Dorothy FarrarSniffles
A runny nose , also referred to as rhinitis in technical jargon , is a frequent accompanying symptom of a viral infection (cold). Typical symptoms of a cold include a persistent flow of nasal secretions, a blocked, tickling and burning nose, frequent sneezing and irritated mucous membranes.
What is a cold (rhinitis)?
A cold (rhinitis) is an irritation or inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. Most often, rhinitis occurs as a symptom of a simple cold. However, an allergy can often trigger what is known as hay fever . This is usually harmless and will subside on its own after a short time.
In the case of a flu-like infection, the cold is usually accompanied by symptoms such as headaches and sore throats, exhaustion and a dry cough . Especially in the cold season, people are more often plagued by cold-related sniffles, and children more often than adults. Allergy sufferers are particularly affected by hay fever during the pollen season.
causes
The causes of colds can be very different. In most cases, however, it is a virus that irritates the mucous membranes. The affected person absorbs this through the breathing air, through the so-called “droplet infection”. This happens when a person infected with a cold sneezes around healthy people.In this way, one can infect oneself with the viruses by touching sneezed objects. If the immune system of those affected is too weak, the viruses can also lead to a cold with a runny nose, cough and fever .
This would be the case with influenza viruses, but over 200 types of virus are known to cause a cold. Another cause of colds can also be allergies . The best known is hay fever .
The body reacts hypersensitively to environmental influences such as pollen. The house dust allergy can also lead to a cold. In addition, external stimuli such as smoke, dry air or chemical gases can trigger a temporary cold.
When to the doctor?
In many cases, a cold occurs in connection with fever, headache and other cold symptoms. The following applies: A cold should always be treated with medication, otherwise serious consequential damage can occur. For example, a severe sinus infection can occur, which definitely needs medical attention. As a rule, a common cold should go away on its own within three days.
For example, if you find it difficult to breathe at night, you can use various home remedies to keep your nose clear. These include hot steam baths, nasal sprays or inhaling chamomile or mint. However, if there is no significant improvement after three to four days, you should go to the doctor. If a severe cold remains untreated, the nasal mucous membranes can be permanently damaged. There can also be other cold symptoms that can have serious consequences if left untreated.
For this reason, the following applies: A cold should be treated from the start. Only if this does not go away on its own after three to four days should a doctor be consulted. In this way, further complications can be prevented at an early stage or treated effectively. Therefore, if you do not want anything serious to develop from a cold, you must have this clinical picture treated by a specialist.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms:
When you have a cold, the mucous membranes in your nose are irritated and inflamed. The nasal mucosa reacts to these stimuli (e.g. pathogens) with increased secretion of nasal secretions (runny nose) and swelling of the nasal mucous membranes. These are often harbingers of an approaching cold .
In most cases, there are also symptoms such as sneezing, a tickling, burning and blocked nose, impaired sense of smell and taste, watery eyes, fatigue, coughing and headaches.
However, since there are different forms of a cold, the symptoms can also occur individually or in any combination. If the symptoms are not completely cured, severe inflammation can develop in the sinuses of the nose and eyes.
complications
Various complications can arise in connection with a cold. This is especially the case in patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus , organ damage to the liver, kidneys and intestines or heart disease. Complications associated with a cold also occur more frequently in patients with chronic bronchitis, a weakened immune system or cancer. A simple cold can result in a sinus infection .
A sinus infection is usually accompanied by a severe headache and a stuffy nose. In addition, there can be pain in the face, a feeling of congestion in the facial area, a purulent runny nose and an impairment of the sense of smell. Patients can also suffer from fever and exhaustion. The pathogens can also spread and cause inflammation. A greenish discolored mucus may then develop.
In children, there is often insufficient ventilation of the middle ear in connection with a cold. As a result, a middle ear infection can occur. When you have a cold, the sensitive nasal mucosa can be damaged by medication or mechanical damage. As a result, the defense against infection is weakened and various forms can occur, such as a chronic cold, a so-called rhinitis. If the mucous membranes are severely inflamed or the immune system is weakened, serious illnesses such as pneumonia, pleurisy, otitis media, laryngitis or inflammation of the jaw or frontal sinuses can develop.
treatment and therapy
The treatment of colds usually takes place on two levels. On the one hand, the immune system of those affected must be strengthened, on the other hand, the nasal mucosa must be calmed.
A harmless cold usually disappears within a week after sufficient rest. However, if the sniffle persists, there could be an allergy or a more serious infection. In both cases, appropriate medication ( nose drops , nasal spray ) must be taken.
In many cases, however, a cold can be treated with home remedies or over-the-counter medicines from various online mail-order pharmacies. Steam baths and rinses with salt water are good for the nose.
A nasal spray should only be used for a few days and only if the discharge is viscous, otherwise the mucous membranes could dry out. Warm clothing, inhalation, hot tea drinks and bed rest relieve the cold and promote recovery.
A cold should always be taken seriously and treated. Under certain circumstances, sinus infections can form, which can lead to a protracted and painful course of the disease. A doctor should always be consulted if the cold is regular or persistent.
prevention
The best way to prevent colds is to strengthen your immune system. This should always be done after the successful treatment of rhinitis anyway.Helpful measures are regular exercise such as jogging , taking a cold shower, eating a vitamin-rich diet , taking echinacea and drinking herbal tea. That being said, the person affected needs to know when and how they get a cold.
In the case of allergy sufferers, triggers such as pollen , dust or animal hair should be avoided as far as possible. Regular nasal rinses with lukewarm salt water are also suitable for active prevention.
A special nose pot can be used for this. The mixing ratio for an isotonic solution is 0.9 percent. There are 9 grams of table salt in 1 liter of water. As a result, the nasal mucosa is well moistened and supplied with blood, which means that the cold doesn’t stand a chance.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.