How harmful is chronic rhinitis? What should I do if I often have nasal congestion, headaches, and runny nose?

A friend left a message to Huazi, asking what to do with chronic rhinitis? Huazi himself has the problem of chronic rhinitis, so he has a better say. Generally speaking, chronic rhinitis will be more serious in winter and spring, with frequent nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, and uncontrollable continuous sneezing.

When nasal congestion is severe, it can cause headaches, affect sleep, and also affect the sense of smell. Various minor symptoms will reduce the sense of happiness in life sharply.

1. Why does chronic rhinitis occur?

Chronic rhinitis is a chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa and submucosal layer, which often lasts for more than 3 months or recurs frequently. There is usually no clear pathogen infection, but there will be obvious symptoms such as nasal congestion, increased secretions, swelling and thickening of the nasal mucosa.

There are many causes of chronic rhinitis, such as irritation caused by an overly dry environment, excessive dust, cold temperature, etc.; or allergic constitution; or excessive use of the voice, crying for too long; or respiratory tract damage caused by a cold, irritation to the nasal cavity caused by acid mist during gastroesophageal reflux, irritation caused by inflammation of adjacent organs such as sinusitis or nasopharyngitis, etc.

2. What are the hazards of chronic rhinitis?

Nasal congestion is the main symptom of chronic rhinitis. In the early stage of the disease, it is mainly intermittent and alternating. The nasal congestion is relieved during daytime activities and aggravated at night when sitting still or in cold weather. When sleeping on the side, the obstruction of the lower nostril is aggravated. When turning over and changing body position, the obstruction of the lower nostril is aggravated, while the obstruction of the upper nostril is relieved.

When nasal congestion is severe, it will lead to open mouth breathing and decreased sense of smell; increased secretions in the nasal cavity, nasal dripping when lying on your back will irritate the pharynx and cause coughing; long-term chronic rhinitis may cause hypertrophy of the nasal concha, which may compress the branches of the trigeminal nerve and cause pain in the forehead, nose bridge, eye sockets and other parts.

Severe nasal congestion can affect sleep, cause headaches, decreased concentration, and memory loss. If secretions enter the Eustachian tube, it may cause inflammation of the ear canal, resulting in symptoms such as tinnitus and deafness.

3. What to do about chronic rhinitis

1. Glucocorticoid nasal spray: Glucocorticoids are often used to treat chronic rhinitis, but you should pay attention to choosing nasal sprays. They are only used locally in the nasal cavity to avoid adverse reactions caused by absorption. They can be used for a long time and are relatively safe. When using them, be careful to spray the medicine on the side of the nasal cavity, not on the nasal septum.

2. Decongestants: If the nasal congestion is severe, nasal decongestants can be used as appropriate, which can shrink the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa and relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion. However, it should be noted that although such drugs take effect quickly and have a definite effect, they are prone to drug-induced rhinitis when used for a long time, so continuous use should not exceed 7 days.

3. Rinse the nasal cavity: For those with chronic rhinitis, it is recommended to rinse the nasal cavity every morning and evening to clean the secretions on the nasal mucosa and reduce irritation, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms of rhinitis. It should be noted that physiological saline or physiological seawater should be used to clean the nasal cavity, which is isotonic with body fluids to avoid irritation to the mucosa.

4. Nasal deformity requires surgery: Some people with chronic rhinitis also have nasal deformities such as deviated nasal septum and hypertrophic nasal concha. The effect of medication will be very poor, and surgical correction is required to effectively relieve symptoms. It is recommended that people with chronic rhinitis seek medical attention in time and be examined by an otolaryngologist to confirm whether there is a deformity problem.

In summary, there are many causes of chronic rhinitis, which need to be controlled with reasonable medication under the guidance of a doctor. Pay attention to self-protection in daily life, pay more attention to rest, open windows for ventilation at home, do appropriate exercise to strengthen physical fitness, and avoid irritating foods in diet, which can help relieve the symptoms of chronic rhinitis. However, if there is a nasal deformity, surgical correction is required to improve the symptoms.