Vasomotor rhinitis: symptoms, treatment and consequences

Adverse external and internal factors affect the vessels of the nasal wall, which over time tend to expand to reflex stimuli (pungent odor, cold air). As a result, a disease called vasomotor rhinitis develops. It affects about ten percent of the population. A quarter of these patients have a persistent symptom of this disease. The disease occurs in people of any age, and women are sick twice as often as men.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of the disease is a violation of the autonomic nervous system, as a result, the vessels of the mucosa cease to respond correctly to external environmental conditions. Constant nasal congestion appears, which is considered the main sign of vasomotor rhinitis. This disease can cause both external and internal factors. The first include the following:

• a sharp change in the temperature of the inhaled air;
• quick change of atmospheric pressure;
• air pollution by smoke, pungent odors;
• ARVI.

Internal factors:

• emotional and stressful situations;
• loads: physical and sexual;
• hormonal disorders (puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, taking growth hormones);
• spicy foods, alcohol, nicotine;
• defects of the nasal cavity (curved septum, adenoids);
• prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops;
• long-term use of drugs that affect the autonomic nervous system (antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives);
• hereditary predisposition.

Classification

There are several types of vasomotor rhinitis with different causes and development mechanisms:

• drug - develops while taking drugs;
• hormonal - is formed as a result of changes in hormonal balance;
• reflex - the reaction of blood vessels to cold, food, alcohol, bright sunlight, pungent odors;
• psychogenic - formed against a background of emotional overload;
• idiopathic - the cause is not clarified;
• mixed.

Signs of Rhinitis

This common disease is a serious pathology, which is expressed by changes in the functions of the nasal cavity. In each patient, the disease manifests itself in its own way: a large number or insignificant signs and is difficult to treat.

The main symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis:

• Alternating permanent or periodic nasal congestion. Most often, this manifests itself in the supine position and when turning from side to side.
• General weakness, malaise.
• Mucous discharge from the nose can be profuse, moderate or minor. They do not leave marks on the scarf after drying, do not become thick and yellow, there are no purulent snot.
• Burning and itching sensation in the nasal region.
• Sneezing is periodic or permanent. It can suddenly arise and also stop.
• Headaches, decreased sense of smell.
• With allergic rhinitis, hyperthermia, redness of the eyes, and tearing are possible.
• Drip snot on the back of the throat.

With any species, including vasomotor rhinitis, the following are possible: loss of appetite, migraine, insomnia, loss of attention, shortness of breath.

Diagnostics

Diagnosed with rhinitis by exclusion. The main symptom by which this disease is determined is dependence on vasoconstrictors (decongestants). An important diagnostic task is to find out the nature of deviations from the norm, i.e., to understand whether rhinitis is allergic or not. For this, special allergy tests and clinical blood tests are performed. In addition, the diagnosis involves:

• History taking - clarification of patient complaints, information on the nature and amount of mucus from the nose, duration of the disease, seasonality and other signs.
• A general examination allows you to find out if there are signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia: low body temperature, pressure, cold limbs, nervous tension, weakness.
• Rhinoscopy They study the condition of the nasal mucosa and its sinuses, the presence or absence of curvature of the nasal septum.
• Bacteriological examination of the nasal mucosa. It is carried out in order to exclude an infectious rhinitis.

When confirming the diagnosis of vasomotor rhinitis, the treatment prescribed by the doctor will be comprehensive.

Preparation for therapy

This seemingly harmless disease requires a systematic and long-term treatment. First of all, it is necessary to follow the following expert advice:

• To annul all circumstances that provoke the development of the disease. The patient should give up alcohol, smoking, avoid sharp smells, avoid a strong temperature drop, exclude some food products that are allergens.
• Treat chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
• Eliminate deviations in the structure of the nose, if any, and are the cause of rhinitis.
• Start exercising: morning exercises, swimming in the pool, running, walking. All this will help to normalize the autonomic nervous system.
• Take a daily contrast shower. This is an excellent procedure for hardening the body, helping to relieve some of the symptoms.

All of the above measures will help alleviate the condition of the patient.

Reconstruction of the nasal cavity

This manipulation is carried out to eliminate the causes of the aggravation of rhinitis. Saline solutions are usually used for the procedure. With a mild course of the disease, washing the nasal cavity helps to relieve symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in adults, such as swelling of the mucosa.

In addition, saline helps to thin the mucus and remove it from the nasal cavity. A large number of mineral solutions are sold in the pharmacy network. However, for this purpose, an ordinary saline solution, which gives a good effect and is inexpensive, is also perfect. You can use a solution with ordinary table salt, after dissolving it in boiled water. Rinsing the nose is recommended to be done several times a day, especially after contact with allergens. For the procedure, use a pipette, syringe, teapot and other special devices.

