Constant cold - causes, symptoms and effective home remedies

Constant cold - how he develops and what helps against it

Is her nose constantly clogged, whether the sun is shining or the storm is raging? Do you constantly have breathing difficulties or even sleep disorders? Then you probably suffer from chronic cold. Under this collective term are various triggers: pollen allergies, tobacco smoke or a crooked nasal septum.

contents

• Constant cold - how he develops and what helps against it
• Symptoms of permanent cold
• Do not take lightly
• Causes of persistent cold
• Home remedies for permanent cold

Symptoms of permanent cold

Is her nose always irritated? Is she on tour? Do these symptoms last for weeks and months? Then doctors speak of chronic rhinitis, in German is the permanent cold.

Typical symptoms of chronic cold are:

• Running cold, which makes breathing through the nose difficult or even impossible
• Swollen nasal mucosa, associated with pain in the nostrils
• Irritated throat, They have to clear their throat and cough
• Lasting feeling of exhaustion
• Decrease in physical performance, Weakness, chronic fatigue
• As with a flu infection, you can too Pain in the head and limbs but not necessarily

Do not take lightly

If you suffer from chronic cold, you should definitely consult a doctor. The constant irritation harms the nasal mucosa and can cause secondary diseases. Chronic runny nose is a 1a trigger for sinusitis and allergic asthma. A middle ear infection, inflammation of the pleura or even a meningeal inflammation may be the result.

Even if it does not turn out so dramatically, the constant inflammation causes the immune system to crumble. The result: They suffer from sleep problems and feel dull - often also slightly "permanently ill", as with a decaying flu infection. Your well-being suffers sustainably.

Permanent cold is often accompanied by a constant feeling of exhaustion. (Image: pictworks / fotolia.com)

Causes of persistent cold

Persistent cold has many causes. People with allergies also suffer, as do people with a weak immune system, who often suffer from a cold, those who live permanently in a foreign climate that their bodies have not adjusted to, or those who are constantly exposed to car exhaust, cigarette smoke and various pollutants.

Other possible causes of persistent cold include:

• • cold
  • Pollen allergy and hay fever
  • Animal dander
  • drugs
  • Rhinitis atrophicans ("Stink nose") and Rhinitis hypertrophic
  • nasal polyps and nasal tumors
  • hypersensitivity the nose
  • Anatomical features such as a curved nasal septum
  • Sinusitis
  • Otitis
  • Rare are psychological causes like stress, burnout or psychosis.
  • Very rare and especially irritating in children foreign body the nasal mucosa.

Persistent headache with allergy and hay fever

Hay fever, medical rhinitis allergica, is caused by pollen from flowers and grasses. The body reacts with defense molecules, and they can ignite the nasal mucous membranes. The symptoms are the same as with allergies to dust mites, molds, foods, flour, wood dust or hair dyes. Constant cold occurs when an allergic person has constant contact with the triggering substances.

Basic diseases that cause the symptoms are, for example, fungal infestation or tuberculosis.

drugs

Drugs also irritate the nasal mucous membranes. These include the contraceptive pill, nasal sprays, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, meadowsweet, sage) or antihypertensive agents.

If we take decongestant nasal sprays too long, this sometimes causes the nasal mucosa to break down. Crusts form, and breathing through the nose is disturbed. The sense of smell also decreases.

If decongestant nasal spray is used too long, it can damage the nasal mucous membranes. (Image: Knut Wiarda / fotolia.com)

Constant cold by cold

Usually a cold is the cause, especially in winter. Viruses cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa. A cold starts with the nose itching. Sufferers must sneeze and watery mucus flows from the nose.

Persistent cold occurs when the inflammation spreads to the paranasal sinuses. Then the mucous membranes swell and give off purulent fluid. These in turn trigger the constantly running nose. There are also headaches and sometimes fever.

Once it festers, you should not rely on home remedies for colds, but to see a doctor immediately. Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses can spread to the brain.

The stink nose

Scientists call them rhinitis atrophicans or ozaena. As spread in this disease germs that smell foul, meets the expression "stink nose". The stink is as unpleasant to those affected as other people. In addition, patients are suspected of not paying attention to their personal hygiene. But this disease has nothing to do with it.

The cause is probably genetic. The tissue of the nasal mucous membranes and nasal turbinates disappears. This infects germs. Women are more commonly affected than men, and the symptoms usually show up during puberty.

