Dear Reader,

When you blow your nose, especially if you tend to give it a good honk, you can aggravate it even more. There are many tiny blood vessels in the nostrils that dilate and, thus, contribute to a runny nose. The action of blowing the nose will lead to further dilation of the blood vessels and... more running of the nose.

Instead of blowing, hold a tissue under your nose to "catch" what's running out. It may seem less effective at first, but your nose may begin to dry up with this gentle treatment. Some other things that help to "clear out" a runny or stuffed nose are: steaming over a pot of boiling water, sitting in a steam room, eating hot and spicy foods, and running or exercising outside.

Alice knows you don't have a cold, but do you experience any other symptoms, such as itchy eyes or sneezing, along with the runny nose? Does your nose really run constantly, or is the running a reaction to specific stimuli? Pay attention to the time period (i.e., season, month, time of day, etc.), what you eat, what you are doing, and where you are when your nose starts to act up. It's possible you are having an allergic reaction to something. If that's the case, you'll need to figure out the cause(s) of your allergy.

Could you have a chronic sinus problem? If so, make an appointment with an ear-nose-throat (ENT) doctor.

Try the not-blowing-your-nose approach to this problem first. If, after a few weeks, your nose continues to run with no improvement, then see a health care provider. Alice is sure there is something you can do so you don't have to live with this runny nose for much longer.

Alice

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