Runny Nose Breakthrough!!!  Dhummi.V.Sulapani

2.Causes Of Excessive Runny Nose! 

To understand the reason behind the runny nose, we should know about the spot in our nose where the runny nose problem starts. Anterior Portion of the Nasal Cavity  is the spot in our nose where the runny nose problem occurs. So, APNC is the right area to treat to solve the problem. All visitors are recommended to read some details in the following paragraph about APNC to know why, I selected APNC to treat runny nose and its related problems.

About Anterior Portion Of Nasal Cavity- APNC!

Anterior portion of the nasal cavity (APNC), starts from the external opening of the nasal cavities and ends at about 5 cms in the nasal cavities (as shown in the adjacent Fig.). This APNC area is covered with mucus membranes. The inferior turbinate projects from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity in this APNC area. The tissue covering the APNC area is thicker and has got rich supply of blood (through a dense net work of blood vessels) and nerves. Goblet cells which are capable of secreting thick mucus are also present in APNC area. The erective tissue present in APNC area swells  by the stimulation provided by irritants. Sensitivity of this erective tissue increases due to inflammation.  Extraordinary increase of goblet cells takes place during viral infection and allergic reaction. 

Nasal Secretions In APNC Area

Two types of secretions occur in APNC area. They are: mucus secretions and inflammatory secretions. Inflammatory secretions occur due to nasal allergy, common cold and, pollution. we will discuss briefly in the following paragraphs.

Nasal Mucus

Daily, about 1 litre of mucus secretion takes place in APNC area. The mucus of nose is composed of :- Plasma leaked out from the capillaries  Secretions from goblet cells Secretions from serous glands

Due to nasal allergy, common cold and pollution inflammatory secretions occur in APNC area. This causes inflammation in APNC area.

Factors which contribute to
Excessive Runny Nose & Congestion

The three factors, which generate excessive nasal secretions due to nasal allergy, common cold and pollution in APNC are:-

1.The inflammation over APNC area (which is capable of allowing huge amounts of plasma to leak) is caused due to nasal allergy, common cold and pollution is the reason behind the excessive mucus secretions. 

2.Goblet cells which secrete thick mucus increase extraordinarily (the process is also known as hyperplasia of goblet cells) in APNC area during allergic reaction, common cold and pollution. Once the thick mucus secreted by the goblet cells enters the nasal cavity, the volume of this thick mucus increases extraordinarily (around 500 times) due to hydration. The visco-elastic character of this expanded mucus will only further increase the nasal congestion and breathing problems.

3.APNC area contains erective tissue. The erective tissue becomes over sensitive due to inflammation and quickly responds to stimulants/ pollutants and swells instantly to cause narrowing of the nasal cavity, this results in breathing problems.

So, both excessive nasal secretions and tissue erection either individually or together will lead to breathing problems.

Other Factors Which Aggravate:
Runny Nose And Nasal Congestion

Milder Irritants & the hyper nasal secretions:  Inflammation enhances the sensitivity of the APNC area. Usually, the innumerable milder irritants present in the air we breathe in, should not cause excessive nasal secretions. Enhanced sensitivity of APNC due to inflammation, causes nasal secretions even to the stimulation by the milder irritants. Milder irritants are innumerable in air and hence cause hyper nasal secretions when inflammation exists in APNC area.

Remote stimulation of nasal secretions: Remote stimulative signals generated at various areas in mouth, throat, eyes, facial skin and probably some parts of esophagus (through a very complex net work of nerves), can cause APNC area to produce hyper nasal secretions. So, it is very important to keep these areas free of infection & inflammation. Those people with over sensitive nerves in mouth, throat and esophagus passage suffer from excessive nasal secretions while eating spicy and hot food, which is popularly known as  gustatory rhinitis. 

Some more reasons for runny nose:  Mucus membranes are sensitive to heat, pressure, touch, humidity and hence these factors can cause runny nose among those people with higher neuro- sensitivity areas in APNC.