Healthy Living and Fitness

Illness Care: Rhinitis

Causes

Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen. With perennial allergic rhinitis nasal symptoms may also occur with allergy to a mite, present in house dust and to animal dander. Hay fever occurs in spring and early summer and is worse when pollen counts are high. The substances which cause the allergic response are called allergens. These allergens stimulate the body to produce antibodies. The antibodies combine with the allergen on the surface of the lining of the nose. When the two combine there is a release of certain chemicals which include histamine. Other non-allergic conditions of the nose can also result in these chemicals being made. The chemicals directly cause the inflammation, with swelling, watery discharge and blockage.

There are a number of other possible causes. The following conditions are often associated with increased nasal drainage. Also, it would not be unusual to have more than one factor involved in a particular individual. The following may cause an increase in thin secretions:

• viruses
• allergies
• cold temperatures
• certain foods or spices
• pregnancy or hormonal changes
• drug side-effects (particularly high blood pressure medications
)
• structural problems (deviated septum, large turbinates
)
• vasomotor rhinitis (an abnormal regulatory problem with the nose)

Decreasing the fluid content of the mucus usually thickens the secretions leading to the impression of increased mucus. The following may cause thickened secretions:

• low humidity
• sinus or nasal infections
• foreign bodies: (especially if the drainage is from one side
)
• environmental irritants: (tobacco smoke, smog)
• structural problems: (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, enlarged adenoids)
• advanced age: the mucus membrane lining the nose can shrink with age leading to a reduced volume of secretions that are thicker
• hormonal problems
• drug side-effects: (antihistamines)

 

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