Breathing through the nose helps a person protect himself from many diseases. The air warms up, passing through the nasal canals, and bacteria and viruses settle on the walls. Normally, the breathing process should be easy and free. But what if a person has a runny nose? Liquid, transparent mucus from the nose is a very unpleasant phenomenon. A variety of factors act as a provocateur. In this case, this pathology occurs in both adults and babies.
How to determine the normal range
Mucus in the nose is constantly present. It performs an important bactericidal function. But if transparent mucus from the nose is released regularly, you have to accept the fact that there is swelling of the mucosa, which may be caused by an infection or activity of the virus.
So we can trace in action the natural defense mechanism of your body. Immunity activates the production of clear mucus. From the nose, it begins to stand out not just like that, but in response to a developing disease. So pathogenic microflora will be brought out faster.
Head tilt problem
A common complaint, especially among patients older than 50 years. Coming to the doctor, they say that there are no symptoms of a cold, and transparent mucus from the nose when the head is tilted flows constantly. Similar symptoms can be observed when inflammation of the mucosa develops or a person has problems with the cardiovascular system. In any case, it does not hurt to understand individually, together with the doctor.
Chronic pathologies of the nasopharynx are another large category of diseases in which transparent mucus constantly flows from the nose. Chronic sinusitis or rhinitis is characterized by just an increased secretion. During sleep, it accumulates, and after waking up or tilting the head begins to leak.
Vascular changes can also play a role. They do not change their tone in time, but transparent snot flows in a person. Most often, this problem develops in old age, when the fibers of muscle tissue become less elastic. Loss of vascular tone leads to the release of mucus, more like water. Of course, it cannot stay in the nasal cavity and flows out of it. This can easily be experienced in a few days. But when this happens all the time, it becomes an annoying nuisance.
Disease, Allergy, or Climate Change
Let's try to identify several groups of reasons why transparent mucus from an adult's nose can run:
- The first and most probable is a disease. That is, an increased volume of mucus is needed in order to wash foreign microorganisms and prevent them from multiplying.
- Allergic reaction. Also a very common case.
- Seasonal factor also takes place. If transparent mucus accumulates in the nose after going outside or, conversely, upon returning to a warm room, then you can try to build a certain pattern. Changes in air temperature and physical activity can also cause a runny nose. If the room is very warm, the body begins to produce more mucus to protect the walls from drying out. With physical exertion, too, everything is clear. A person inhales a larger volume of air, respectively, more bacteria settle in the nasal cavity. To cope with them, it is necessary to intensively produce mucus. Such a runny nose does not last long, it is a short-term effect.
Mucus staining
If transparent mucus accumulates in the nose, and the intensity of this process does not change and no other symptoms are added, you can calm down and try to change the external conditions - slightly reduce the air temperature in the room and install a humidifier. But in most cases, this symptom indicates the presence of a virus. As a rule, a runny nose passes relatively quickly, of course, subject to all the instructions of the attending physician.
An alarm should be triggered if brown or yellow snot appears. This is a sign of a serious illness, most often sinusitis. Small vessels in the nasal cavity begin to burst. Therefore, the mucus is stained with blood.
And why, in some cases, the secret turns green? This happens when a bacterial infection is attached. In this case, according to the results of the diagnosis, the doctor will decide on the need for antibiotics. Despite their availability, try not to make a choice for a doctor. Each of the antimicrobials has its own characteristics and contraindications.
Signs of complications
What else should alert the patient? Thick transparent mucus in the nose, which does not separate, even if you carefully blow your nose, is a symptom of swelling and inflammation in the nasal cavity. Therefore, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
If a migraine that lasts a long time is added to this, it may be a symptom of meningitis or sinusitis. Elevated body temperature indicates pneumonia and other serious ailments that cannot be ignored. If the snot does not stop running after a cold, sinusitis can be suspected. To make the correct diagnosis, you need to be examined by an otolaryngologist.
How to help yourself
Most often we go to the pharmacy for vasoconstrictor drugs. They temporarily help, but cannot eliminate the cause of this symptom. Moreover, modern studies show that the use of such drops should be strictly dosed. Otherwise, they lead to complete or partial atrophy of the mucosa. Well and, of course, they are addictive and become useless.
