Why It Matters to Know the Difference Allergies and colds share many symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, congestion, and fatigue — but they have completely different causes and require different treatments. Treating allergies with cold medicine wastes money and misses the real problem. Treating a cold with allergy medication may partially help symptoms but will…
Why Does Your Nose Run? A runny nose, or rhinorrhea, occurs when the nasal membranes produce excess mucus in response to irritants, infections, allergens, temperature changes, or even strong emotions. Your body produces roughly one to two liters of mucus daily under normal conditions. When something triggers an increase, the excess has to go somewhere…
A runny nose might seem like the opposite problem from a stuffy nose, but the underlying cause is often the same — irritated, inflamed nasal tissue producing too much mucus. While antihistamines and decongestants can dry up a runny nose temporarily, they come with side effects like drowsiness and rebound congestion. Saline nasal spray takes…
