body is pushing out the old stuff. This is all good news. The typical American diet is loaded with excess sugars, hormones, preservatives, etc. This builds up toxins, candida and mucus. If you don’t excrete small amounts consistently via healthy diet and exercise, the body waits for a good chance to excrete what it can. Nothing stimulates the cleansing process better than a good bowel movement. My girlfriend makes muesli and we eat out of the same batch throughout the week. I have a few bowls per day, and it keeps my system clean…so clean, in fact, that sometimes I have to slow down because I can feel the after-effects and tummy tenderness from the soluble and insoluble fibers cleansing and scrubbing my system. The muesli helps me poop 2-3 times per day, so I always feel light. I usually go an hour after a meal. When I first began the regimen, my nose would always run when I pooped, because I was eliminating a lot of old buildup. Now my nose runs less, because my system is generally cleaner. I still get a runny nose in the morning with my first bowel movement though. But then again, if I have anything to cough up, it’s early in the morning. Also, our bodies have been sweating out toxins all night…they’re just sitting on the surface waiting to be washed off. Same with morning breath…toxins in the system pushed up and waiting on the tongue to be washed away. If I go on, I’ll become less and less scientific and lose credibility; I’m not a doctor or nutritionist. The point is, we should all be so lucky to have such an efficient cleansing system. The alternative would be to become impacted, dehydrated, lethargic, irritable, toxic and eventually die. If you want to feel better and make it easier on the system, drink more water, eat lighter foods more often in smaller servings, and get a little aerobic and anaerobic exercise in on a regular basis. Then, think yourself healthier and visualize your new and improved self. And when your nose runs, be grateful!
(I’ve seen this question asked in several places; will repost on a few different sites.)