Description and Possible Medical Problems
Frequently, a cold that starts out with a stuffy nose will end with a runny nose, also called rhinorrhea. It’s the body’s way of ridding itself of the cold germs and viruses that are on their last legs as you begin to feel better.
There’s not much you can do for a runny nose except wait it out. Some people use antihistamines, which cause mucus to thicken, but the downside of using these preparations is that your cold may stick around longer than it would otherwise. Thickened mucus helps to keep germs and viruses in the body longer, and just when you’re feeling better, a virus or germ can get its second wind and attack again.
And the older you get, the longer a cold tends to stick around. So it’s a good idea to avoid using antihistamines for a runny nose and drink lots of fluids, which will hasten the end of your runny nose.
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