# Fluid flow in crying

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 18, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653 "2002-06-18T04:27:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653/1 "2002-06-18T04:27:19Z")

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When you cry, why does your spit get thicker and your nose get all stuffed up?

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**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653/2 "2002-06-18T13:38:05Z")

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Maybe because you are dehydrating.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653/3 "2002-06-18T15:11:51Z")

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Because your eyes are connected to your nose via some internal tubing. Ever seen someone drink milk then squirt it out their eye? When you cry, some of the tears wash into your nose, causing the mucus to run. Some of this runs into your mouth, causing your saliva to thicken.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluid-flow-in-crying/114653/4 "2002-06-18T17:15:10Z")

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My last post didn’t bump the thread, so bump.