Pregnancy Rhinitis

While pregnancy is phase in every woman's life which can create waves of happiness and excitement, it may also comes with a bagful of ill symptoms. And one of these, which is known to affect some pregnant mothers, is pregnancy rhinitis. This condition is nothing but the inflammation of nasal tissues and blood vessels, which does not have cold, flu or any kind of allergies as its cause.

Main Symptoms

The symptoms would vary from person to person, however, the common ones which are observed include:

• Stuffy nose or nasal congestion
• Sneezing, which might also be accompanied by cough
• The nose may itch more than usual
• The stuffy feeling may be accompanied by headache

Causal Factors

As mentioned earlier, the condition is known as pregnancy rhinitis when it does not have factors such as cold, flu or any kind of allergies as its causal factors. The only factor which causes the inflammation of the nasal passages, is associated with the changing levels of estrogen in the body. This hormonal imbalance is triggered by the body, when it prepares for pregnancy thus, causing the lining of the mucus membranes to swell up. And when this happens, it causes stuffy nose, irritation in the nasal passages, sneezing and all other symptoms which have been mentioned in the earlier segment. One more factor which you may be unaware of, is that during pregnancy, there is an increase in the blood level in the body. Even this causes inflammation leading to stuffy nose.

The main difference between common cold and pregnancy rhinitis is, the former is caused by a virus, while the other has hormonal changes to blame for. The symptoms which occur in the latter condition are also exhibited by cold. If we talk about normal rhinitis, then common cold is known to be one of its causes.

Treatment

The condition of rhinitis during pregnancy is nothing more than an annoyance, and there are several types of methods which easily help in dealing with the symptoms. If we consider about medications, then affected mothers can avail decongestants, antihistamines or saline drops. Regarding the use of decongestants and antihistamines, it is advisable to consult the doctor, as they could harm the fetus. Saline drops are considered to be the safest and one of the most recommended treatment methods to relieve the symptoms of pregnancy rhinitis.

Apart from medications, expecting mothers can also benefit from a few self-care measures at home. These may not cure the condition, but would surely relieve the symptoms of rhinitis during pregnancy. These include:

• Drinking plenty of liquids which may include chicken soup, hot broths, steamed vegetable soup, ginger tea, these provide a lot of help in reducing stuffy nose during pregnancy.
• Caffeine-based drinks or alcoholic drinks must be avoided, as they tend to dehydrate the body, and this may worsen the symptoms.
• Inhaling steam is also an effective remedy, and so is taking a warm shower in a steam-filled bathroom.
• Although expecting mothers do not have much scope to do a lot of exercises, simply taking a walk also helps in clearing up nasal congestion.
• Take some black cumin seeds and place them in a piece of cloth, making a pouch. Now, closing one nostril, sniff the pouch.
• Dip a cotton ball in peppermint oil and inhale the aroma.
• Most expecting mother find it comfortable to sleep with an extra pillow at night. This position may help in clearing up the blocked mucus passages.

As mentioned, pregnancy rhinitis is not a severe condition to be concerned about. Most mothers learn to cope with it with time. However, if the symptoms seem to persist beyond 10 days, then it warrants a medical visit, rather than taking chances with the unborn child.