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Symptoms
Symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis may worsen when a person is around certain odors or perfumes, the temperature changes, they feel certain emotions, or are exposed to bright lights.
Possible Causes
The cause of vasomotor rhinitiscannot always be pinpointed, but below are certain conditions that have caused vasomotor rhinitis in some individuals:
Certain conditions could predispose you to the development of vasomotor rhinitis, including a history of nasal trauma or a history ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Some experts believe that people who are prone to the development of vasomotor rhinitis may have an overly sensitive autonomic nervous system.
Diagnosis
Getting a correct diagnosis will probably be the most important step in adequately treating and managing your vasomotor rhinitis.Unfortunately, there are no specific blood or other laboratory tests that can positively identify this condition. A diagnosis is made after other conditions, specifically, allergic rhinitis, have been ruled out. Your healthcare provider may use blood tests (IgE tests) or skin tests to rule out allergies, but these tests alone are not necessarily enough to diagnose vasomotor rhinitis.
It may be helpful for you and your healthcare provider if you keep a journal of sorts: write down any places, activities, odors, foods, or other conditions which seem to trigger your symptoms. This may also be helpful in your treatment because once triggers are identified, they might be avoided or minimized.
Treatment
Medications for controlling a runny nose:
Medications which treat congestion/nasal obstruction:
Astelin nasal spray, a topical antihistamine, may be used for the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis but the use of oral antihistamines isnotrecommended.Other measures which may be helpful in controlling congestion include remaining hydrated and using a cool-mist humidifier.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Long A, McFadden C, DeVine D, et al.Management of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: Summary. 2002 May. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 54. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11954/Bernstein JA.Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):102–105. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a8e389Leader P, Geiger Z.Vasomotor Rhinitis. [Updated 2019 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547704/Ellis AK, Keith PK.Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 6(3):215-20.Kaliner MA.Classification of Nonallergic Rhinitis Syndromes With a Focus on Vasomotor Rhinitis, Proposed to be Known henceforth as Nonallergic Rhinopathy.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):98–101. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a9d55bPattanaik D, Lieberman P.Vasomotor rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 10(2):84-91.Incorvaia C, Fuiano N, Canonica GW.Seeking allergy when it hides: which are the best fitting tests?.World Allergy Organ J. 6(1):11. doi:10.1186/1939-4551-6-11Banov C, Lieberman, P.Efficacy of azelastine nasal spray in the treatment of vasomotor (perennial nonallergic) rhinitis.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.86(1): 28-35. doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62352-6Wahid NWB, Shermetaro C.Rhinitis Medicamentosa. [Updated 2019 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538318/Malmberg H, Grahne B, Holopainen E, Binder E.Ipratropium (Atrovent) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis of elderly patients. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 8(4):273-6.Meltzer EO.The treatment of vasomotor rhinitis with intranasal corticosteroids.World Allergy Organ J. 2(8):166–179. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181af7c93Horak F.Effectiveness of twice daily azelastine nasal spray in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 4(5):1009–1022. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3229Additional ReadingAmerican Family Physician.Vasomotor Rhinitis.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Long A, McFadden C, DeVine D, et al.Management of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: Summary. 2002 May. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 54. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11954/Bernstein JA.Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):102–105. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a8e389Leader P, Geiger Z.Vasomotor Rhinitis. [Updated 2019 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547704/Ellis AK, Keith PK.Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 6(3):215-20.Kaliner MA.Classification of Nonallergic Rhinitis Syndromes With a Focus on Vasomotor Rhinitis, Proposed to be Known henceforth as Nonallergic Rhinopathy.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):98–101. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a9d55bPattanaik D, Lieberman P.Vasomotor rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 10(2):84-91.Incorvaia C, Fuiano N, Canonica GW.Seeking allergy when it hides: which are the best fitting tests?.World Allergy Organ J. 6(1):11. doi:10.1186/1939-4551-6-11Banov C, Lieberman, P.Efficacy of azelastine nasal spray in the treatment of vasomotor (perennial nonallergic) rhinitis.