Rhinitis is a disease that periodically affects almost all people on earth. That is why they treat him, though with a special hostility, but mostly without anxiety - I will suffer a week, and it will pass. And if one week is not enough? Many women in position have this fate. According to statistics, pregnant rhinitis occurs in more than 30% of them. And during treatment, as you know, expectant mothers are contraindicated in many medicines and folk remedies. The most unpleasant thing is that rhinitis of pregnant women begins most often by the end of the first trimester, and can last until the very birth.
Pregnant rhinitis for some women turns into a real torment. Constant nasal congestion not only interferes with the adequate perception of odors, but also makes breathing more difficult, which affects the future mother’s sleep and leads to oxygen starvation. But it is during pregnancy that this parameter is very important, since the fetus receives oxygen precisely from the mother’s bloodstream. In addition, the rhinitis of pregnant women is a certain barrier to inhaled air, and more precisely to clean it, and therefore, the respiratory system remains without any protection against negative environmental factors.
All the fault - changes in the hormonal background of the pregnant woman. It is known that in the woman’s body “in position” there is an increased content of progesterone, which leads to fluid retention and an increase in the volume of circulating blood. And because of estrogen, literally all the mucous membranes, including the nasal mucosa, become full-blooded, thicken. That is why breathing through the nose is difficult, since the edematous mucosa significantly narrows the nasal passages.
Pregnant rhinitis: symptoms
Rhinitis, arising due to hormonal reasons, is most often felt as severe nasal congestion. Also, the main symptom of a “pregnant runny nose” is difficulty in nasal breathing and dryness in the nasal mucosa. In addition, there is a tendency to nosebleeds.
Pregnant rhinitis: treatment
First, you should, as best as possible, moisten the room in which the expectant mother spends most of her time. For this, a special humidifier or grandmother’s remedy, a wet towel on the battery, may be suitable. It does not matter which way the goal is achieved, the main thing is that the moistened air in the room will certainly improve the overall health of the pregnant woman. In addition, it should be remembered about regular ventilation, because dry air directly depends on the temperature in the room. Ventilate the room every hour, opening the window for about 10 minutes.
Relieving rhinitis in pregnant women can be done by rinsing the nasopharynx. For this procedure, you can use ready-made solutions from a pharmacy with minerals, broths of herbs and ordinary sea salt (1 cup of water 2 teaspoons of salt) are also great.
Medications for rhinitis for pregnant women should be prescribed only by a doctor. Unfortunately, not all medications for the common cold can be used "in position", especially if you take into account the duration of the course of rhinitis. It is not recommended to use antihistamines, neither in the form of physiotherapy, nor inside. With special caution, vasoconstrictor drugs are used, which, although they can give a tangible and quick effect, but at the same time pose a rather high risk. Most often, doctors recommend rhinitis to pregnant women to use hormonal drugs - in the form of aerosols, corticosteroids, their absorption is quite small, so these drugs do not carry a particular risk for both the pregnant woman and her fetus.
“Pregnant runny nose” is clearly a temporary phenomenon, but to fight it in the interests of both the woman and the unborn baby.