8 mistakes that can’t make your runny nose go away

Rhinitis (runny nose) can occur for various reasons: hypothermia, penetration of infection, exposure to allergens (house dust, pollen, animal hair), hormonal diseases. It is a mistake to think that a runny nose is not serious and it will pass on its own in a few days. Such an outcome is not excluded, of course. But it is possible that only the symptoms will pass, and the disease itself will take a long time and become chronic.

Often, trying to fight the runny nose, people make a number of mistakes, due to which this unpleasant symptom does not go away for a long time. Let’s look at the 8 main ones, and what you can do to correct them.

Improperly chosen medications

When the runny nose (especially if it is the only symptom), most sufferers do not rush to the doctor, and begin to self-treat. You may have “Googled” your problem and found a long list of medications that are perfect for you. Or you went to the pharmacy to consult with pharmacists. The latter may offer you an over-the-counter medicine that helps many people. But it can also happen that it is not suitable in your case.

Before choosing a cure for the runny nose, you need to know exactly the cause of its occurrence. Depending on it, one of the following preparations may be required:

1. Antihistamines. They contain active ingredients that block the reaction of histamine, which is responsible for allergy manifestations. They come in the form of pills, shots, syrups, or nasal sprays. These medications can be prescribed for seasonal or year-round allergic rhinitis.

2. Antiviral remedies. They can be prescribed to you if you have a confirmed viral etiology. These drugs are advisable to take in the initial stages of the disease or as a prophylactic. They attack the virus, and stimulate the immune system. If the runny nose occurs against the background of an acute respiratory infection, acute respiratory viral infection, then nasal antiviral sprays may be prescribed.

3. Antibacterials. Antibiotics for a runny nose can only be prescribed if the cold rhinitis has been complicated by a bacterial infection. This group of medications is often used if the inflammation has spread to the paranasal sinuses (maxillary sinusitis, phrontitis). Uncontrolled use of antibiotics is a serious mistake.

4. Hormonal drugs. Such drugs have antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effects. They come in the form of drops, sprays, pills, and shots. They can be prescribed for chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, polyps, allergic rhinitis.

Neither the pharmacist, nor the more so you yourself can not diagnose exactly, so a high probability that the selected drugs, not only do not help, but in some cases even worsen the situation.

How to correct a mistake

It is unlikely that you will run to the clinic on the same day as a runny nose, but still a visit to the doctor is better not to delay. Consultation with a therapist or otolaryngologist will not be superfluous in this situation. They will take your medical history and possibly give you further tests so that they can give you an effective treatment regimen.

If, before visiting the doctor, you have already begun to take any medications, be sure to report them. You may have moved in the right direction, so you can continue to use them as recommended by your specialist. But it may be that you have made a mistake and you will have to give them up completely, choosing a different therapeutic tactic. In any case, be honest and listen to your doctor.

Abuse of vasoconstrictors

Any vasoconstrictors (drops, sprays) can be used no longer than 5-7 days. But you may have been using them for 2 to 3 weeks, or even longer. This is very harmful because prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops disrupts nasal mucosal nutrition. It becomes noticeably thinner, and the blood vessels become brittle. In the future, in case of minor injuries or high blood pressure, nasal bleeding cannot be ruled out.

Another danger is that overdose may cause tachycardia, heart rhythm problems, hypertension, headaches, sleeping problems, and nausea. This is because vasoconstriction occurs not only in the nose, but also in the neck, heart, brain. Those who use such drops and sprays uncontrollably often end up with cerebral vasospasm and ischemic stroke.

But most often, those who abuse vasoconstrictor drops, are faced with medication-induced runny nose. During prolonged use of these drugs, the adrenoreceptors become insensitive to the hormone noradrenaline, which regulates the dilation and constriction of blood vessels. It ceases to have the right effect on blood vessels, so chronic nasal congestion develops.

Some people start the disease to such an extent that they start to exceed significantly (sometimes 10 times) the allowable daily doses of vasoconstrictor drops and sprays. This is a very serious mistake. Occasionally the pathology takes such a form that patients spend a whole bottle of drops in a day to maintain free breathing. If they try to refuse the medicine then the nasal cavity becomes completely stuffy. This condition is akin to drug addiction.

How to fix a mistake

In neglected cases, you will not be able to solve the problem of addiction on your own. You will have to seek qualified help from a doctor. In addition to the complete rejection of drops, a specialist can prescribe corticosteroid drugs, antihistamines and nasal cavity flushing with a physiological solution. If drug therapy is ineffective, surgical correction of the volume of the lower nasal cavities may be necessary.

Using folk remedies

If you use folk remedies (onions, garlic, honey) for intranasal application to fight the runny nose, you can get very bad swelling or an allergic reaction. Nasopharyngeal mucosa is very sensitive. Using onion or garlic juice is a mistake because it seriously damages and dries it out. This deprives the body of its natural defence against infection.

Do not get carried away with heating (bags of salt, sand or boiled eggs) of the sinuses, which are very popular in folk medicine. They are relatively useful in the first days of a cold runny nose, but on day 4-5, when the bacterial infection joins, the heat often provokes severe complications (meningitis or meningoencephalitis).

How to correct a mistake

Reject folk remedies for nasal drips and be sure to see an otolaryngologist. He will give recommendations on how to restore the mucosa. Most often, the emphasis is on moisturizing it. Several times a day you will need to rinse your nasal cavity with saline solutions. They are available at any pharmacy, or can be prepared at home.

If the runny nose does not go away, and the condition only worsens (temperature rises, headache appears, nasal discharge turns greenish, cloudy) during the warming procedures, be sure to stop doing them and seek medical help immediately. Delaying can be a fatal mistake in this case.

