A constant runny nose might not be caused by allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever, but could be caused by non-allergic rhinitis, which, when left untreated, could cause deformation of the nasal cavity, a doctor warned.
Taichung Hospital Otolaryngology department attending physician Lin Huang-pin (林煌斌) cited a recent case in which a 50-year-old patient, who enjoyed eating beef noodle soup, complained of a runny nose while eating, adding that sometimes he could use an entire box of tissues blowing his nose.
The patient was diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis, Lin said.
Lin said that there are two major types of rhinitis — allergic and non-allergic — with allergic rhinitis occurring more often in young people and men aged between 30 and 40.
The cause of non-allergic rhinitis is usually an imbalance of the parasympathetic nervous system, Lin said.
The imbalance induces a runny or blocked nose due to the expansion of blood vessels in the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity caused by high temperatures, spicy food or stimuli such as colognes or perfumes, Lin said.
Lin said non-allergic rhinitis is commonly seen in people aged 30 or older due to the increasing sensitivity of the arterial system as the human body ages.
The condition is usually treated with medication for anti-nasal congestion, such as antihistamine, Lin said, adding that patients should attempt to discover the source of stimuli causing their condition in order to alleviate symptoms.
Lin said that people with a constant runny nose should seek medical attention to determine the source of their condition, adding that a prolonged condition could cause the nasal cavity to become deformed, which could increase the difficulty in curing the original symptoms.
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