Why Is My Nose Running? 19 Possible Reasons
Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MDFact checked by Heather Mercer
If you wonder why you have a runny nose (rhinorrhea), there are quite a few possible causes. A cold or sinusitis, seasonal allergies, and COVID-19 are common culprits. If you feel like you always have a runny nose, it may be due to a chronic condition like enlarged adenoids, nasal polyps (growths in the nose) or even cancer.
Some causes, such as stress or an environmental exposure, may be easier to remedy through lifestyle change. Or, your runny nose may improve with treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or another underlying medical condition.
This article looks at 19 reasons for why you may have a runny nose, how to deal with it, and when to see a healthcare provider for treatment.
The Common Cold
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Also known as: Upper respiratory infection (URI), rhinovirus
The common cold can be caused by over 200 viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common.
When you have a cold, fluids can pass more easily than usual out of your blood vessels and into your nose. The running usually starts within the first two to three days after you pick up the virus.
Mucus usually starts out clear and may turn white, yellow, or even green after a couple of days.
Learn More: Decoding Mucus Color: Yellow, Green, Brown, and More
Treatments for a runny nose from the common cold include:
Atrovent (intranasal ipratropium) nasal spray
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy (brompheniramine)
Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine)
Benadryl Allergy (diphenhydramine)
Takeaway
If your runny nose continues for more than 10 days, see a healthcare provider. You may have a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics.
COVID-19
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A runny nose is one possible symptom of COVID-19. Other symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Sore throat
Nasal congestion
Cough
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Loss of taste and/or smell
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
If you suspect your runny nose and other symptoms are caused by COVID-19, get tested—especially if you're at high risk for severe symptoms.
Most people with COVID-19 can treat the disease at home with over-the-counter medicines. If you develop more severe symptoms, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antiviral medicine. Available antivirals for COVID-19 include Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lagevrio.
You can prevent COVID-19 infection or lower symptom severity by getting vaccinated.
At Risk?
If you're at risk for severe disease or become really sick with COVID-19, get medical attention right away. Treatments are most effective when started within days of developing symptoms.
Allergies
Also known as: Hay fever and allergic rhinitis
Allergic reactions often cause a runny nose. It may happen most often in the spring or fall.
With allergies, the runny nose comes from your body's inflammatory response to pollen, spores, mold, or other allergens in the air. When you inhale an allergen, your immune system sounds the alarm and releases chemicals (histamines for example) that cause inflammation in your nasal membranes and eyes.
Pollen comes from:
Flowering plants
Trees
Weeds
Grasses
You may also be allergic to dust, pet dander, or smoke from wildfires.
Nasal secretions from allergies are usually clear, but they may also contain pus.
For mild to moderate allergy symptoms, the first line of treatment is an oral antihistamine or nasal antihistamine spray. Glucocorticoid nasal sprays, which help decrease inflammation, may also be effective.
While antihistamines help with a runny nose, they're not generally effective against allergy-related nasal congestion.
Related: Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis
Cold Air
Have you gone outside to enjoy the fresh snow only to have a runny nose ruin the moment? If outside long enough, you might even develop chapped lips from constantly wiping your nasal secretions away from your upper lip.
Cold, dry air is known to dry out the nasal membranes. The change causes your inflammatory response and nasal nervous system reflexes to work together causing the nasal glands to produce mucus to moisturize and warm the air entering the nose.
As a result, you end up with a drippy nose. Wearing a scarf or mask over your nose may help prevent it.
Eating, Especially Spicy Food
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Also known as: Gustatory rhinitis
Spicy foods like hot chili peppers are very likely to make your nose run if you have gustatory rhinitis, a form of nonallergic rhinitis. Common triggers are spices such as black pepper, curry, garlic, hot sauce, salsa, ginger, and chili powder. However, any food can cause this reaction.
Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly why eating food makes some people get a runny nose. What they do know is that it's not really an immune response.
It's more likely related to stimulation (or irritation) of trigeminal nerves, or it may be associated with a parasympathetic response, which is involved in digestion.
Some people love to push the limits and want the full experience of their eyes watering, nose running, and throat burning as they eat their fire alarm hot wings. But avoiding foods is your first-line defense against symptoms.
You also can try:
Intranasal anticholinergics (like atropine)
Intranasal corticosteroids (like fluticasone)
A capsaicin nasal spray
As a last resort, a surgery called vidian nerve neurectomy or a posterior nasal nerve removal may be needed.
Hormones
Also known as: Hormonal rhinitis
Hormones can directly affect the membranes in your nasal passages, causing your mucus glands to become more reactive. Hormones that may be involved include:
Female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
Symptoms related to rhinitis during a woman's menstrual cycle, while taking birth control, or during pregnancy, seem to mirror estrogen levels.