Vasomotor rhinitis: symptoms and treatment in adults

In any case, the treatment of this insidious disease can not do without drugs. As a result of lengthy experiments and observations, Russian and foreign experts have identified a number of effective drugs to treat this ailment. The following drugs may be prescribed to the patient, depending on the symptoms of the disease:

• Systemic vasoconstrictors. The most popular are: “Teraflu”, “Coldrex”, “Rinza”. They relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa.
• Antihistamines. They exhibit anti-allergic effect, relieve swelling and inflammation. These include Suprastin, Tsetrin, Loratadin.
• Local glucocorticoids. Used in the treatment of neuro-vegetative and allergic rhinitis. Relieve swelling and inflammation, have a cumulative effect, are not absorbed into the bloodstream and have minor side effects. The most prescribed drugs are Avamis and Nazonex.
• Local vasoconstrictors. Drops "Farmazolin", "Nazol", "Otrivin" facilitate breathing, relieve congestion and swelling. They are used for a short time, as they are addictive and subsequently give the opposite effect.
• Combined. The composition includes antiallergic and vasoconstrictive components. "Sanorin analergin", "Vibrocil" is used no more than five days.
• Improving blood circulation. These include Aescusan and Glivenol.
• Homeopathic. These funds are characterized by a mild cumulative effect. Most often, Sinupret and Delufen are prescribed. They have a comprehensive therapeutic effect.

Together with the above drugs for the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis in adults, vitamins of groups B, A, E and C are prescribed to strengthen the nervous system and blood vessel walls. All medicines are selected by the doctor, taking into account age, concomitant diseases and various individual characteristics of the patient.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

They are used as an additional treatment method in combination with other agents. The following procedures proved to be highly effective:

1. UHF (ultra high frequency therapy) - helps to reduce swelling, facilitates nasal breathing. A course of 5 to 7 sessions, which are held daily.
2. UFO (ultraviolet radiation) - prescribed for acute symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis, treatment in this case consists of a short course: one or two sessions, the duration of which is 0.5–2 minutes.
3. Laser therapy - the mucous membrane of the nose is exposed to infrared rays.
4. Photodynamic therapy - the nasal mucosa is irrigated with minerals.

Physiotherapeutic procedures improve the patient's condition and reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease.

Surgery

With a diagnosis of “vasomotor rhinitis,” surgery is done when drug treatment has been ineffective. Any surgical intervention will only facilitate nasal breathing. It has virtually no effect on nasal discharge, sneezing, itching, and smell. Surgical treatment helps to correct anatomical flaws in the nasal cavity and vasoconstriction. The main methods of surgical treatment:

• Septoplasty - correction of the nasal septum, removal of various formations in the nasal cavity, as well as the separation of the mucous membrane from the periosteum;
• ultrasonic disintegration - atrophied overgrown vessels that create nasal congestion are removed;
• laser destruction - laser cleansing of the nasal concha and vasoconstriction;
• electroplasma coagulation - the destruction of damaged vessels;

After such treatment of vasomotor rhinitis in adults, swelling of the nasal mucosa ceases, the work of the ciliated epithelium and glands is restored.

Rhinitis in children

The disease in babies is mainly formed against the background of proliferation of adenoids as a result of injuries, congenital defects of the nasal septum, the development of polyps and inflammatory processes of the maxillary sinuses. With the cure of the underlying pathology, the symptoms of rhinitis quite often disappear.

The disease can be both seasonal and permanent. Usually in a child, vasomotor rhinitis is detected at an early age. Problems with nasal breathing impair circulation. The child often complains of headaches, fatigue. He cannot concentrate and be attentive. Doctors recommend starting treatment immediately. It provides anti-inflammatory therapy, taking antihistamines and vasoconstrictors. In complicated cases, surgical intervention is used.

Vasomotor allergic rhinitis

It is a type of neurovegetative inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which is triggered by an allergy. Allergic vasomotor rhinitis can be up to nine months each year with everyday exacerbations or occur only seasonally. The following factors cause this disease:

• allergens from the environment - mites, dust, hair and animal saliva, mold, chemicals, food;
• allergens from the internal environment - toxins that are released by the body in violation of metabolic processes;
• allergens from medicines - vaccines, serums, tablets, medicines, powders;
• physical factors of an aggressive nature - hypothermia, mechanical irritation, thermal effects, high humidity, drafts.

