When you produce an excess of mucus or if your mucus isn’t draining properly, you may develop a runny nose, which is also called rhinorrhea or rhinitis. The discharge may be clear or cloudy, depending on whether there’s an infection present.

There are many conditions that can lead to a runny nose, but the following are the most common:

• Upper respiratory infection (cold or flu)
• Allergies
• Environmental irritants, such as smoke or dry air
• Sinusitis, either acute or chronic
• Deviated septum
• Nasal polyps
• Hormones
• Certain medications, such as blood pressure medications or birth control

In some cases, you may have nonallergic rhinitis, which means there’s no explanation for your runny nose. As well, a runny nose can be temporarily brought on by cold air, spicy foods and crying.

Dr. Furze begins by reviewing your condition and your medical history. He may also turn to advanced imaging to get a closer look inside your nasal cavity, including an in-office nasal and sinus endoscopic evaluation and CT scan of your nose and sinuses.

There are many options Dr. Furze can recommend to treat chronic rhinitis based on the suspected cause. If nasal polyps or allergies are causing a runny nose, he may recommend a steroid treatment or radiofrequency ablation procedures. If caused by an anatomical problem, such as a deviated septum, he may recommend a Septoplasty to remedy the issue permanently. 

Should you suffer from chronic sinusitis, Dr. Furze offers an innovative Balloon Sinuplasty, which encourages better mucus drainage from your sinuses into your nasal cavity. Regardless of the underlying cause, Dr. Furze can help you get the treatment you need to put an end to your chronic runny nose.

Depending on the treatment, recovery can be very quick (days-weeks) with minimally invasive treatments, such as the Rhinaer, or take a little longer to heal (weeks-months), if a septoplasty is needed.