“I thought I had allergies, but none of the allergy medicines seem to work for me. What’s wrong? Why can’t I get any relief?”
If that sounds familiar, you may have one of the many conditions that fall under the category of “non-allergic” rhinitis. These are ailments that mimic some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), such as nasal congestion and postnasal drip, but are not caused by allergies. In contrast with nasal allergies, these non-allergic nasal problems usually appear in adulthood, don’t make your nose and eyes itch, don’t include sneezing and often occur year-round.
Like spicy foods? You may not like the accompanying nasal discharge.
Have you ever noticed when you eat certain foods, especially hot and spicy ones, your nose starts to run wild with a watery discharge? This complaint occurs mostly in older people and is called “gustatory rhinitis.” It’s a result of chemicals in foods triggering nerves in the nose to produce profuse drainage. Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, can cause nasal congestion. This is because they contain substances that make nasal tissues swell. As you probably guessed, eliminating the food and drinks from your diet that cause congestion will solve the problem.
[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]
Certain medications cause nasal symptoms that act like allergies.
A few of the most common ones include beta-blockers, heart medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme, or ACE inhibitors, and birth control pills. Aspirin and pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin IB and Aleve can trigger sneezing, runny nose or congestion. If you notice a link between starting or taking a prescription medication and nasal symptoms, contact your doctor. If it seems to be related to an over- the-counter medication, stop taking it and check with your pharmacist for a substitute.
Rebound nasal congestion from OTC nasal sprays.
OTC decongestant nasal sprays such as Afrin and Neosynephrine are commonly used to relieve nasal congestion from colds or allergies. But if they’re used regularly for as little as three days, a rebound nasal congestion can occur. If you continue to use the spray, the rebound effect gets worse and worse, leading to almost chronic nasal blockage. Many times, people with this condition become “addicted” to their nasal spray to try to relieve the nasal congestion, not realizing that the spray is causing the problem. If this happens to you, stop the OTC decongestant nasal spray cold turkey, or see your allergist for treatment to get you off this spray. Failure to do so can lead to damage to your nasal tissue.
[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]
As if cravings weren’t bad enough: congestion too?
Hormonal changes can also lead to nasal problems. People with untreated hypothyroidism (low thyroid) can have nasal blockage. Up to 30 percent of pregnant women develop a problem called “rhinitis of pregnancy.” Usually, the symptoms include nasal congestion accompanied by watery nasal drainage. For unknown reasons, women who smoke or have dust mite allergy are more prone to this condition. The good news is that it resolves shortly after the birth of the baby.
Strong odors can stuff up your nose.
Do you ever have nasal blockage around strong odors, fumes, tobacco smoke, air pollution or changes of temperature or barometric pressure? Then you have a condition called “vasomotor rhinitis.” It’s thought that these irritants trigger nerves in the nose, leading to congestion. Avoidance of these environmental agents is the best treatment to prevent nasal problems.
[See: How to Survive Ragweed Allergy Season.]
What if you aren’t sure whether you have allergies or a non-allergy nasal problem? What if you have a non-allergy nasal problem that you can’t control? In both cases, you should see a board-certified allergist for evaluation and proper management of your condition. Just because it isn’t an allergy doesn’t mean you have to suffer.
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Do You Have Non-Allergic Rhinitis? originally appeared on usnews.com
