is it normal to have a constant cold?

[loren1987]

I am 21 years old and in good health, apart from the fact that i seem to have a constant cold!! not so much the headaches ect but my nose is always snotty!!
My partner gets wound up because there is so much tissue lying about as im constantly blowing my nose. I have no pets so I know its not an allergy from animals.
Any ideas what it could be?

[Blackthorn]

Get some allergy tests, as a start try cutting out dairy stuff, or avoiding dusty atmospheres, I was going to say kill the cat or the budgie but I see you have no pets. It could also be caused by some cleaning chemicals or paint. Bed bugs are another possibility, try hoovering your mattress and turning it over every week and change your pillows frequently. In my case we don't know what causes it and I've put up with it for years.

[Jugglering]

Yep, sounds like an allergy to something - probably dustmites.... ask your GP to be tested for rhinitus or just google it and see if that matches your symptoms. My partner suffers from it and it was only when we removed the old dusty furniture, mattress, sofa, carpet etc from our house that his symptoms were relieved.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

No cold ever lasts longer than 10 days. If you suffer symptoms beyond that period, one of the following must be true:

(a) you've caught another cold, with a different form of the cold virus (or, more accurately, of the group of cold viruses) ;

(b) you've acquired a secondary infection ; or

(c) you've not got a cold; it's an allergic reaction to something.

[Buenchico]

(a) is unlikely and, while it might explain a slightly prolonged period of symptom, it wouldn't explain continuous symptoms ;

(b) is a possibility but secondary infections tend to attack your lungs and bronchial tracts, rather than your nasal passages ;

(c) is by far the most likely. Allergies can spring up 'out of the blue'. A friend of mine complained about his continual summer cold but I told him that he'd got hay fever. He refused to believe me, on the grounds that he was over 60 and had never had hay fever in his life. However, his doctor agreed with me. (I'm not suggesting that you've got hay fever. My point is simply that you can suddenly become allergic to something which never used to be a problem for you). The most common causes of such allergies include house dust mites (which even the cleanest houses have and are always present in bedding which isn't brand new) and chemicals used in furnishings. (It's quite common, for example, for people to start suffering apparent 'colds' when they bring a new sofa into the house).

You need to consult a doctor but, while you're waiting for an appointment, I suggest getting some non-prescription antihistamine tablets from your local pharmacy. (Don't pay 'over the odds' for the big brand names. Just ask for 'Loratadine').

Chris

[Schutzengel]

Loratadine is brilliant. I have found it really works, and it was recommended by my doctor.

[Blackthorn]

Buenchico has a point there about furniture, I believe my problem stems from either the foam filling used in soft furnishings or that plastic imitation leather effect stuff used on furniture and in cars.
For the record I've tried every anti-histamine I could get my hands on - a waste of money.

[jno]

antihistamines have helped me (just Boots' own brand). jno jnr seems to have constant colds too, or rather different ones but one a month; he's investigating tonsillectomy, which is the nuclear option but it would greatly improve his life if it worked. Doesn't seem to be allergy.

[sqad617]

By "snotty" do you mean watery or thick....important difference.?

[loren1987]

Bit of both really, some times its watery and other times its more thick
Thanks for your answers by the way guys, i hoovered my matress last night and changed the sheet but it actually made me a bit worse. I woke up this morning really bunged up and i needed my inhaler all through the night aswell and to top it all off, i had a gammy eye!!

[sqad617]

OK......thick sometimes......white and thick or coloured and thick?

[Panic Button]

Sounds like sinusitis

[rov1200]

If the mucus is clear its not usually an infection but could be due to polyps. If the mucus is coloured its usually a sign of infection, probably sinuses which are cavities in the nose. Some people regularly wash out their sinuses with salty water to keep them clear.
A visual inspection by a doctor will confirm if you have polyps. They also cause a blockage in the nostril preventing you from breathing in.

[madmaggot]

Unless your vacuum cleaner has a hepa filter you will worsen dust allergy symptoms by using the vacuum cleaner. I would say that this confirms a dust allergy.

[Kleiber]

Could be perennial rhinitis - that causes a constant runny nose. See your GP - a steroid spray might help. K

[alishalexy]

Try taking a vitaman c suppliment daily, try taking some herbal teas, go to holland and barratt or check on the net which teas to drink.
You may be alergic to something, phlem can be caused by dairy foods, cheese is the worst, milk, chocolates can cause it. So pizza'a a no no. I feel for your partner no offence but I couldn't handle a partner who was having the cold all the time.
You may also have hayfever. Try cutting out all refined and crap foods. It will make a difference. Have more fruit and veg fresh one's in your diet.