The human body is an amazing machine, but it’s far from perfect. Case in point: allergies. Who needs ‘em, right?
Yet many of us suffer seasonally from the itchy, stuffy, sneezy scourge that seems to exist solely to remind us of our mortality. Luckily, most allergy sufferers can take comfort in the knowledge that our ordeal will last only as long as allergy season. Until then, we can seek relief from over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
But what if that wasn’t the case? What if your symptoms popped up randomly and seemingly without cause, persisted for a long time (sometimes years) and didn’t respond to medication?
A condition called nonallergic rhinitis can also cause allergy-like symptoms. Approximately 19 million Americans suffer from nonallergic rhinitis, compared to 58 million Americans who suffer from allergies.
[Related: Sublingual Allergy Drops: An Easier Way to Control Allergies]
Allergic Rhinitis
The condition we commonly call “allergies” is actually called “allergic rhinitis.” Allergic reactions occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a foreign substance that it falsely interprets as a threat, such as pollen, grass or pet dander.
It’s basically a case of biological friendly fire.
Nonallergic Rhinitis
So, let’s look at allergic rhinitis vs. nonallergic rhinitis. Are there any glaring differences?
Nonallergic rhinitis causes roughly the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis, but it doesn’t involve the immune system. Nonallergic rhinitis occurs when the swelling, runniness and congestion typically associated with allergies arise for no apparent reason.
[Related: How Do Allergy Shots Work?]
Possible Causes
Nonallergic rhinitis triggers are notoriously difficult to determine because they can be almost anything. They can range from weather changes to household or occupational irritants, such as smog or sawdust. Even things like stress or spicy foods can be the culprit!
Experts are uncertain of specific nonallergic rhinitis causes, but one possible explanation is oversensitive nerve endings in the nose. Think of it like nose-asthma. Tiny triggers cause massive over-responses in the nasal passages.
Because nonallergic rhinitis is more common in older adults, some allergists believe it results from the degenerative aging process. Studies have also revealed that it’s more common in women, but there are no theories yet as to why.
Diagnosing Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis
Diagnosing nonallergic rhinitis is tricky because you can’t test for allergies that don’t exist. All you can do is confirm that allergies aren’t causing the symptoms.
Like detectives, doctors have to eliminate a long list of usual suspects before confirming a case. The process can be slow and extremely frustrating to the patient — who just wants relief.
When patients come to the Pasha Snoring and Sinus Center with persistent allergy symptoms, their treatment begins with an allergy test. Also known as a skin prick test, the process involves piercing the skin with more than 50 needles coated with allergen extract.
OK, we know it sounds a bit scary, but the process involves little to no pain. During an allergy test, needles puncture only the skin’s outermost layer. You might compare it with the small needle pricks of acupuncture. We also check to ensure structural problems, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum, aren’t causing the symptoms.
[Related: Guide to Seasonal Allergy Triggers]
Symptoms
A person with nonallergic rhinitis can feel just as sick as a person suffering from allergies. Nonallergic rhinitis can also lead to many of the same complications that allergies cause:
- Asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Sinusitis
- Chronic ear infection
- Loss of smell
Experts have also suggested that people with allergies are more likely to present symptoms during spring and summer. Plus, they tend to suffer from eye itchiness, throat itchiness and eye redness.
Visiting a pollen-heavy area may also be a bigger trigger for people with allergies. However, detergent odor, sudden temperature change and cold air are more common triggers for people suffering from nonallergic rhinitis.
If you suffer from the symptoms mentioned above, you need to visit an ENT. They can run the appropriate tests to identify whether you suffer from allergic or nonallergic rhinitis and what the proper treatment is for your particular case.
Treatment
Allergists consider nonallergic rhinitis a suspect only after all other tests have failed to find the culprit. When that happens, treatment varies depending on the symptoms’ severity and frequency.
The worst part about nonallergic rhinitis is that there’s no surefire way to treat it. Sometimes saline or corticosteroid nasal sprays will do the trick. Other times, you need in-office procedures, such as radiofrequency turbinate reduction, to alleviate symptoms.
[Related: Cold vs. Allergies: How to Spot the Differences]
Although there’s no known cure, you can control it in a few ways:
- Taking OTC or prescription medication
- Using nonallergic rhinitis treatment natural remedies, such as nasal irrigation and humidifiers
- Avoiding known triggers
Find Relief With Pasha Snoring and Sinus Center Today
If you suffer from chronic allergy symptoms, don’t try to just play through the pain.
Left untreated, these symptoms can lead to ear infections or sinusitis. It can also lead to structural conditions, such as nasal polyps or enlarged air-regulating structures in the nose called turbinates.
All of these conditions restrict airflow through your nose, and we can’t overemphasize the importance of breathing well. Denying your body the oxygen it needs opens the door to dozens of health complications.
The sooner you seek treatment, the better. Feel free to make an appointment with Dr. Pasha today!