The therapy itself is a whole complex of various means. Do not forget that you can not prescribe medications yourself. We are used to not paying much attention to the common cold. But if it does not pass within 7-10 days, then you need to see a doctor.
Drops and sprays
Since this category of drugs is usually used for treatment, we will consider them in more detail. It includes a number of subgroups:
- Vasoconstrictor drops. "Nazivin", "Snoop", "Nazol". They perfectly relieve swelling, but they can not be used for a long time. The nasal mucosa gets used and the dosage needs to be increased.
- Allergy Aids - Vibrocil, Sanorin-Analergin, Rinofluimucil. But in parallel, you need to undergo an examination and determine the allergen. After that, your task will be to minimize your contacts with him at home.
- Antibacterial drugs, such as Isofra, Polydex, Bioparox. They help strictly if there is a bacterial infection. In all the rest, they are useless. Do not forget that pathogenic microorganisms develop immunity to active substances.
- Protargol. This drug is prepared in pharmacies, it is inexpensive and recognized as the safest of all products in this series. These are drops with silver ions. They dry the mucous membranes and kill the pathogenic microflora. Because of this, the mucus stops flowing. This drug is used to treat pregnant women and is widely distributed in pediatrics.
Features of the child's body
The body of babies functions differently than in an adult. Transparent mucus from the nose of a child must be removed with a special suction - an aspirator. In infants, the nasal cavity is very small in volume and even slight swelling leads to respiratory failure. Children do not know how to blow their nose, which means that liquid secretions will accumulate and thicken. It is necessary to regularly check whether the nose of the baby is stuffy.
Discharge is not always associated with a viral infection. The first 2-3 months, the baby’s body gradually gets used to living in a new environment, and mucus acts as a kind of protective mechanism or barrier for various infections. Nevertheless, it is important to observe the secretions until they are completely stopped. In addition to the pear for suction, you can use salt solutions. If transparent mucus constantly accumulates in the nose, and the baby is more than 4-5 months old, you should consult your doctor.
What you need to know
As already mentioned, transparent mucus in the nose in infants quite often forms not in response to a viral infection, but due to the influence of other factors:
- Banal vasodilation. This may be due to emotional arousal, hormonal disruption, or eating too warm food.
- Allergic reaction to dust, coat, food.
- Weather conditions and changes in the season.
- Injuries.
- Infections
- The reaction to taking medication.
In any case, if the discharge from the nose does not stop or the transparent snot becomes thick, it is time to notify the doctor.
Three stages with an infectious type
If the child has grown up, he may well tell you what symptoms worry him. And you will conclude and be able to help him.
- At the first stage of the development of the infectious process, itching and burning appear, a feeling of unpleasant dryness in the nose.
- Then light or transparent discharge appears. There is a disturbance in sleep and a malfunction in the perception of odors. It is during this period that the patient needs help. It will consist of washing the nasal cavity, inhalation, taking special medications. The more successful the prescribed treatment regimen, the faster the improvement.
- The final stage is a relative improvement in the patient's condition. Allocations become less plentiful and more viscous. Usually, the recovery period takes 7-8 days from the onset of the first symptoms. If there is no recovery, there is a risk of complications.
Effective therapy
If this condition is not physiological, then you need to competently approach its treatment. There are many nuances, so it is important to seek medical help on time. There are traditional and unconventional ways to get rid of annoying runny nose. With the traditional, everything is clear - this is the use of prescribed medicines of general or local effect.
But there are also effective methods of drug-free therapy:
- Breathing exercises. She is not one hundred years old, but she continues to work and help people very well.
- Various therapies (physical, light, and others). The choice depends on your doctor’s preferences. It can be a salt mine or standard inhalations in rehabilitation centers.
- Aromatherapy and herbal medicine can be excellent help.
Often, parents have been helped out by centuries-old home remedies. Such as homemade drops - a solution of 0.5 tsp. salt and the same amount of soda per glass of water. A well-known remedy is black juice is rare. It must be mixed with milk and instilled into each nostril. It is desirable to remove transparent gel-like mucus from the nose at least twice a day so that it does not thicken and does not make breathing difficult.
Rubbing has a very good effect. For this purpose, natural beeswax or essential oil is used. Rub your chest and back before going to bed. Rubbing produces a bactericidal effect and warms up well while the baby is sleeping. Before the procedure, it is important to consult a doctor - sometimes rubbing can provoke an allergic reaction.