Learn How to Stop a Runny Nose

• Alcohol: Some people are allergic to the chemicals in wine or the wheat in beer. No one knows for sure why you have a stuffy nose, but it could be because of an allergic response.

• Dust: If you have signs like sneezing, a runny nose, or even a cough, it could be because there is too much dust in your home. Other symptoms, like having to blow your nose as soon as you wake up because your nose is stuffy or running, could be caused by taking in the dust while you sleep. During the winter, when your heat is on most of the time, this happens a lot.

Most of the time, a runny nose is caused by anything that affects the tissues and membranes in your nose. A runny nose is often caused by an infection like the flu or a cold. Sometimes a runny nose happens for no clear reason. This is called rhinitis, which is not caused by allergies.

Other things that can cause a runny nose are a deviated septum, drug abuse, Churg-Strauss syndrome, hormonal changes, nasal polyps, dry air, Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s), asthma, pregnancy, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

How to Treat a Runny Nose Without Going to the Doctor

If you have a runny nose that just won’t stop and the mucus looks clear and thin, you may have an allergy. Your symptoms might go away if you take an antihistamine or allergy medicine that you can buy over the counter.

These over-the-counter remedies may help stop a runny nose:

• Antihistamine: If your runny nose is caused by allergies, you might want to take a drug like fexofenadine, which is an antihistamine. If your wet nose makes it hard to sleep at night, try taking an antihistamine like diphenhydramine at night.

• Decongestants: If you have rhinitis and a runny nose, you may want to reduce the swelling of your mucus membranes. Think about taking a decongestant with phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine in it. This might help your nose stop getting swollen.

When should you go to the doctor for a runny nose

If your symptoms last longer than ten days, you should probably see a doctor. In the same way, if you have any of the following signs, you may have a sinus infection and need antibiotics:

• Snot that is green or yellow

• Blood in nose discharge

Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you think your runny nose is caused by an infection or allergies or won’t go away after ten days.