DEAR ABBY: In reference to the letter from "Grossed Out in Florida" (Feb. 6) and your response, regarding people who blow their noses at the supper table, especially older people, you need to be more understanding. Many older adults suffer from what is called "gustatory rhinitis," or a runny nose brought on by eating hot or spicy foods.
These people exhibit a profuse, watery nasal discharge when eating that is made worse by emotions, alcohol, temperature and strong odors. It is not something they can control. And as much as most would prefer to leave the table to blow their noses, they would not be able to eat much if they had to keep leaving.
It is hard enough to get some elders to eat an adequate diet without insisting they excuse themselves every few minutes to blow their noses, and just "tiny dabs with a tissue" would be totally inadequate to control the flow. Please, folks, show some compassion and just look the other way. -- R.N. IN NAPERVILLE, ILL.
DEAR R.N.: Thank you for that useful information. I received numerous letters in response to that column from seniors mentioning "gustatory rhinorrhea" (along with allergies) as the reason they blow their noses at the dinner table. Not a day goes by that I don't receive a letter about nose-blowing, so I'm hoping your letter will educate readers on the subject, as it did me.