Causes Of A Runny Nose: Symptoms And Treatment

Given that runny noses are so common and can be caused by so many different things, it can be tough to know how to deal with them! This article will break down the causes, symptoms, and treatments of a runny nose to get you or your little one feeling better again.

Overview

If you’ve ever felt thin, liquidy mucus dripping from your nose or the constant urge to blow your nose, then you’ve experienced a “runny nose.” There are several different causes of runny noses, but in general they happen when something irritates the lining of your nose and your body tries to get rid of the irritant.

Basically, a runny nose is the body’s way of trapping allergens or viruses in mucus to flush them out.

Although mucus is a super important part of your airway system, when there’s too much mucus produced, the body naturally wants to get rid of it. This leads to things like coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose.

What is mucus?

Before looking at some of the causes of a runny nose, the most important question is: what is mucus -- the stuff that’s actually “running” out of your nose?

Mucus is actually a protective substance that’s made by the tissue lining your nose. It works to moisten the air you inhale and provide a line of defense between the allergens and bacteria in the air and your lungs.

Believe it or not, your body is constantly producing mucus. The reason you aren’t aware of this process is because it usually mixes with saliva and moves down your throat. Mucus only becomes noticeable when there’s an excess amount of it.

Causes of a Runny Nose

As one of the most common illness symptoms, there are several different causes of a runny nose. Below is a breakdown of some of the things that can cause a runny nose.

Runny Nose Caused By Allergies

Perhaps the most common cause of a runny nose is allergies. Unfortunately, there are several indoor and outdoor allergens that can cause an allergic reaction, which will likely include a runny nose. Some common allergens are dust, pollen, and pet dander. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction outside of a runny nose are sneezing, sore throat, swelling, and coughing.

Although allergies are pesky and annoying, there are several medications that can really help soothe the symptoms.

Runny Nose Caused By The Common Cold

Another cause of a runny nose is the common cold which is an infection of the upper respiratory system. If you’ve ever felt a little under the weather during the winter and experienced a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, etc., chances are you had the common cold.

When you’re fighting the common cold, the mucous membrane that lines your nose becomes inflamed which leads to too much mucus being made. This is why it sometimes feels painful or tender to blow your nose when you have a cold.

While adults catch a cold from time to time, children can get sick with eight colds or more per year!

Much like with allergies, there are several over-the-counter medications and at-home remedies that can help ease icky cold symptoms.

Runny Nose Caused By A Sinus Infection

If your body can’t adequately fight off the common cold, then it can sometimes develop into a sinus infection. When the cavities around your nasal passage become inflamed a sinus infection occurs which can be another cause of the excess mucus associated with a runny nose.

Another sign your cold has developed into a sinus infection is if you have a sinus headache (pain or pressure near the front of your head), a congested nose, or pain in your face where your sinuses are.

Runny Nose Caused By The Flu

A more serious cause of a runny nose is the flu, a nasty virus that tends to go around every winter. The flu, like a sinus infection, also causes inflammation in the mucous membrane of your nose. Other symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, muscle ages, fatigue, headache, etc. It’s important to stay away from other people as much as possible when you have the flu because it is really contagious. For the most part, flu symptoms tend to clear up in one to two weeks.

Runny Nose Caused By Dry Air

One cause of a runny nose completely unrelated to illness is dry air. When you’re living somewhere particularly dry, your skin and nasal passages can dry out. When your nose gets dried out, the delicate balance of fluids is thrown off which can lead to inflammation and a runny nose. If you live somewhere that gets really cold during the winter, it’s likely that the system you use to heat your house also dries out the air, something that can be easily counteracted with a humidifier.

Symptoms

Oftentimes, a runny nose is not the only symptom of an illness that you experience. If, for whatever reason, your body is making too much mucus, you might also feel postnasal drip. Postnasal drip feels like mucus sliding down the back of your throat every time you swallow. If it goes on for a while, postnasal drip can also lead to a cough or sore throat.

Another symptom that tends to come with a runny nose is nasal congestion or a “stuffy nose.” When the tissue that lines your nose is inflamed, it can be difficult to breathe due to the swelling.

At-Home Remedies To Treat A Runny Nose

Although a runny nose can be really bothersome, there are several remedies that you can try at home to relieve your runny nose.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

It’s always important to drink plenty of extra fluids when you’re sick. One reason it’s helpful to drink an excess of fluids is because doing so will thin out your mucus. This will help counteract the symptoms of nasal congestion and is easy to blow out. The easier it is for your body to expel the excess mucus, the less amount of time you’ll have a runny or stuffy nose.

That being said, make sure you’re drinking the right fluids when you’re sick. Some drinks actually dehydrate rather than hydrate. These drinks include coffee and alcohol, so it’s a good idea to stay away from them when you’re sick.

Inhale Steam

Another remedy to try if you can’t get rid of your runny nose is to try inhaling steam. If your runny nose is mild, you can try brewing yourself a cup of hot tea and inhaling the steam from that before you drink it. If it’s more bothersome, try inhaling the steam from a clean, hot pot of almost boiling water for 20-30 minutes. Make sure you blow your nose after inhaling steam to get rid of all the loosened mucus. Another easy way to inhale steam is to take a few hot showers a day while your runny or stuffy nose is really bad.

Neti Pot

If the cause of your stuffy nose is a sinus infection or allergies, try using a neti pot to flush out your sinuses. Basically, neti pots are small tea-pot-like containers that you fill with saline solution or saltwater. You pour the liquid in one nostril and it slowly drains out of the other nostril. This will clear out any mucus that’s lodged in your nasal passages or sinuses. There are sinus rinses available that use a squeeze bottle and those work equally well.

Medications

If these at-home remedies aren’t working, you can try over-the-counter medicine. That being said, not all OTC medicine is made the same. When you are choosing a medication brand, make sure you pick one that is dedicated to making quality, clean products such as Genexa.

Kids’ Allergy

If you think your child’s runny nose is due to allergies, try giving them Genexa’s Kid’s Allergy medication. This liquid medicine temporarily relieves certain symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and itching of the nose and throat that are due to seasonal or environmental/indoor allergies.

Cold & Flu

A lot of different viruses can cause cold symptoms. If you think the common cold or the flu is the cause of your little one’s runny nose, you can try giving them honey cough syrup like Genexa’s Kids’ Honey Cough Syrup. This can help with sore throat and cough. (But remember, honey should never be given to infants under the age of 1 year due to the risk of infant botulism!) For infants who have a cold, nasal saline is often recommended by pediatricians. Genexa carries Infants’ Saline Spray & Drops, which can help with nasal congestion, improve their breathing, and encourage oral hydration. Consult your pediatrician if your child is sick!

Cough & Congestion

If your kid has a runny nose that is accompanied by a stuffy nose or productive cough, you can try giving them Kids’ Cough & Chest Congestion. This medicine contains a powerful cough suppressant and expectorant that helps control cough, relieve chest congestion, and helps thin and loosen mucus. This should only be given to children four years of age and older. Check with your pediatrician if this medication is appropriate for your child.

Conclusion

Although runny noses are so common, they can be really bothersome and often related to other symptoms. It is important to identify the cause so you can find the right supportive care. If symptoms continue to worsen, talk to your doctor. Once you have figured out the cause of your runny nose, you can try several at-home remedies in conjunction with over-the-counter medications from reliable companies such as Genexa. Get well soon!