Incorrect nasal irrigation

When fighting a runny nose and flushing your nasal cavity, you may be making these common mistakes:

1. Draws in fluid through the nose. You can not do so, because the liquid can get into the nasal sinuses or into the auditory tube, which exits directly into the nasopharynx. Incorrect rinsing often leads to maxillary sinusitis, phrontitis, or otitis media.

2. Experimenting with different lavage solutions. Some people think of using a solution of manganese solution or lemon juice for this purpose. It is best to use an isotonic or hypertonic solution of sea salt or table salt for flushing.

3. You flush your nose first, then put vasoconstrictor drops in. The lavage will not be performed correctly because of swelling. Spray or drops should be used first, and then rinse when you can breathe easily.

4. Flush the nose if there are contraindications. This can include a deviated septum, polyps in the nasal cavity, frequent nasal bleeding, otitis media or a predisposition to otitis media.

If done correctly, it moistens the mucosa, reduces the symptoms of allergic runny nose, softens the crusts of dried mucus and is easy to remove. But if the correct technique is not followed, not only does the runny nose not go away, but new problems arise.

How to correct a mistake

Learn proper lavage technique and consider possible contraindications. Never perform this procedure immediately before stepping outside into the cold air. To do the flushing at home, you need a syringe or a syringe without a needle. They are filled with a prepared solution, whose temperature should be close to body temperature.

Lean over the sink or pelvis and turn your head sideways to allow saline solution flowing into the nasal canal, wrapping around the nasal septum and flowing out through the adjacent canal. Breathe through your mouth during the manipulation. Put the solution in under pressure, but not too sharply. Some of the fluid will leak out through the mouth – this is normal. Do the procedure once for each nostril. While rinsing, learn to relax.

Improper nasal blowing

A runny nose won’t go away for long if you don’t blow your nose correctly. It is not a good idea to do it for both nostrils at once. Such actions threaten the development of acute otitis media, as they create excessive pressure in the nasal cavity, and the infection can penetrate into the ear. And when you sniff your nose, it goes even deeper into your nasopharynx.

Using the same cotton handkerchief many times is another mistake. The problem is its moist content. It becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

How to correct a mistake

Learn the basic rules of blowing your nose:

1. Try to cough effortlessly, cleaning each nostril separately, keeping your mouth slightly open.

2. Blow into disposable dry tissues and discard them immediately.

3. Do not blow your nose immediately after waking up. Wait at least 10 minutes for mucus buildup to move into the nasal cavity by gravity after standing upright. This will allow for the least amount of effort to remove the maximum amount of secretions accumulated overnight.

4. Blow your nose as many times a day as necessary (at least 3-4 times). This prevents mucus from accumulating in the nasal cavity, which will protect you from possible complications.

5. Do not force yourself too hard when blowing your nose. If the nose is not breathing well, the secretions will not pass through the nostrils, but under pressure will move to the mouths of the auditory tubes.

Denial of sick leave

You may think that a cold is not bad, and you can safely take it on your feet. Of course, it is not always possible to take a sick leave when you have a runny nose and other symptoms of acute respiratory infections, but in any case it is better to reduce the activity. After all, any pathogen can cause not only a prolonged runny nose, but can affect any of the internal organs, provoke a worsening of chronic diseases and even become a cause of disability.

It is better to spend 2-3 days in bed, than to treat the consequences of your frivolous attitude towards the disease for years. If you can’t rest at home, the runny nose may not go away for a long time, and over time it will develop into a chronic form. And as you continue to live your normal life, you will spread germs and infect others around you.

How to correct a mistake

Try to spend 2-3 days at home, lying on the couch under a warm blanket. Drink more lukewarm fluids. In this case, the body will direct all its forces to fight the infection. As you recover from your cold, the runny nose will pass. And if the condition has not improved for 2-3 days, then do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting a therapist.

Problems with airing and humidifying the room

A closed room accumulates bacteria, which will not get anywhere if the room is not aired. For the entire body, including the nasal cavity, to function normally, there must be proper humidity. In an apartment or office, it should be between 40-60%. But sometimes the air is too dry. This problem occurs especially in winter (humidity drops to 15-20%), when the windows are constantly closed and the heaters are running.

Under such circumstances, the nasal mucosa quickly thins and dries out. Against this background, the body becomes susceptible to infections – you are more likely to catch colds that are accompanied by a prolonged runny nose. Or the process of increased mucus production may start. It’s the body’s way of compensating for the lack of hydration.

How to correct a mistake

To destroy viruses in a closed room and quickly get rid of a runny nose, follow these recommendations:

1. Every 2 to 3 hours, ventilate for 10 to 15 minutes;

2. Clean the room with a wet cloth regularly;

3. Every 4-6 hours, turn on the humidifier for 15-30 minutes, adding essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus, menthol or orange to the water.

During airing, you need to leave the room or take better cover.

Complications of chronic rhinitis

If you have a long persistent runny nose, you lose your sense of smell, your breathing does not improve after using vasoconstrictor drops, then there is a high probability that the examination will reveal polyps. They look like peas or bunches of grapes. According to statistics, nasal polyps are a common complication of chronic rhinitis. Men are 3-4 times more susceptible to it than women.

Chronic runny nose can also occur with other complications: a variety of inflammation of the sinuses, trauma, leading to a curvature of the nasal passages. You may suffer from a runny nose for years without knowing the real cause that triggers it.

How to correct a mistake

If the runny nose lasts longer than 5-7 days, be sure to see your doctor. A therapist will suggest a therapy regimen that’s right for you. It can include: physical treatments, medications, and even surgery. The latter is resorted to if it is found that the nose is not breathing well due to large polyps or deviations of the nasal septum.