A stuffy nose can ruin your quality of life… Kim Dong-wook's story on managing rhinitis, the uninvited autumn guest.

Mr. A, an office worker in his early 30s, suffers from allergic rhinitis every change of season.

Because clear nasal discharge flows incessantly, A often has to blow their nose with a tissue. Swelling of the eyes and nose is common, and on days when symptoms are severe, the nose becomes completely blocked, leading to headaches and fatigue. As the situation continued to make it difficult to concentrate on work, A picked up their smartphone and searched for ways to manage allergic rhinitis.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Health Information Portal on the 9th, allergic rhinitis is a phenomenon in which an inflammatory reaction occurs inside the nose due to an allergic reaction. Typical symptoms include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and nasal itching. Some patients also experience headaches, bleeding, and itching in the eyes.

 

Allergic rhinitis is caused by environmental factors, such as house dust mites, pollen, and mold, or by genetic factors. Symptoms can also be aggravated by cigarette smoke or the common cold. Allergic rhinitis occurs more frequently during the transitional seasons, when the respiratory system becomes more sensitive due to cold and dry weather. Particular caution is required in the autumn due to high concentrations of weed pollen, such as mugwort and ragweed.

To alleviate allergic rhinitis symptoms, you must keep the indoor environment clean.

 

It is advisable to remove allergens (causative substances) that trigger allergic rhinitis, such as house dust mites, even if only indoors. Preventing sudden changes in indoor temperature when using air conditioners or heaters also helps alleviate allergic rhinitis symptoms.

 

Air pollutants such as fine dust can also worsen allergic rhinitis, so let's wear a mask when going out whenever possible. Wearing a mask can also alleviate symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by pollen. Reducing outdoor activities on days when pollen is heavy or air quality is poor is also one way to relieve allergic rhinitis symptoms.

 

It is also necessary to examine the causes and aggravating factors of rhinitis.

The types of allergens causing allergic rhinitis vary from patient to patient, and treatment methods may differ accordingly. Identifying the exact cause of allergic rhinitis through skin tests or blood tests and avoiding the causative allergens is helpful for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated, "Allergic rhinitis is often mistaken for a mild condition, but it is a chronic disease that significantly reduces the quality of life," adding that "a significant number of people with severe allergic rhinitis are often unaware of their symptoms and leave them untreated." They further advised, "Consistent and appropriate treatment of allergic rhinitis can prevent complications and asthma, thereby improving the quality of life."

 

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It is common to cough in the morning whenever the seasons change.

This is pretty much the reality for someone with rhinitis.

 

The hospital told me to drink plenty of water.

When I sneeze and have a runny nose, I really lose my mind.