How to Cope with Running Nose

Running nose, frequent sneezing and watery, itchy eyes of allergic rhinitis are triggered by exposure to an allergy-causing substance such as pollen or dust. You can take steps to avoid exposure, but the best way to increase resistance is to strengthen your immune system. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to those of the common cold, but they are not caused by infection. Instead they represent an inappropriate response to a normally harmless substance. Your immune system reacts to the substance as if it were a dangerous invader, leading to inflammation and irritation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Seasonal Nasal allergy:
   The most familiar form is seasonal allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever or pollen allergy. It is due to inhalant allergies like pollens of flowers, trees, grasses and weeds. Tree pollens are the main culprit in spring, grasses in summer, and weeds in autumn.
   Besides the nose, conjunctiva and bronchial mucosa may also be involved. The patient during an attack presents with intense irritation in nose and eyes, associated with sneezing, nasal obstructions, profuse discharge and excessive watering of eyes. There is watery nasal discharge and diminished nasal airway. The eyes may appear red and patient may present with an attack of breathlessness.
   Perennial Nasal allergy:
   This type of allergy can occur any time during the year and features are similar but not so intense as in seasonal type of allergic rhinitis. It is due to inhalant substances like house dust, smoke, spores etc, or foods like milk, egg, fish and cheese. This type can also be due to certain drugs, bacteria, clothes, perfumes and also the debris from domestic dogs and cats.
2. Prevention:
   Bolster your immune system by eating a healthy diet, with foods rich in vitamins B & C as well as flavonoids. Vitamin C supplements may also be helpful
3. Seasonal allergic rhinitis:
   It is difficult to avoid pollen grains completely but the impact of exposure to them can be reduced. Take the following measures in those months before the hay fever usually begins:
    Every day, eat a teaspoon of locally produced, non-heat-treated honey, which contains wax-capping from honey comb cells. It strengthens resistance to local plant pollens.
    During hay fever season:
    Stay indoors with the windows closed whenerver feasible especially in the early evening when pollen levels often peak.
    Damp dust regularly.
    Clear pollen from the air with an ioniser or a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
    Trap pollen by applying petroleum jelly in and around nostrils.
    Use a mask when cleaning dusty, mouldy or extremely dirty areas.
    Avoid smoky rooms as polluted air traps pollen.
    For dust mites:
    Try to replace wall-to-wall carpets/rugs with hard flooring.
    Vacuum the curtains frequently and wash bed clothes often at a high temperature
    Kill dust mites in soft toys by washing or freezing them.
    Avoid keeping a pet or bathe it weekly.

Tips & Warnings

• TREATMENT General Measures:  Splash or sponge your face frequently to remove pollen from your skin and eye area.  Bathe itchy, runny eyes and inflamed nostrils with cooled boiled water containing a pinch of salt MEDICAL THERAPY: 1) Avoidance of the allergen is ideal- These may be feather pillows, blankets, pets, plants, certain foods etc. 2) Suppression of the allergic response can be obtained by use of antihistamine drugs if especially supplemented by ephedrine when an attack threatens and help in controlling itching, sneezing and discharge. Steroids inhibit or suppress many party of the inflammatory process. Local steroid sprays or injections of steroids into the turbinates may help if used before the onset of the season. The use of local sprays should be used with greatest care as the rebound phenomenon may occur on long term use. Local spray of sodium cromoglycate preparations is useful in few patients. 3) Desensitization is done by increasing the doses of allergins injected intradermally until a certain level is reached which is then maintained. 4) Surgical treatment plays very little part in its management but is required to treat any abnormality in the nose like nasal polyps or for drainage of sinus infection.