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4 Ways To Stop A Runny Nose That Actually Work

Your nose is gushing like a fire hose and it's really annoying. We get it–and you're not dripping alone. After all, it's virus season. And there are other things that can leave you with a runny nose: The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunologyestimates that more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year. According to the Mayo Clinic, anything that irritates the inside of your nose can cause it to run.

The good news: you don't have to simply stock up on tissues and be miserable. You can get relief from a runny nose by following a few simple steps.

First, you want to get to the root of the problem, so you can treat it effectively. Next, you want to assess all your options for remedies, and finally, you want to take things a step further with a few easy tricks to help stop this symptom in its tracks. Here's how to accomplish all of this easily and quickly.

What are the causes of a runny nose?

"A person can develop a runny nose for a few different reasons," says Zara Patel, MD, director of endoscopic skull base surgery and professor of otolaryngology and, by courtesy, of neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, CA. "The most common reasons include a viral infection like the common cold."

If you notice your nose runs in a specific area of your home, or during the fall or spring especially, you're probably dealing with allergic rhinitis. "This means there's inflammation of your nasal lining from allergic reactivity to something in the environment. It could be indoor or outdoor, and it could be seasonal or year round," Dr. Patel continues.

A health condition you might not even know you have could also be the culprit. "Vasomotor rhinitis means that the normal balance between the input of your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems into your nose isn't working right," explains Dr. Patel. "There should be a 'feedback loop' that tells your nasal lining to stop producing mucus once the inside of your nose is humid enough—that's how you breathe comfortably. If this 'loop' gets altered, mucus just keeps flowing instead of stopping. People with vasomotor rhinitis can have runny noses in cold environments, when they eat, or with changes in temperature. Over time, it can become a constant issue throughout the day."

You can also develop vasomotor rhinitis as you get older, if you have had a stroke; head trauma or surgery on your head or neck; or if you have neurodegenerative disease, like Parkinson's. An anti-cholinergic medication spray can treat vasomotor rhinitis—an example of one of these sprays would be Atrovent nasal spray (the generic name is ipratropium bromide). You can also have an ENT do a procedure to fix the problem.

"The last, least common reason why people develop a runny nose is if they have actually developed a connection between their brain and their nose, and the fluid running out is cerebrospinal fluid," Dr. Patel explains. "This typically happens in people who have had head trauma, but also can develop spontaneously in people with increased intracranial pressure, often related to obesity. The fluid typically would be one-sided, clear and water-like, with a salty taste, and it would continue to drip out of your nose when your head is upside down. This is definitely something a rhinologist should be consulted about–you would need surgery to repair this type of connection, and protect your brain from meningitis."

What's the right way to treat a runny nose?

Start with the simplest solution: a steamy shower. The steam can deliver some much-needed moisture to your sinus passages. Steam inhalation can also open up congested nasal passages and take the pressure off your sinuses. You can also boil some water and inhale its steam for a few minutes, and repeat frequently.

OTC treatments can also be useful, but you really need to use them correctly. Decongestant nasal sprays "can be tricky," says Amarbir Gil, MD, clinical professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. More specifically, these are sprays containing oxymetazoline or phenylephrine. "If you use them for too long, you can get rebound congestion, so don't stay on one for longer than three to five days at a time."

An effective alternative to nasal sprays: a neti pot. You can rinse mucus out of your nose quickly with one containing a saline solution, but you have to make sure you're using it safely. The Food and Drug Administration advises only using sterile, distilled or boiled water. Tap water can contain bacteria that will stay in your nose and cause infection. Saline packets made for this purpose are sold in drugstores. You also want to follow all instructions that come with your neti pot, and consult your doctor before you use one if you have any conditions that affect your immune system.

You can also irrigate your nose with a saline rinse via a squeeze bottle device. Here's Dr. Patel demonstrating how to rinse right.

"Follow that with an anti-inflammation spray, or an antihistamine spray–your doctor can prescribe these," she says. Anti-inflammatory nasal sprays include products with ingredients such as triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ), fluticasone (Flonase), or sprays containing budesonide. An example of an antihistamine spray would be one containing azelastine (Astepro allergy). It's a good idea to talk with your doctor to see if any of these is right for you or to zero in on which would be most helpful for you.

