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Spring break is here, and so are your sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Most people assume that the season is the cause for their nasal congestion, but what if an allergy test rules it out?
Rhinitis, as a catch-all medical term, refers to the inflammation of the nasal passages that causes congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Some of the most well-known culprits of this are allergens like pollen from grasses, trees and weeds that are prevalent during allergy season.
Vasomotor rhinitis, on the other hand, is a non-allergic nasal inflammation. Even though many of the same symptoms are present, it can be traced to other conditions that create nasal congestion.
If allergies are ruled out as the cause for nasal congestion, other conditions that may cause it include:
Your symptoms may be the result of what you eat, especially if you enjoy spicy or acidic foods. Gustatory rhinitis is another form of non-allergic inflammation brought on by specific foods causing blood vessels in the nose to swell.
Some of the most common ingredients that can cause this include:
Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD) are associated with heartburn and throat irritation from stomach acid regurgitating up to the esophagus. However, stomach acid can also travel to the nasal passages and cause a similar inflammation found in allergies.
Many of the same foods that cause gustatory rhinitis can also cause GERD, along with coffee, wine, beer, and other acidic ingredients.
Sometimes the cause for your congestion is not from what you’re doing but where you’re doing it. Smoke from tobacco users or campfires can irritate the nasal passages, and sudden shifts in weather from hot-to-cold and vice versa can leave your nose struggling to adapt. Even traveling to areas with a drier climate, such as Arizona, can create congestion and a runny nose if you’re new to the environment.
Vasomotor rhinitis can be treated similarly to allergies with decongestant sprays and a Neti pot along with three unique treatment options.
Used for patients with COPD, Atrovent as a nasal spray has been successful in helping patients who have non-allergic rhinitis. By acting on the mucous glands in the nasal passages, it can reduce instances of runny nose with consistent use. It can be used up to 4 times a day.
However, some patients may find that it causes the nose to dry up too much, which can lead to more irritation.
If Atrovent is not your treatment method of choice, your physician may suggest a minimally invasive procedure called radiofrequency ablation (or RFA). According to Dr. Roy Lewis, a CEENTA ENT and allergy specialist at our Mooresville office, "This method relies on radiofrequency to create heat energy and targets the nerves that supply the mucus glands in the nose that cause congestion. RFA is outpatient, meaning that your treatment is performed in the office with local anesthesia and no overnight stay required. Your downtime is minimal."
If heat can treat your rhinitis, why not cold therapy? Cryoablation uses cold temperatures in a specially designed instrument to freeze those same nerves in the nose that predominantly signal for congestion and mucus production. It is also an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia with minimal downtime.
Finding the cause for your runny or stuffy nose doesn’t have to be guesswork. By seeing a CEENTA ENT physician, you can see if it is due to seasonal allergies, your lifestyle, or unexpected environmental changes. From there, our team of specialists can provide at-home and in-office remedies to treat your symptoms.
To get started, schedule your next ENT appointment with Dr. Lewis at our Mooresville office today by using our online scheduling tool or through myCEENTAchart if you are an existing patient.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician.
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