Causes and Symptoms
It is rather difficult to determine the cause of vasomotor rhinitis. However, experts identify a number of factors, the impact of which on the body significantly increases the risk of developing this disease:
- viral infections;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- hormonal changes during pregnancy;
- stay in a room with very dusty air;
- prolonged inhalation of strong irritating odors, for example, paint, varnish;
- prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drugs for the common cold;
- smoking;
- a sharp change in blood pressure;
- endocrine system diseases;
- the use of drugs that reduce blood pressure;
- eating spicy and highly spicy foods;
- physical and emotional stress;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which gastric juice and enzymes are thrown into the esophagus (reflux).
Signs of vasomotor rhinitis may occur once or on a regular basis. The most common symptoms of this disease are:
- runny nose; itching and redness of the nasal mucosa;
- labored breathing;
- sneezing; loss of smell;
- dryness in the nasopharynx;
- general weakness, rapid fatigability;
- sleep disturbance;
- loss of appetite.
If vasomotor rhinitis is accompanied by sharp pain in the nasal area or symptoms interfere with normal life, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Treatment
The doctor may prescribe medication for vasomotor rhinitis or resort to surgery. In this situation, the determining factor is the general condition of the patient and the severity of the disease.
Important! It is more expedient to carry out the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis with the help of surgical intervention, which, in comparison with medication, is more effective.
In the case when conservative methods of therapy are ineffective, surgery helps to cure vasomotor rhinitis. The procedure begins only after preliminary diagnostic procedures: ultrasound examination of the nose, rhinoscopy, blood test.
Modern medicine uses several methods of surgical treatment for vasomotor rhinitis:
- laser vasotomy of the nose (moxibustion);
- turbinoplasty;
- cryotherapy - the action of low temperatures for freezing and destruction of tissues;
- electrocautery - moxibustion with probes;
- heating and destruction by radio wave coagulation;
- microdebrider conchotomy - laser destruction of enlarged vessel walls and polyps.
With the help of surgical intervention, it is possible to reduce the enlarged nasal mucosa, eliminate puffiness, and restore nasal breathing. During the operation with vasomotor rhinitis, the epithelial tissues in the nose are dissected and the vessels of the mucous are cauterized. In this case, the procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia.
Features of laser vasotomy
Laser treatment is one of the methods of surgical intervention in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis. This method is considered the most gentle and at the same time effective treatment option for vasomotor rhinitis. The procedure consists in cauterization (destruction) of the submucosal vessels, which eliminates the main symptoms of the disease. Nasal vasotomy with laser therapy is performed under local anesthesia. During the operation, the patient must not move his head. It is also necessary to follow certain breathing rules: inhale through the mouth, exhale through the nose.
All manipulations are carried out under the supervision of a doctor who monitors the patient's condition through an endoscope, controlling the movement of the laser and its exit from the nasal mucosa.
Also, among the advantages of treatment using a laser vasotomy over an instrumental method, the following points can be distinguished:
- restoration of nasal breathing occurs in the shortest possible time, most often a few hours after the procedure;
- minimal risk of infection and injury;
- obtaining a long-term stable result (symptoms may not recur for several years);
- exclusion of postoperative tamponade of the nasal cavity, which prevents the occurrence of complications and has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the patient.
Despite the high efficiency and safety of vasotomy, this procedure has some contraindications:
- blood clotting disorders;
- the presence of chronic diseases in the acute stage;
- concomitant infectious diseases;
- inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract;
- pregnancy or lactation period;
- mental disorders.
If the vasotomy was successful, it is necessary to follow some simple rules after the operation:
- observe a gentle regimen during the first three days after the operation (exclude strong physical activity, overheating, stop drinking alcoholic beverages);
- for the nose, use only those drugs that have been prescribed by the attending physician (most often, oil drops in the nose are prescribed).
Important! Untimely and ineffective treatment of vasomotor rhinitis can cause complications such as otitis media, sinusitis, nasal polyps.
Drug treatment and prevention
If vasomotor rhinitis does not cause significant discomfort and is at the stage when it does not interfere with the patient's sleep and full life, you can try to treat the disease with conservative methods.
- Flushing the sinuses with saline solutions. You can buy such a solution at a pharmacy (Aqualor, Salin, Humer) or prepare it yourself (use a teaspoon of edible salt per liter of warm boiled water).
- Nasal sprays containing corticosteroid hormones (Nazarel, Nazocort, Aldecin). Due to the fact that the effect of such drugs develops gradually, it is important to use them systematically in long courses (at least 30 days).
- If rhinitis is accompanied by the release of a large amount of mucus, it is advisable to use sprays containing ipratropium bromide (Atrovent), a substance that helps to reduce the amount of nasal secretions.
As a prophylaxis of vasomotor rhinitis, it is necessary:
- eliminate the factors provoking the disease;
- correct nasal abnormalities (curvature of the septum, etc.);
- timely treat stomach diseases;
- regularly exercise, hardening;
- take long walks in the fresh air;
- use vasoconstrictor drugs correctly (course of treatment no more than five days);
- timely treat diseases of the nasopharynx organs.