Of course, removing anything you're allergic to from your surroundings will help, too.

Any cool tricks for "turning off the faucet"?

Yes, and believe it or not, knowing how to blow your nose the right way helps:

Put your finger against one of your nostrils, applying a little pressure.

Breathe in gently and then blow the opposite nostril. Be gentle, and do one nostril at a time.

Same with nasal sprays: there's a right way to use them:

"Avoid spraying your septum, which is in the middle of your nose. It will not be effective, and will just dry out your nose," says Dr. Gil. That could mean discomfort and nosebleeds. Instead, aim the nozzle toward the ear closest to the nostril you're spraying. Hold the spray in your left hand if you're spraying your right nostril.

Also, follow common sense advice for chasing sniffles, including getting extra sleep to help your body recover, using a humidifier to keep nasal passages moist, and drinking plenty of fluids.

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Is A Chronic Runny Nose Common With Alzheimer's Disease? Here's What To Know

Older adults with Alzheimer's disease oftentimes show symptoms of a condition called geriatric rhinitis, which is an inflammation or irritation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. This inflammation caused by viruses, bacteria, irritants or allergens produces large amounts of mucous, resulting in a runny nose or postnasal drip.

As we age, the nasal membrane atrophies, and there is a recession of the collagen fibers and loss of elastic fibers in the skin. The weakening or thinning of these connective tissues in the nose can cause the tip of the nose to droop which restricts airflow and can cause nasal obstructions. Some of the symptoms of geriatric rhinitis in addition to a runny nose include loss of smell, crustiness in the nostrils and a dry cough.

A runny nose is very common in individuals with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease, and common in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease. Some medications can lead to this condition.

However, a runny nose can also be a symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious disorders, even depression.

A cold or sinusitis are typical causes of a drippy nose, as is irritation. And some people's noses are more susceptible to irritants.

A caregiver can observe if someone's runny nose is caused by environmental irritants, such as pollution, dust, tobacco smoke, perfume, scented candles or oils. Central heating can exacerbate the condition. If not an environmental factor, a runny nose could be caused by allergies to pets, a new detergent or fabric softener, a new soap or shampoo, or foods.

Geriatric rhinitis is a familiar and bothersome condition in aging adults and can cause headaches and diminished concentration, which can often be magnified in individuals with dementia-related illnesses.

Some individuals have chronic nose drips that have no underlying cause. This condition is called nonallergic rhinitis. Individuals typically sneeze a lot and experience nasal congestion, symptoms much like hay fever. However, the individual is not allergic to anything. Though little can be done about this condition, the caregiver can identify triggers that could possibly make the nasal drip worse, such as certain odors, medications, changes in diet or food, and the weather.

A good rule of thumb to treat a runny nose is to always keep the individual's nasal passages moist. You should consult a physician before using any type of nasal spray or medication. A room humidifier for the individual with the chronic runny nose is also suggested.

How A Nose Job Cured My Snoring

by CLARE GARNER, Daily Mail

The NHS undertakes 117,000 nose operations each year. A 'nose job' is often assumed to be cosmetic, but there can be medical reasons for having your nose altered.

Jason Thomas, 30, a fitness consultant from Woodford, Essex, was snoring so loudly that he wasn't willing to wait 18 months for an operation on the NHS.

Here, Jason describes about how the operation he had in July changed his life, and his plastic surgeon explains the procedure.

The patient

I'd been thinking about a nose job for the past couple of years, but I couldn't summon up the willpower, I'd heard so many scare stories about scars and pain.

However, my then girlfriend had complained so much about my snoring - I even woke myself up sometimes - that I knew something had to be done.

Furthermore, I had never liked my thick, Roman nose, and felt self- conscious. I didn't split up with my girlfriend because of my snoring, but it had caused a lot of friction. She would have to nudge me to get me to sleep on my side.

I also had problems with my breathing generally. I used to sneeze every morning until I'd had a shower and one of my nostrils was always slightly blocked.

A nose job is not the sort of thing I would have expected a man to have, but, in fact, I found my surgeon in an advertisement at the back of a lads' magazine. Having decided to do it I wanted to get on with it. But I was told there was an 18-month waiting list on the NHS.

