Nose Runny

Nose, Runny

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* The drainage from your nose is thick and colored.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

Your runny nose may feel like a leaky faucet, but it's actually a perfect piece of self-correcting plumbing.

Nasal drainage is your body's way of washing out the nose, says Robert Enberg, M.D., an allergist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The problem could be an allergen or a cold virus, and your body is simply trying to get rid of it by flushing your nose with a fluid composed of proteins, salt water and antibodies.

Colds obviously cause a lot of runny noses, but if your nose is runny most of the time, the odds are 50 to 80 percent that you have an allergy, says Dr. Enberg. Certain medications—such as the beta blockers that control heart disease and high blood pressure—also trigger a runny nose. So does a sinus infection.

A nasal condition called vasomotor rhinitis can sometimes produce persistent nasal congestion and postnasal drip, along with sneezing and an occasional runny nose. "With this problem, your nose will suddenly run like a faucet for a few minutes—often first thing in the morning—so you have to grab a tissue quickly," says Dr. Enberg.

A severe change in temperature can cause vasomotor rhinitis (it's common among skiers). Changes in humidity can also bring it on, as can stress, hormonal changes and fatigue.

Symptom Relief

If your nose is running, here's how to make it walk—and even sit down.

Don't take a multiple medication if you don't need it. If a runny nose is your only symptom, take a nonprescription antihistamine, says Dr. Enberg; if your nose is stuffed up, try a decongestant. Cold medications often include a variety of drugs to deal with multiple symptoms. It's best to take only the medicine your symptom calls for, says Dr. Enberg.

Review your medications. Because several medications can actually cause your nose to run, you should list all medications you are currently taking—both prescription and over-the-counter—and go over the list with your doctor. A change may be in order.

Try a prescription spray. If over-the-counter antihistamines don't dry up the runniness, your doctor may suggest a steroid nasal spray, says Richard Mabry, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at the Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. For certain severe cases of vasomoter rhinitis, your doctor may want you to try a prescription spray called ipratropium.

Hang on to your exercise habit. If you have just a head cold, with no fever or coughing, moderate exercise like walking will actually boost your body's ability to fight off the cold, says David Nieman, Dr.P.H., professor of health sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Dr. Neiman's research has also shown that exercise will reduce your risk of catching the next cold bug that goes around.

Soothe your sinuses. If a sinus infection is causing the drainage, Dr. Mabry recommends a nasal douche. "Dissolve 1Ž4 teaspoon salt in four ounces of water. Over the sink, pour some into your hand, sniff it up into your nose and then blow it out, one nostril at a time," he suggests. You can also buy bottled nasal saline spray at pharmacies. (For other hints on battling sinus problems, see page 458.)

Attacking the Allergies

If allergies are causing your runny nose, here are a few ways to deal with them.

Try an antihistamine. If your allergies are fairly mild, over-the-counter antihistamines may be all you need, says Dr. Mabry.

Ask for prescription relief. If antihistamines make you feel drowsy, ask your doctor to prescribe a nonsedating antihistamine. Another highly recommended prescription medicine for allergies is cromolyn. This drug stabilizes cells in your nose and helps them resist runniness when they come in contact with an allergen. "Cromolyn is one of the safest medicines in the world," Dr. Mabry says.

Steroid medications and allergy shots are the next levels of treatment for more severe allergies, he says.

Avoid the allergen. When you know a certain plant or food causes your allergic runny nose, avoid it whenever possible. Try eliminating suspicious foods one at a time from your diet and gradually reintroduce them to see which are the culprits, says Dr. Mabry.

Fill up on fluids. Drink plenty of liquids to replace what you're losing with a runny nose, and use a humidifier in your bedroom to keep your nasal membranes healthily moist, suggests Dr. Mabry. Clean out your humidifier daily with vinegar to deter molds or fungus.

Learn the bedroom basics. To allergy-proof your bedroom, use plastic covers over the mattress and box springs, clean curtains monthly and remove rugs and upholstered furniture. Use lint-free bedspreads, synthetic rather than feather pillows, and don't sleep with stuffed toys. Keep your closet uncluttered and the door closed to keep dust down.

Use allergy strategies all over the house. Vacuum rather than sweep to clean floors, use disposable bags in your vacuum cleaner and dust daily with a damp cloth.

Try pure products. Use hypo-allergenic and unscented cosmetics, cleaning aids and detergents to ease your allergy woes, says Dr. Mabry.