HOW TO TREAT RHINITIS

OVERVIEW:-

• Rhinitis, also known as coryza,it is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip
• Rhinitis is a condition that typically involves nasal obstruction or congestion, runny nose or post-nasal drip, itchy nose, and/or sneezing.

SYMPTOMS:-

Symptoms of rhinitis may include:

• Nasal blockage or congestion
• Sneezing
• Runny nose or postnasal drainage
• Itchy nose

Rhinitis may occur before a case of sinusitis or with sinusitis, a condition where infection or inflammation affects the sinuses. If you have facial pressure, decreased sense of smell, or a greenish-yellow nasal drainage, you may also have sinusitis. A qualified ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist, can provide a thorough evaluation and appropriate treatment for your nasal/sinus condition

CAUSE:-

An allergen is something that triggers an allergy. When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in an allergen such as pollen, mold, animal dander, or dust, the body releases chemicals that cause allergy symptoms . Hay fever involves an allergic reaction to pollen.

Plants that cause hay fever are trees, grasses, and ragweed. Their pollen is carried by the wind. (Flower pollen is carried by insects and does not cause hay fever.) Types of plants that cause hay fever vary from person to person and from area to area.

The amount of pollen in the air can affect whether hay fever symptoms develop or not.

Hot, dry, windy days are more likely to have a lot of pollen in the air.

On cool, damp, rainy days, most pollen is washed to the ground.

Hay fever and allergies often run in families. If both of your parents have hay fever or other allergies, you are likely to have hay fever and allergies, too. The chance is higher if your mother has allergies.

TYPES OF RHINITIS:-

 Rhinitis is categorized into three types :-

1. infectious rhinitis includes acute and chronic bacterial infections;
2. nonallergic rhinitis includes vasomotor, idiopathic, hormonal, atrophic, occupational, and gustatory rhinitis, 
3. allergic rhinitis, triggered by pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, Balsam of Peru, and other inhaled allergens.

DIAGNOSIS OF RHINITIS:-

Your doctor will diagnose nonallergic rhinitis based on your symptoms and by ruling out other causes, especially allergies. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms.

He or she might recommend certain tests, although there are no definite tests for nonallergic rhinitis. Your doctor is likely to decide that you have nonallergic rhinitis if you have nasal congestion, a runny nose or postnasal drip and tests for other conditions don’t reveal an underlying cause such as allergies or a sinus problem.

In some cases, your doctor might have you try a medication and see whether your symptoms improve. In many cases, rhinitis is caused by an allergic reaction. The only way to be sure rhinitis isn’t caused by allergies is through allergy testing, which may involve skin or blood tests.

Skin test:- 

To find out whether your symptoms might be caused by a certain allergen, your skin is pricked and exposed to small amounts of common airborne allergens, such as dust mites, mold, pollen, and cat and dog dander. If you’re allergic to a particular allergen, you’ll likely develop a raised bump (hive) at the test location on your skin. If you’re not allergic to any of the substances, your skin will look normal.

Blood test:-

A blood test can measure your immune system’s response to common allergens by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. A blood sample is sent to a medical lab, where it can be tested for evidence of sensitivity to specific allergens. 

Nasal endoscopy:-

This test involves looking at the inside of your nasal passages with a thin, fiber-optic viewing instrument called an endoscope. Your doctor will pass the fiber-optic endoscope through your nostrils to examine your nasal passages and sinuses.

CT scan:-

This procedure is a computerized X-ray technique that produces images of your sinuses that are more detailed than those produced by conventional X-ray exams.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR RHINITIS:-

Allergic Rhinitis are among the commonest diseases affecting mankind. Recurrence occurs only when the responsible dosha have not been eradicated completely. These doshas exist in in the body in their dormant stage and may give rise to same disease again when they are exposed to the aggravating factors. The Ayurvedic management of Allergic Rhinitis recommends avoidance of allergens causing reaction (Nidan Parivarjan), detoxification (Shodhan), pacification (Shaman) & rejuvenation (Rasayana) therapies.

DIET RECOMMENDATIONS (AAHAR)

• Prefer light food, lukewarm water, Kapha nashaka foods like little spicy food, saindhav salt, legumes, soups etc.
• Avoid heavy food, fermented food, congestive food, food that is too hot or too cold, soar food, non-vegetarian food, banana, yellow grams, etc.
• Avoid sweets, ice-creams, cakes and desserts
• Avoid yogurt and curds
• Avoid Alcohol and cold beverages

LIFESTYLE CHANGES (VIHAR)

• Keeping two pieces of either cloves or black peppers immediately in the mouth may help in case of attack
• Rubbing nilgiri oil, mint oil, or pain balm on chest helps prevent the triggering of attack
• Stay away from causes that are responsible for causing irritation
• Use mask while going through public places
• Always prefer warm water baths
• Avoid exposure to hot sunrays
• Regular inhalation of steam soothes the symptoms of congestion
• Go for morning walk in warm weather
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid residing in dark or dump places. Get fresh air
• Avoid daytime sleeping or immediately after dinner
• Get sufficient rest

AYURVEDIC HERBS FOR RHINITIS:-

1. SONTH
2. TULSI
3. LAVANG
4. MULETHI
5. LASHUN
6. PIPPALI
7. DALCHINI
8. AJMODA
9. GILOY
10. AMALA