A stink nose is also caused by nasal tumors or malformations of the nasal septum as well as by failed operations.

Thick nose

In rhinitis hypertrophica, the volume of the turbinates increases. As a result, the nose narrows, and it comes to inflammation such as chronic cold.

granulomatosis

This cumbersome name refers to a disease in which the body's own defense itself provides for inflammation. Affected are the nose, throat, bronchi and lungs. The chronic cold is bloody, crusts form in the nose, and the paranasal sinuses become infected. The disease is associated with symptoms such as a flu infection, especially with fatigue and headache.

In the advanced stage, the bridge of the nose deforms into a saddle nose. In the connective tissue, nodules form.

In the systemic connective tissue disease sarcoidosis, dry cough and respiratory distress occur, as well as constant colds. (Image: pathdoc / fotolia.com)

sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease, that is, it affects various organs in the body system. Frequently attacked are nose, ears, lungs, eyes and skin.

Chronic sarcoidosis includes constant colds, shortness of breath, cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss. The cause is unknown.

Other diseases

In many diseases persistent cold is not a leading symptom, but arises as a result. For example, in the later stage of syphilis. Ulcers develop and the tissue breaks down. Now that the nose is affected, this loss of tissue or the blockage of the nasal passages by growths to permanent cold.

Cystic fibrosis often causes paranasal sinus infections, which necessarily lead to chronic runny nose. This disease is genetic: mucus forms on different organs of the body. In the nose, this mucus leads to permanent cold, but since also the lungs, heart and pancreas are affected, this is a minor problem.

The disease is very rare. It only breaks out when both copies of the CFTR gene mutate in a human. If this is the case for both the mother and the father, there is a 25% chance that the child will get the disease. If only one gene is mutated, the affected person does not get ill.

Hypersensitive nose

The cause can be a highly sensitive nose. Who suffers from it, whose nose is permanently dry and clogged. Therefore, they breathe increasingly through the mouth and suffer from bad breath. In addition, there are inflammations of the throat and the respiratory tract.

ASA intolerance

Those affected do not tolerate acetylsalicylic acid, which is found in aspirin, as well as in nature in the plants salweide and meadowsweet. Even a normal dose leads to runny nose, blocked and flowing nose. There are also asthmatic complaints and nettle rash (also hives), skin rashes and gastrointestinal problems. Constant cold occurs when those affected are unaware that ASA is the trigger, and continue to take this.

In extreme cases, there is a drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath and vomiting. Doctors then speak of anaphylactic shock.

What helps with permanently running nose?

Of course you have to clarify the cause. Regardless, however, you can curb the symptoms. If the cause is not a nasal spray, you can use nasal sprays with decongestants - but never for more than a few days, because these remedies can trigger an addiction.

If the cause is too dry a nasal mucosa, moisten it, for example, by running salt water through the nose several times a day. Hold a nostril, place your head back and let the salt-enriched water flow through the open hole.

If you have an allergy, you can use antiallergic nasal sprays, either based on azelastine or cromolyn sodium.

If the nasal septum is crooked, or polyps form, surgery helps.

Proven home remedies can help relieve the constant cold.

Home remedies for permanent cold

Effective home remedies for permanent cold are:

• • 1. Inhale Her tepid herbal tea, for example with chamomile or sage.
    2. Drink You a lot. This dilutes the mucus.
    3. Eat hot, Chilli or ginger. This promotes blood circulation, and the mucous membranes swell.
    4. Make it higher humidity in rooms. Place wet cloths on the heater, turn on a fogger, or get houseplants that you water vigorously.
    5. Sleep You enough. This will strengthen your immune system.
    6. Take one steam bath. A bath with thyme, marshmallow, eucalyptus oil or chamomile flowers boosts the blood circulation and dissolves the mucus in the nose. The bathroom should be warm but not hot. More than 40 degrees burden the circulation.
    7. You can also inhale the fumes. To do this, enter the herbal blends Place in a bowl of hot water, put a towel over your head and bowl and breathe in and out of the fumes. You should do that for a quarter of an hour.
    8. footbaths also help against chronic cold. They improve blood circulation. First, let lukewarm water in the tub and gradually add hot water. After about 15 minutes, dry your feet well and relax for an hour.
    9. Pay special attention to hygiene. Wash your hands more often than usual with hot water and avoid contact with the eyes and nose, so that you do not spread the virus in an infection with viruses, fungal infections or bacteria.

(Dr. Utz Anhalt)