For example, peak levels of estrogen that occur midway through the menstrual cycle can increase nasal membrane reactivity and trigger cytokine production. This can lead to inflammation (congestion and runny nose).
These are also common symptoms during pregnancy when mucus membranes become more reactive and there is an increase blood flow to your nasal blood vessels. Research shows that 39% of women experience runny nose and congestion during pregnancy.
If you're pregnant, you can try nasal saline spray or exercise to potentially decrease symptoms. If you need more help, talk to your healthcare provider about whether any of these drugs are a safe option for you and your baby:
Pseudoephedrine
Claritin
Zyrtec
Atrovent
Many other possible treatments may be harmful to the developing fetus. Always ask your healthcare provider before starting a new medication.
Takeaway
Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, and oral contraceptive use all can lead to a nonallergic sinusitis reaction that causes a runny nose.
Related: Congestion and Runny Nose During Pregnancy
Medications
Also known as: Medication-induced rhinitis
A runny nose is a known side effect of some medications. Each medication can cause a runny nose in a different way.
While not a complete list, medications used to treat the following conditions are known to cause runny nose in some people:
Inflammation, pain
Cardiovascular disease
Depression, dementia, and conditions treated with antipsychotics
A runny nose is also a possible side effect of birth control.
Exercise
Also known as: Vasomotor rhinitis
Aerobic exercise such as running may cause your runny nose. The increased blood flow to the nose during physical activity causes that watery drip.
But if you experience a runny nose while being active outdoors, the cause may be more realistically related to:
Allergies
Cold weather
Another irritant
If you experience a runny nose frequently while being active, you can ask your healthcare provider if a medication called Atrovent (ipratropium) would be a good choice for you. It relaxes the muscles around your airways so you can breathe better.
Related: Why Exercise May Be Causing Your Nose to Run
Crying
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Crying naturally causes you to have a runny nose because:
Tears drain from your eyes through small openings in your lower eyelids called lacrimal puncta.
They then enter a tube called the nasolacrimal duct.
That duct drains directly into your nose.
Once you stop crying, the runny nose should clear up pretty quickly.
Chronic Sinusitis
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The sinuses are four spaces (cavities) in your head connected by passageways. The sinuses are in charge of making mucus that drains from the nasal passageways into the nose.
Mucus flushes bacteria and debris out of your nasal passages and into the back of the throat so you can swallow it. This keeps bacteria from getting trapped in your nose and causing an infection.
When you're congested, bacteria stay in there and can lead to sinusitis (sinus infection). When it lasts for 12 weeks or more, it's called chronic sinusitis.
Besides a runny nose, symptoms include:
Sinus drainage down the back of the throat
Facial pressure and pain
Reduced sense of taste or smell
Some severe sinus infections require antibiotics, but most of them go away without medical treatment. To ease symptoms on your own, you can try:
Using a saline or decongestant nasal spray
Placing warm moist cloth on your forehead or nose
Inhaling steam from a warm shower or bowl of hot water
When Treatment Doesn't Work
For chronic sinusitis that doesn't respond to medication or at-home treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend sinus surgery to treat the problem.
Learn More: Symptoms of Sinus Infection
Sinus Polyps
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Sinus or nasal polyps are soft growths of tissue inside your nose and sinuses. They make it difficult for you to breathe.
Nasal polyps are common in people who also have:
Chronic sinusitis
A runny nose is just one symptom of sinus polyps. But you may also have:
Facial pressure
Loss of smell and taste
Mouth breathing
Treating Polyps
The first treatment for nasal polyps is usually medication. If that doesn't work, you may need surgery.
Deviated Septum
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The septum is the bone and cartilage between your nostrils. When it leans to one side of the nasal cavity, it's called a deviated septum.
A deviated septum can cause breathing problems, including a runny nose. Other symptoms are:
Stuffy nose
Difficulty breathing through either one or both nostrils
Repeated sinus infections
Noisy breathing (in babies and children)
Mouth-breathing while asleep (in adults)
Some people are born with a deviated septum. You can also get one from an injury like a broken nose.
Learn More: What Causes a Deviated Septum and How Do You Fix It?
Takeaway
If symptoms are mild, a deviated septum doesn't need treatment. If symptoms are more serious, a surgery called septoplasty can correct it.
Spinal Fluid Leak
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A special fluid that surrounds your spinal cord and brain is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It's held in by a membrane.
When there's a tear in the membrane, the CSF can leak out. This can occur because of a:
Surgery
Medical procedures such as a spinal tap
Sometimes, a spinal fluid leak occurs for no particular reason.
Drainage from the ear and the nose are both rare symptoms that can occur. You may also develop a headache that gets worse when you sit but decreases when you lie down.
