Track Your Rhinitis Symptoms and Let the Healing Begin

Noses run for lots of reasons. If it’s not a cold or the flu, you or your child could have rhinitis. Rhinitis symptoms are triggered by many factors including allergens, medications, hormonal changes, workplace irritants, and more. While the symptoms caused by these triggers are the same, the treatments can be very different. That’s why it’s important to know why your nose is running. By noting symptom patterns and keeping a log of any potential triggers involved, you can help your doctor diagnose the true cause. If your rhinitis has been diagnosed, this information could help you reduce or avoid future symptoms.

Here are a few facts and tips to help you track your symptoms:

1. Recognize the symptoms of rhinitis.
   Whether caused by allergies or something else, the following rhinitis symptoms are your nose’s natural response to inflammation and irritation:
   • Runny nose
   • Itching
   • Sneezing
   • Stuffy nose due to blockage or congestion
2. Know for sure which form of rhinitis you have. Guessing cannot provide the complete allergic profile.
   There are two types of rhinitis: allergic and non-allergic.
   • Allergic rhinitis is caused by sensitivity to inhalant (airborne) allergens. These may be year-round “indoor” allergens (house dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, mold ) or seasonal “outdoor” allergens (weeds, trees, grasses). Some people are sensitive to both
   • Non-allergic rhinitis can be caused by a range of triggers, including medications, hormonal changes, and vasomotor responses (reactions to temperature, odors, spicy foods, stress, or other factors)
3. Make a log.
   Every time you or your child experiences a symptom listed above, track it in a log that includes the following information:
   • Date
   • Time of day
   • Symptoms and levels of severity
   • Triggers (any contact with known allergens or other triggers)
   • Weather conditions
   • Anything unusual or different about your or your child’s day
   • Medication or treatment administered
   • Reaction to medication or treatment
4. Review your log regularly.
   Look for patterns. These patterns could help you or your child avoid symptoms in the future. For example, the less you or your child is exposed to the triggers, the better you can avoid the symptoms. Meanwhile, any irregularities in normal symptom patterns could be an indication that either something is not related to allergic rhinitis or a new allergy is potentially forming (i.e., if your child has seasonal allergic rhinitis and wakes up in December with a runny nose, it’s probably not an allergic response).

And remember to get tested.