The 3 times your runny nose is a sign of something serious – and when you must see a doctor

A BUNGED up nose is one of the many joys the cold and flu season brings each year.

Though having to dab at your streaming schnoz with tissues can be a real headache, most of us tend to assume that it’s just caused by a common cold.

But sometimes your runny nose can be a sign of something else altogether.

Pharmacist Thorrun Govind tells Sun Health: “Allergies can be a common cause of a constantly runny nose.

“People who tend to have allergies might have other symptoms like sneezing, chronic cough and itchy eyes or throat.”

A shift in hormones during your period, pregnancy or the menopause can also make you feel more bunged up than usual, Thorrun says.

Strong perfume, scented cleaning products, smoke, pollution or poor air quality can make your nose stream too, as can stress.

Jacquie Lee, medication safety officer and information pharmacist at Numark Pharmacy says: “A runny nose is more often than not a sign of a common cold or allergies, but there are times when it could indicate something more serious.”

She shares some key signs indicating that a runny nose could be something to be concerned about.

1. Your snot changes colour

You might not think to look closely at your snot, but sometimes its colour may give you important clues about what’s causing your runny nose.

A change in colour to your nasal discharge might be a sign to be a bit more concerned about your sniffles, Jacquie tells Sun Health.

“Thick, yellow, green, or blood-streaked mucus can suggest a bacterial infection, like sinusitis, rather than a typical viral cold,” she notes.

Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses that can take a number of weeks to clear up.

As well as a blocked and runny nose, it can cause pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead.

The infection can also turn your snot yellow or green, the NHS says.

A mild case of sinusitis can often be treated at home with rest, painkillers and fluids but you should speak to a GP if you’re feeling very unwell, your symptoms persist or get worse despite painkillers, or if you don’t feel better after three weeks.

2. You have fever, pain and swelling

If you experience other severe symptoms along with your drippy nose, this might give you reason for concern, Jacquie goes on.

“If your runny nose is accompanied by a high fever (above 38°C), severe facial pain or swelling, or lasts more than 10 days without improvement, it could signal a more serious infection or condition, such as a sinus infection, nasal polyps, or even a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak,” the pharmacist says.

“CSF surrounds the brain and spinal cord and provides a cushion to protect them from injury.

“In very rare cases, especially after head trauma, the CSF can leak our as a clear, watery drainage from one side of the nose or ear, accompanied with a metallic taste in the mouth and possible hearing loss.”

Though CSF leaks are rare, this was the case of a 20-year-old man whose nose continuously leaked fluid for six years.

The unidentified patient from Syria had been battling a constant runny nose, along with headaches and seizures, ever since a head injury.

3. Your blocked nose doesn’t go away

A stuffy nose will typically go away in a week or two.

But if you have a blocked nose that just doesn’t go away – usually affecting just one nostril – in rare cases this may be a sign of nasal or sinus cancer.

If this is the case, you may also experience:

• Nosebleeds
• A decreased sense of smell
• Mucus running from your nose – this can be bloody
• Mucus draining into the back of your nose and throat

At a later stage, symptoms can progress to pain or numbness in your face, swollen glands in your neck, watering or bulging eyes and partial loss of vision.

It’s very unlikely that a blocked nose is a sign of nasal cancer.

But it’s worth getting your symptoms checked by a GP if they’re unusual or persistent.

BEST WAY TO TREAT RUNNY NOSES

If your runny nose is just that, there are ways to treat it other than constantly mopping it up with tissues.

Jacquie and Thorrun shared the best products to treat it.

1. Antihistamines

While it can be hard to remember smack in the middle of cold and flu season, runny noses can be caused by allergies.

If this is the case for your snotty schnoz, antihistamines may well sort you out.

“These can help if your runny nose is due to allergies, reducing mucus production by blocking histamine, a chemical your body releases during allergic reactions,” Jacquie says.

She gives the examples of loratadine and cetirizine.

You can nab a 30 tablet packet of loratadine for 99p at Chemist4U.

As for cetirizine, a pack of 14 tablets will cost you 79p.

2. Decongestants

Jacquie says: “These can reduce swelling in the nasal passages and relieve a runny nose.

“Nasal sprays containing decongestants should not be used for more than a few days to avoid rebound congestion.”

She recommends giving Sudafed decongestant tablets a go – which you can get for £5.10 at Boots – or Otrivine nasal sprays.

This’ll cost you £4.69 at Chemist4U or £8.59 at Boots.

With decongestant drops, sprays and syrups, Thorrun advises that you first check with your pharmacist if you’re able to take them.

“Some decongestants are not suitable for those with high blood pressure, for example,” she notes.

3. Saline nasal spray

Jacquie’s final recommendation is a saline nasal spray.

“This is a gentle option to flush out allergens and irritants from your nasal passages, providing relief from a runny nose caused by dryness or mild irritation,” she says.

“Examples are the Sterimar range and the Neilmed range.”

A Sterimar nasal spray will cost you £5.45 at Chemist4U or £8.25 at Boots.

And you can grab the Neilmed nasal spray at LloydsPharmacy for £6.

4. Honey and lemon

Thorrun’s favourite runny nose treatment is “adding honey and lemon to tea or hot water,” she says.

“Most people will have honey in their cupboard already, so that’s one you don’t have to worry too much about going out for.

“And obviously, it also supports increased fluids intake, because staying hydrated is really important when you’ve got a runny nose.”

Steam inhalation may also help clear your stuffed up nose, she adds.