What Are The Ways To Prevent Non-Allergic Rhinitis & Does It Reoccur?

Rhinitis refers to inflammation of the nasal passages. They are classified into allergic and non-allergic. The source of nonallergic rhinitis is typically viral, though irritants can trigger it. Airborne pollutants or odors, certain foods or beverages, some medications trigger symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis. It produces typical symptoms such as the stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing and postnasal drip.

Unless you have an accurate diagnosis, the condition neither can be managed nor treated properly. Since both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis has similar symptoms, it is highly emphasized to perform an allergy test to rule out the possibility of allergic rhinitis.

Non-allergic rhinitis is not preventable however, patients suffering from this condition are often suggested to avoid trigger that causes these symptoms. But what are the ways to prevent non-allergic rhinitis?

Nonallergic rhinitis can cause just as much misery as allergic rhinitis and produces complications such as sinusitis, Eustachian tube dysfunction, chronic ear infection, Loss of smell, breathing problem and many others. Spotting triggers that must be averted are vital for managing symptoms.

Medications- Some medications can cause nonallergic rhinitis. Medications that can trigger nonallergic rhinitis include

• Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
• Oral contraceptives
• Blood pressure drugs such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers
• Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
• Sedatives & antidepressants

Foods And Beverages- Nonallergic rhinitis may occur when you eat, especially when eating hot or spicy foods. Beverages may also sometimes trigger. Rhinitis can be made worse when drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages can trigger the blood vessels in the nose to expand briefly and generate considerable nasal clogging.

Inclement Weather Conditions- Those with symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis are predominantly affected by weather and temperature changes. Climatic changes such as alterations in temperature or humidity lead to swelling of the lining of the nose due to expanding blood vessels

Hormonal Changes- This is predominantly during pregnancy and menstruation. It usually starts during the second month of pregnancy and lasts until childbirth. ^{1. 2.}

Stay away from places that produce smoke. For instance, avoid factories or industrial areas where a lot of smoke is emitted. Also, avoid wood-burning stoves and fireplaces
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent infections and to flush out inflammations if any. However, avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.

In cases of atrophic rhinitis (a chronic nasal condition characterized by the formation of thick dry crusts in a roomy nasal cavity), routine nasal lavage and lubrication can prevent the formation of layers and help to keep the nasal membranes saturated.

You must also avert overdoing nasal decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Afrin). Overusing nasal decongestants often results in rhinitis medicamentosa. Instead of making you feel better, the medication further irritates your nasal linings and the blood vessels don’t respond to the medication anymore.

Avoid fragrant agents that trigger the symptoms such as candles, soaps, laundry detergents, and perfumes.

If you believe that medicines cause rhinitis, talk to your health care doctor. They may able to help you prescribe alternate medicines to help you reduce your symptoms. ^{3. 4.}

Although non-allergic rhinitis is not completely curable, yet it can be controlled by appropriate treatments and avoiding triggers that induce the symptoms. Clinical trials show that in the case of most patients, it had no reoccurrence for as long as 6 months after treatment.

There is no existing study extensively describes the disease-specific pattern of recurrence. However, in patients who had severe inflammation of the nasal membranes and undergone nasal surgery, there was an incidence of recurrence. In fact, it had a high recurrence rate, with most patients having a return of symptoms in about two years. ^5.

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Also Read:

• How Safe & Effective is Capsaicin in Treating Non-Allergic Rhinitis?
• Best Exercises/Activities For Non-Allergic Rhinitis
• How Common Is Non-Allergic Rhinitis Or Is It A Rare Disease?
• How Does Non-Allergic Rhinitis Affect The Body & What Triggers It?
• How Long Will It Take To Recover From Non-Allergic Rhinitis & How Long Does The Symptoms Last?
• What Happens To Untreated Non-Allergic Rhinitis & When To Go To Doctor?