Why do we make tears and get a runny nose when we cry?

Answer 1

I don't know why we have emotional tears...its sort of odd if you think about it. You get sad or hurt or frustrated or even extremely happy and water flows from your eyes...strange. (I know the nuerotransmitter reason - just not how it ever evolved to represent emotional intensity)

If there is a foreigh body in the eye - dust, or an injury then the tears help to flush out the problem. The tears drain down a tiny port called the punctum. This port contects the eyes to the nostrils and drains the excess tears, which is why we get a runny nose. People who have chronically dry eyes sometimes will get a punctal plug to help the problem.

Good luck.

Answer 2

when we cry - our body is releasing toxins (or chemicals) called endorphines. Endorphines are toxins that are revved when we are in times of high emotion - be it joy, fear, sadness, anger what have you. Crying is our body's way of releasing those toxins. Which is interesting when you think about it - because we can cry as a result of different emotions. For example, you don't laugh when you're sad or afraid. But, we can cry when we're happy, sad, afraid, angry, stressed out and so forth.
So - the tears and runny nose might have something to do with those toxins being released. crying drains you.
I'm sure you're well aware that you feel so much better after crying. I know I do. You know, you get the lump in the throat thing - you cry, sob what have you...and when it's all done; you feel much better. so the tears and the runny nose (which is why lots of people sniffle when they cry) is more than likely how those toxins are physically released.

one thing I would like to add to this piece, which might be interesting to somehow find out - but, you know how tears taste sort of saline (salty)? obviously, i don't make much effort to see what my tears taste like...lol. but, every once in a while, one drips on your lip and it does taste salty. i'm curious to know...whether that saline taste is those chemicals that are being released. my guess is that it probably is the reason. you can buy "artificial" tears (Visine), and manufacturers don't make them salty. salt in the eyes is not cool. Visine is mostly water to moisturize the eye, which is another use for tears. so, because Visine isn't exactly saline fluid - my guess would be that the fact natural tears being saline probably would support the idea that it is in fact those chemicals and toxins that make them that way.
and the same with the runny nose. crying drains you physically and emotionally. and a runny nose is probably another way that those toxins are released.