Sometimes you may wish you could turn your runny nose off like a faucet.
But that drip actually serves several important purposes in protecting your health.
This article discusses why you get a runny nose in cold weather and how to prevent it.
Guido Mieth / Moment / Getty Images
If you have vasomotor rhinitis, your body will produce clear nasal discharge.
Why Temperature Matters
Your body has built-in ways of protecting itself when needed.
This protects the mucous membranes in your nose from damage due to the dry, cold air.
It also protects thebronchioles(delicate air sacs) in your lungs from damage.
In addition, a runny nose due to cold temperatures is a phenomenon similar to condensation.
While the air you breathe in may be cold, your body temperature warms the air.
When you exhale, you release that warm, moist air into the environment (which is cold).
As these two temperatures meet, droplets of water are produced.
That water drips down from your nose along with the mucus they mix with.
One way to do that is by covering your nose and mouth with a wrap or scarf while outdoors.
This allows the air to become warm and moist before you inhale it.
Vasomotor rhinitis will not usually get better withantihistamines, which are medications to treat allergies.
It may get better by using anasal steroidornasal antihistaminespray.
The best medication when your nose runs like a faucet" is Atrovent (ipratropium bromide) nasal spray.
Atrovent works by drying up the mucus-producing cells in the nose.
It can be used as needed since the spray will start working within an hour.
Atrovent nasal spray is available by prescription only.
Check with your healthcare provider to see if this medication is right for you.
Finally, use a humidifier while indoors.
Even if the temperature in your home is mild, the air is generally drier during cold-weather months.
Humidification can help keep your mucous membranes optimally moistened.
This helps make the air warm and moist before you breathe in.
Your doctor may also prescribe a nasal spray like Atrovent to help decrease excess mucus.
Summary
It’s common to get a runny nose when it’s cold outside.
Ask your doctor about a nasal spray to help decrease nasal mucus.
Or consider using a humidifier indoors to keep your mucous membranes moistened during the cold weather.
American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery.Post-nasal drip.
Leader P, Geiger Z.Vasomotor rhinitis.
