Many people suffer from a cold after a runny nose and sneezing, not knowing that a runny nose and sneezing is not always a cold, it may be rhinitis. 1. What are the possible consequences of rhinitis that is not cured for a long time?
The five senses are anatomically connected, and all parts related to the nose may be involved. The inflammation of the nasal mucosa often spreads to the pharynx causing pharyngitis. According to clinical statistics, people with chronic rhinitis have chronic pharyngitis in more than 80％. If it continues to develop, it can spread downward to the larynx, upward to the eyes through the nasolacrimal duct, and to both sides through the Eustachian tube (which is very short and wide at both ends) to invade the ear. Some people always squeeze their noses tightly and blow their noses hard when they have a cold. This can cause otitis media due to increased pressure in the nasopharyngeal cavity, which can cause pus and bacteria to enter the middle ear via the Eustachian tube. The nerve in the nasopharynx, which is distributed on the nasal mucosa, is the first pair of cerebral nerves (also called olfactory nerve) which is very close to the brain. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa can easily cause pathological reflexes in the cerebral cortex through the olfactory nerve, resulting in a series of symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, dreaminess, memory loss, neurological weakness, and even chronic hypothermia. Headaches caused by rhinitis in particular are very common in clinical practice and are collectively referred to as “rhinogenic headaches”.
There are three pairs of paranasal sinuses in the nasal cavity. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa can easily spread and cause paranasal sinusitis, resulting in imbalance and dizziness in the body.
The latest medical research at home and abroad has confirmed that 80％ of nasopharyngeal cancers worldwide occur in China, and about 90% of nasopharyngeal cancers are caused by the deterioration of rhinitis over time. Other complications that may result from rhinitis are: prolonged nasal congestion without ventilation, breathing difficulties, triggering sleep apnea syndrome; patients with enlarged inferior turbinates, lack of oxygen during sleep, which in serious cases can cause cerebral infarction, hypertension, sudden heart attack, etc. Individual patients may even die suddenly at night.
2, how to distinguish whether it is a cold or rhinitis? From the following aspects can be distinguished: (1) the interval between the onset of symptoms: cold symptoms often appear only after several days of exposure to infected viruses; while allergic rhinitis is almost immediately after contact with allergens. For example, every time you clean your room, you sneeze and have a runny nose as soon as the dust is raised.
(2) The order of symptoms: cold symptoms usually appear one by one, often starting with a sore throat, followed by sneezing and only later a runny nose, and less often itchy eyes and throat; allergic rhinitis symptoms are all together, sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, nasal congestion, etc., which can be relieved after avoiding allergens, and the patient often has a medical history to follow.
(3) Duration of symptoms: If the symptoms last longer than 7 to 10 days, it is unlikely to be a cold.
The biggest advantage of Chinese medicine in treating colds or rhinitis is to relieve symptoms, reduce attacks and be less painful.