Runny nose often occurs in cold weather. This is because your respiratory tract tries to warm the inhaled air before it enters your lungs by producing additional fluid (snot). Therefore, the way to prevent runny nose from appearing is to warm and humidify the air before it enters the nose.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preventing and Treating a Runny Nose from Cold Weather
Step 1. Cover your nose and mouth with a woolen scarf when outdoors
Breathing through the scarf will warm the space between your face and the scarf. Your exhalation will also humidify the air in the space. If the room is warm and humid enough, your sinuses won't produce enough fluid so you don't run a runny nose.
Step 2. Turn on the humidifier in the room
Even though the air is warm enough, if it's too dry your nose can still runny. You can use a humidifier for one room, or even install a large humidifier so that it is enough for one house.
Step 3. Use a saline spray to moisten your respiratory tract
A saline solution is a medicine to keep the respiratory tract moist and prevent excessive mucus production.
Step 4. Try using a nasal spray such as Dristan (or another brand with "pseudoephedrine" listed on the package)
This medicine is not recommended for daily use, but it is okay to use it if you have important things to do and don't want to be bothered by a runny nose. For example, if you are a professional ski athlete, you should take this medication before a race.
- This medicine works by temporarily preventing the production of mucus so that you can perform activities (such as racing) without worrying about having a runny nose.
- However, sometimes the mucus discharge will be more profuse after the effect of the drug wears off. This is the reason why this drug is not recommended for daily use.
- If Dristan or another similar brand doesn't work, see your doctor for a prescription for a stronger nasal corticosteroid spray.
Step 5. Take an over-the-counter decongestant pill
Brands like Sudafed (or whatever "pseudoephedrine" is listed on the package) work pretty well. You can ask your pharmacist for advice to choose the right brand for you.
- This medication will reduce the production of mucus in the nose and relieve the symptoms of a runny nose due to cold weather.
- However, once again this drug is not recommended for daily use, because the snot will get heavier after the effect of the drug wears off. Therefore, this drug should only be used if there are important activities that a runny nose does not want to disturb.
Part 2 of 2: Knowing the Causes of a Runny Nose
Step 1. Consider the various diagnoses
The cause of a runny nose can be due to illness (usually accompanied by other "cold" symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, etc.), feelings of sadness (when crying, excess tears will flow through the nose), or cold weather (the respiratory tract tries to warm up). air that is inhaled before entering the lungs by producing mucus in cold weather).
A runny nose can also be caused by allergies, environmental irritants (such as smoke), or the side effects of certain medications
Step 2. Understand the reasons for a runny nose in cold weather
When you breathe in through your nose, your sinuses warm and humidify the air by swirling the air around the mucous membranes in your airways. This prevents the air from hurting the lungs because it is cooler than body temperature.
- The product of this process is water and excess water will flow through the esophagus and nose.
- This sinus function works all year round, but due to temperature differences in cold weather (especially during the rainy season) it occurs more often in cold temperatures.
Step 3. Understand that runny nose is normal
So, there's no need to worry too much about it. In fact, because it is too common it is sometimes referred to as “skier nose” because almost all skiers have a runny nose.
- A runny nose from cold weather is NOT associated with illness (and it's also not linked to "cold sores.")
- While many people believe there is a connection between cold weather and colds, colds are actually more often the result of staying indoors so long that germs from other people are transferred more easily (and have less to do with cold weather outside).