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.86(1): 28-35. doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62352-6Wahid NWB, Shermetaro C.Rhinitis Medicamentosa. [Updated 2019 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538318/Malmberg H, Grahne B, Holopainen E, Binder E.Ipratropium (Atrovent) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis of elderly patients. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 8(4):273-6.Meltzer EO.The treatment of vasomotor rhinitis with intranasal corticosteroids.World Allergy Organ J. 2(8):166–179. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181af7c93Horak F.Effectiveness of twice daily azelastine nasal spray in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 4(5):1009–1022. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3229Additional ReadingAmerican Family Physician.Vasomotor Rhinitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Long A, McFadden C, DeVine D, et al.Management of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: Summary. 2002 May. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 54. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11954/Bernstein JA.Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):102–105. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a8e389Leader P, Geiger Z.Vasomotor Rhinitis. [Updated 2019 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547704/Ellis AK, Keith PK.Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 6(3):215-20.Kaliner MA.Classification of Nonallergic Rhinitis Syndromes With a Focus on Vasomotor Rhinitis, Proposed to be Known henceforth as Nonallergic Rhinopathy.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):98–101. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a9d55bPattanaik D, Lieberman P.Vasomotor rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 10(2):84-91.Incorvaia C, Fuiano N, Canonica GW.Seeking allergy when it hides: which are the best fitting tests?.World Allergy Organ J. 6(1):11. doi:10.1186/1939-4551-6-11Banov C, Lieberman, P.Efficacy of azelastine nasal spray in the treatment of vasomotor (perennial nonallergic) rhinitis.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.86(1): 28-35. doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62352-6Wahid NWB, Shermetaro C.Rhinitis Medicamentosa. [Updated 2019 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538318/Malmberg H, Grahne B, Holopainen E, Binder E.Ipratropium (Atrovent) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis of elderly patients. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 8(4):273-6.Meltzer EO.The treatment of vasomotor rhinitis with intranasal corticosteroids.World Allergy Organ J. 2(8):166–179. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181af7c93Horak F.Effectiveness of twice daily azelastine nasal spray in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 4(5):1009–1022. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3229
Long A, McFadden C, DeVine D, et al.Management of Allergic and Nonallergic Rhinitis: Summary. 2002 May. In: AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 54. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11954/
Bernstein JA.Characteristics of nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):102–105. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a8e389
Leader P, Geiger Z.Vasomotor Rhinitis. [Updated 2019 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547704/
Ellis AK, Keith PK.Nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 6(3):215-20.
Kaliner MA.Classification of Nonallergic Rhinitis Syndromes With a Focus on Vasomotor Rhinitis, Proposed to be Known henceforth as Nonallergic Rhinopathy.World Allergy Organ J. 2(6):98–101. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181a9d55b
Pattanaik D, Lieberman P.Vasomotor rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 10(2):84-91.
Incorvaia C, Fuiano N, Canonica GW.Seeking allergy when it hides: which are the best fitting tests?.World Allergy Organ J. 6(1):11. doi:10.1186/1939-4551-6-11
Banov C, Lieberman, P.Efficacy of azelastine nasal spray in the treatment of vasomotor (perennial nonallergic) rhinitis.Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.86(1): 28-35. doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62352-6
Wahid NWB, Shermetaro C.Rhinitis Medicamentosa. [Updated 2019 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538318/
Malmberg H, Grahne B, Holopainen E, Binder E.Ipratropium (Atrovent) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis of elderly patients. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 8(4):273-6.
Meltzer EO.The treatment of vasomotor rhinitis with intranasal corticosteroids.World Allergy Organ J. 2(8):166–179. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3181af7c93
Horak F.Effectiveness of twice daily azelastine nasal spray in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.Ther Clin Risk Manag. 4(5):1009–1022. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3229
American Family Physician.Vasomotor Rhinitis.
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