Runny nose, whether allergic in nature or not, is a chronic vasomotor rhinitis. Seasonal seizures of the disease are most often observed during the flowering period of plants. Attacks appear several times a day and last from one to three hours. The nasal passages at this time are inflamed, there is severe swelling, the mucous membrane is blue, the nasal concha are enlarged. Year-round allergic vasomotor runny nose has the same symptoms. During remission, these signs are not observed. How to treat vasomotor rhinitis has been described before.

Therapy of rhinitis in pregnant women

During pregnancy, the female body is rearranged. As a result, immunity decreases, hormonal changes occur, and as a result, some diseases arise, including a vasomotor runny nose. This disease, as a rule, begins in the first weeks and passes to seven months of pregnancy. In some cases, the disease manifests itself in the second half of pregnancy and ends after delivery. To alleviate the condition and treatment of vasomotor rhinitis in pregnant women prescribe:

• Vasoconstrictor drops - use only in short courses and as directed by your doctor.
• Lavage of the sinuses of the nose with saline solutions. This procedure relieves swelling and is safe for the health of women and children.
• The use of oil drops on a natural basis.
• Inhalation with alkaline mineral water. It is recommended to use a special nebulizer device.

The main cause of symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis in pregnant women is a hormonal malfunction in the body. Treatment should be gentle and not harm the future mother and fetus.

Disease complications

In the absence of timely treatment, the following consequences may occur:

• infectious diseases of the lungs and upper respiratory tract, when breathing through the mouth, cold air does not warm up and is not cleaned;
• bacterial rhinitis and sinusitis, an infection gets on the inflamed mucous membrane of the nose;
• hearing loss due to inflammation in the auditory tube, which is associated with the nasopharynx;
• polyps are formed due to the growth of the mucosa and require surgical intervention;
• proliferation of connective tissue into the mucous membrane and polyps. Necessarily surgical treatment.

With timely access to a doctor who will prescribe individually selected and effective drugs, all these troubles can be avoided.

Lifestyle and Nutrition for Rhinitis

To strengthen blood vessels, you need a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. To do this, you must:

• hardening - stimulates and strengthens blood vessels; start in the warm season, gradually lowering the temperature of the water for bathing and showering;
• physical activity - train vessels, prevent the appearance of hypertension, obesity, improve the functioning of the heart muscle; It is recommended to do jogging, walking, cycling, swimming, dancing;
• full sleep - sleep at least eight hours a day for an adult;
• daily walks in the fresh air - strengthen the walls of blood vessels, supply body cells with oxygen;
• refusal of bad habits, alcohol and smoking - has a beneficial effect not only on blood vessels, but also on the work of the lungs, heart, liver;
• proper nutrition - should contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, eat more plant products;
• support for body weight - sudden changes in body weight adversely affect the work of all internal organs;
• temperature regime of food - do not eat too hot or, conversely, cold food;
• annual medical examination - is necessary for the detection and timely treatment of various diseases of the respiratory system and other organs.

Prevention

This is always the best and easiest way to prevent any disease. You can prevent the development of an ailment if:

• pay attention to your health: on time and properly treated for any colds;
• avoid inhaling toxic substances with a pungent odor;
• use vasoconstrictor drops rarely and not more than five days;
• limit the consumption of spicy foods, very hot and cold foods, eliminate allergens;
• treat the gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner;
• to carry out feasible physical activity: to engage in physical education, swimming, take walks in the fresh air, use a contrast shower, visit a bathhouse and a sauna;
• monitor the humidity in the apartment;
• do nose washings daily.

Modern medicine has a mass of effective methods of treating rhinitis, so you should consult a doctor on time and cure the disease completely.

Patient opinions

Many people who suffer from constant nasal congestion share their impressions of how to treat vasomotor rhinitis.

Patient reviews are as follows:

1. Laser treatment. The procedure lasts a short time, painless. The beam acts only on damaged tissues, healing passes quickly. There are no side effects. Well-being immediately improves, breathing is restored.
2. Vasotomy. The operation is relatively painless, accompanied by slight bleeding. It immediately becomes better to breathe.
3. Flushing the nose with saline. Most often pregnant women use this remedy. Reviews are different - some are happy, others are not. In addition to washing, oil-based drops are used, however, they do not give the desired effect.

Many people think that vasomotor rhinitis does not require treatment and the symptoms go away by themselves. They believe that this is not a disease, but the response of the body to the surrounding ecology. In fact, this is a pathology associated with impaired vascular activity. It is accompanied by a chronic runny nose, affecting a person’s quality of life: sleep disturbance, nervousness, irritability increase, depression develops. The disease itself is not dangerous, but requires compulsory treatment.