Why Does My Nose Run When I Poop?

why does my nose run when i poop

What’s Happening in Our Bodies?

The human body is an amazing system, working together to ensure we’re healthy and functioning properly. When we go to the bathroom, a lot of things are happening all at once. We might not think about it, but our body uses a lot of energy to get rid of waste. This is a normal part of life, and it’s important to understand why certain things happen, like why our nose might run when we poop.

The Nervous System

Our bodies have a unique “Autonomic Nervous System” (Benarroch, 2020). This system controls things that we don’t have to think about, like our heart beating, our stomach digesting food, and yes, our nose running. And all these actions are connected in interesting ways.

Why Does My Nose Run?

You might have noticed that sometimes when you poop, your nose starts to run. This might seem strange, but there’s a scientific reason for it. When we poop, our body is working hard to push out waste. This takes a lot of energy and can make other body parts work harder too.

When our body works harder, it can cause our nose to produce more mucus, the slimy stuff in our nose that can drip out. This is called a “runny nose”. This can happen for many reasons, like when we’re sick or when it’s cold outside. But it can also happen when we poop because our body is working so hard (Whitcomb, 2015).

The Connection Between Pooping and a Runny Nose

So why does our nose run when we poop? It has to do with how our body reacts to stress. Pooping can be a stressful activity for our body, especially if we’re constipated or have diarrhea. This stress can make our body produce more mucus, which can make our nose run (Wood, 1996).

It’s all connected in our body’s nervous system, the part of our body that sends messages back and forth to keep everything working right. So, pooping and a runny nose might not seem related, but they’re both part of how our body responds to stress (Benarroch, 2020).

Conclusion

It’s normal for your nose to run when you poop. It’s just another way that our body works to keep us healthy. If it happens a lot and bothers you, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor. They can help you understand what’s happening and if there’s anything you can do to feel better.

Resources

  • Benarroch, E. (2020). Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Autonomic Nervous System. Continuum lifelong learning in neurology. doi:10.1212/con.0000000000000817
  • Whitcomb, D. (2015). The Gastrointestinal System: Gastrointestinal, Nutritional and Hepatobiliary Physiology. Gastroenterology. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.01.022
  • Wood, M. (1996). Neuroscience: Exploring the brain. Journal of child and family studies. doi:10.1007/bf02234670