Takeaway
Spinal fluid leaks are rare. The first treatment is usually bed rest. Other treatments may include saline infusions, IV caffeine infusions, and hydration. If those treatments don't work, you may need surgery.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome
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Churg-Strauss syndrome, also known as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), is a rare disease that causes inflammation in the cells of your tissues or blood.
People who develop Churg-Strauss have a history of asthma or allergies. It can affect:
In rare cases, Churg-Strauss syndrome can affect the brain.
A runny nose is a common symptom of Churg-Strauss syndrome. Other symptoms include:
Mild Churg-Strauss syndrome is often treated with the anti-inflammatory medication prednisone.
Treating Churg-Strauss
Other medications that can help treat Churg-Strauss syndrome include:
Methotrexate azathioprine
Mycophenolate mofetil
Cytotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide
Mepolizumab
Due to the risk of side effects and complications, some of these can only be used for a short period of time.
GERD
Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include heartburn, trouble swallowing, throat tightness, and a hoarse voice. They're caused by acid that washes back up from the stomach into your esophagus and upper airway.
One study of 2,887 people in Italy found that people with gastritis and GERD had a fourfold greater risk of rhinitis (not caused by allergies) and sinusitis. Runny nose also is a symptom of GERD especially in children.
Diet and lifestyle changes, like smoking cessation, are important in treating GERD. Medication and surgery (in some cases) are common treatment options.
Related: How Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Is Diagnosed
Enlarged Adenoids
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Adenoids are patches of tissue that sit high in your throat, behind the nose. Along with the tonsils, they are part of your infection-fighting lymphatic system.
And like your tonsils, sometimes they need to be removed because they become enlarged. The runny nose and other symptoms associated with adenoids are common in children, who also experience ear infections with enlarged adenoids.
Nasal spray and antibiotics are used to treat the problem, but if the adenoids don't respond, then removal (adenoidectomy) may be needed.
Related: Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Adenoidectomy Surgery
Cancers and Tumors
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Cancers of the nose, as with other head and neck cancers, are associated with symptoms that include nasal congestion or pressure. Rarely, cancers from other parts of the body also can spread to the nose and cause rhinorrhea.
In some cases, head and neck cancer treatments (radiation and chemotherapy) can lead to runny nose symptoms and other side effects. Not all tumors are malignant, but the mass can cause pressure that leads to symptoms.
Certain spinal fluid leaks also can be associated with head and neck cancers and cause a runny nose.
Related: What Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer?
Stress
Stress, like exercise, places demands on your body and it can respond with symptoms of a runny nose. One study of 578 children even suggests that stress in pregnant people can increase the risk of rhinorrhea symptoms in their infants.
When the heart rate speeds up and blood vessels narrow, your nasal passages can open up. The release of adrenaline, produced during times of stress, can lead to more mucus in the airways which causes a runny nose.
Stress related to exercise may be beneficial, but emotional stress can lead to a host of health issues. Talk to your healthcare provider about steps to manage stress.
Related: What Is Stress Therapy?
Geriatric Rhinitis
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Some studies show that the incidence of nasal symptoms that aren't caused by allergies increases with age. About one in three people between the ages of 54 and 89 have symptoms that include a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, and postnasal drip.
The aging process leads to changes in nose structure that may contribute to the problem. Older people also have other health problems (like GERD or sleep apnea) or take medication (including psychiatric drugs) that are related to nasal function.
Treatment will depend on the cause, but may include inhaled corticosteroid drugs or antihistamines.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
A runny nose that isn't connected to a serious illness usually goes away on its own. But you should see a healthcare provider if:
Your runny nose lasts more than 10 days.
You have a high fever.
You have a yellow or green discharge from your nose along with sinus pain or pressure.
You notice a foul smell coming from inside your nose.
Summary
If you have a runny nose, it may be caused by something as simple as the common cold. But allergies, COVID-19, cold air, exercise, crying, spicy food, and several medical conditions can also make your nose run.
If you have a runny nose for more than 10 days or alongside severe symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a runny nose contagious?
Not necessarily. A runny nose can be a symptom of something that's contagious, like the common cold or COVID-19. But it could also have a non-contagious cause, like cold air, hormones, or allergies.
Why is only one side of my nose runny?
One side of your nose may be runny because of various reasons. Sometimes the common cold causes a runny nose on one side. Or, you may have a deviated septum. In rare cases, it could be a spinal fluid leak or nasal/sinus cancer.
Is a constant runny nose serious?
A constant runny nose may not be serious. but talk to your healthcare provider if it lasts more than 10 days. Also, let them know if you have a runny nose along with other symptoms such as a high fever.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
