A runny nose, while not usually a serious symptom, can quickly feel like a bothersome intrusion on your well-being. Learning what is causing your runny nose can help you implement a few symptom management tips and prevent sniffling from interrupting your daily life. Let’s take a look at a few common causes of your runny nose and how you can manage them.
Allergies
Sensitivity to allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mold can cause inflammation and excess mucus production in the nasal cavities, leading to a runny nose. To help keep allergies at bay, practice allergen avoidance and consider taking allergy medication or undergoing allergy immunotherapy.
Sinus Infection
A sinus infection is an inflammation of the tissues in your sinuses (the air-filled spaces behind the forehead, cheeks and nose). Symptoms of a sinus infection include facial pain, fever and a stuffy or runny nose. You can treat a sinus infection at home with decongestants, provider-approved over-the-counter cold and allergy medications and nasal saline rinses. Balloon sinuplasty may be an option for chronic or recurrent sinus infections.
Viral Infections
Viral infections are any illnesses spread by a virus. Two common infections that may result in a runny nose are the common cold and the flu. The common cold does not have a cure but usually goes away within seven to 10 days. In some cases, your provider can shorten the severity and length of the flu with antiviral medications. To help manage the nasal symptoms of viral infections, drink plenty of water, take cold and flu medications and inhale steam from a face steamer or hot shower.
Crying
You may have noticed that crying causes your body to produce excess mucus. This is because the tears drain through the inner corner of your eyelids, the nasolacrimal duct and into your nasal cavities, leading to a runny nose. A runny nose from tears should dry up shortly after you have finished crying.
In addition to these common causes, cold temperatures, nasal polyps, foreign bodies in the nasal cavity, gustatory rhinitis, pregnancy, certain medications and more can result in a runny nose. To best identify and treat the cause of your runny nose, contact Red River ENT Associates today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