On June 14 I called Alex Karidis the plastic surgeon I'd seen in the ad.

On July 11 I went in for my operation. I took a last look at my old face and said goodbye to my nose. I realised then how much I hated it. The operation was under general anaesthetic and took around 50 minutes. Afterwards I was very drowsy, but the pain wasn't as bad as people say.

The feeling was as if I needed to blow my nose but couldn't. My face was swollen for a week and my eyes were black and blue. I could not see my new nose then because I had a plaster cast on my face.

A week later I had the plaster taken off. I looked in the mirror, but couldn't really see much because my face was still swollen.

In fact, I felt a bit disappointed because the swelling made my nose look bigger than before. But by the third week, my nose was getting slimmer and slimmer. I couldn't believe it.

Mr Karidis told me afterwards that my right nostril had been leaning over to the left hand side and blocking the air passage.

That's why I snored. Since the operation I don't think I've snored once. At least, I haven't woken myself up and when I slept over at a friend's house, she said I hadn't snored.

Besides that and feeling more confident about my appearance, there are other benefits. Now I can run for much longer and take more oxygen into my lungs.

The surgeon:

Mr Alex Karidis is a plastic surgeon at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in St John's Wood, North London. He says:

When someone comes to see me for nose surgery I ask them specific questions about why they are unhappy with their nose. Many people don't like the size; others are having problems with breathing or snoring.

Sometimes people are snoring simply because the septum, the gristly structure which separates the nostrils, is crooked or has shifted to one side. The septum should be straight, allowing for equal passage of air through both nostrils. Jason had what we call a deviated septum, which I think he was born with because there were no signs of an earlier injury.

Surgery on the septum forms the first part of the operation and the cosmetic element comes second. I try to get an accurate picture of what the patient wants, so I can make a plan of action.

You can get fancy computer software programs where you can put the person's face on screen and change their nose with the cursor.

The problem is surgery isn't that simple. I'd love it to be that easy, but it isn't. I wouldn't want to create a picture on the screen and then disappoint them.

Instead I look in the mirror with the patient and get them to describe what they would like changing.

The operation takes between 45 minutes and an hour under general anaesthetic. There isn't a lot of blood because the anaesthetist artificially lowers the patient's blood pressure so they don't bleed as much.

I then inject a solution containing adrenalin into the area which puts the blood vessels into spasm, making them bleed less. Also, the anaesthetist puts cocaine paste inside the nostrils to numb the pain.

The patient lies on their back with their head slightly elevated. In 80per cent of operations I can do all my work from the inside, meaning that there are no external scars. But if someone has a particularly bulky tip to their nose I may have to cut outside.

With Jason, I could do all the work from the inside. I started by making two incisions of about an inch long at the end of his nose on the inside of the tip.Then I used sharp scissors to separate the skin from the bridge of the nose. I did the work on the septum in a procedure called a submucous resection.

I peeled off the inner lining of the septum using a special Ballinger knife which has a swivel head so I can get at the area near the throat.

I straightened the septum by removing some of the excess cartilage. If you can't straighten the bulge, you just remove it. To do this I used a hammer and chisel. It's not subtle. In fact, it's pretty noisy.

Jason had a bump on the bridge of his nose, which he wanted me to get rid of. I used a very sharp, flat straight chisel, about an inch wide, while my assistant hammered away.

The bone is tough so you have to bang very hard. The bump comes off in one big shaving. I did all this by touch and feel. Afterwards I filed the area smooth.

I then broke the bones at either side of the top of his nose. It's a very controlled break which means you can make the nose narrower. I closed the gap between the two bones, which would later be held in place by the plaster cast.

Next, as far as Jason's bulky nose tip went, I used a blade to remove excess cartilage. I also pulled the two sides of the tip together with a stitch which will dissolve after six months. This creates a narrower look.

After stitching up the original incisions, I put a plaster across his face, held on with tape on the fore-head and cheeks. I also put nasal jelly packs in the nostrils to reduce the amount of bleeding.

After a week the patient comes back to have the plaster removed. At this stage they still can't appreciate the final result because there is swelling. But after three to four weeks they will see their new nose.

The procedure costs £3,600.

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