Chronic Rhinitis

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Do you have to frequently blow your nose and use an excessive number of tissues a day? If so, you may have chronic rhinitis.

At CEENTA, our board-certified ENT physicians can diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your chronic drainage. Find your path to better breathing by scheduling your consultation with us today.

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What is chronic rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis is nasal drainage lasting more than 12 weeks and comes in two forms, the more well-known type caused by allergies and the other being non-allergic. Nonallergic rhinitis (also called vasomotor rhinitis) can be caused by irritants that enter your nose or is an overproduction of clear drainage from your nose.

Common symptoms include:

Constant runny nose
Stuffy nose
Excessive sneezing
Nasal itching
Post-nasal drip/cough

What causes chronic rhinitis?

This condition can be triggered by multiple environmental and health factors such as:

Airborne irritants
Smoking
Acid reflux/GERD
Pregnancy
Eating
Changes in weather

How is vasomotor rhinitis different from a cold or allergies?

Both colds and seasonal allergies can cause rhinitis. However, the key difference is the duration. The common cold typically lasts a few days, and rhinitis symptoms vary depending on the season and individual exposure to allergens and other environmental stimuli.

In contrast, vasomotor rhinitis is persistent or recurrent for at least twelve weeks.

How can chronic rhinitis be treated?

Treatment options for chronic congestion include:

Medications

Nasal steroid sprays can reduce the inflammation in your nose, opening the nasal passages for better breathing.
Nasal antihistamine sprays and ipratroprium bromide can reduce nasal drainage.
Oral decongestants, like what you would use for allergy relief, work in the same way. However, these are best used as a temporary solution and not for long-term use.

Nasal rinses

Irritants and thick mucus could be contributing to your chronic rhinitis. Nasal saline rinses with a Neti pot can flush out the nasal passages and improve your airway.

Nasal nerve ablation

The root cause of your congestion could be an overactive nerve in your nose.

If your other treatment methods have failed, your physician may suggest an in-office procedure to provide relief.

After the inside of the nose is numbed with a local anesthetic, your physician will insert a small endoscope into the nasal cavities and use radiofrequency or cryotherapy to reduce nerve activity.

At CEENTA, we offer multiple options for nasal nerve ablation including:

Most patients experience minimal discomfort and can return to their daily routine shortly after the procedure. Your physician may recommend post-care instructions, such as:

Using nasal sprays and rinses
Avoiding nose blowing for the first week

Scheduling your chronic rhinitis treatment at CEENTA

Finding relief from chronic rhinitis has never been easier. Schedule your same-day appointment with CEENTA online to get started.