What is a runny nose?
A runny nose is never any fun, especially when it comes with a cold or allergies. It can interrupt your daily life, making you reach for the tissue box every few minutes. But what is a runny nose exactly? A runny nose is a nasal discharge of mucus. Your doctor might use the term “rhinorrhea” to diagnose the runny nose. “Rhino” is a Greek prefix meaning “nose,” and “–rrhea” means “flow” or “discharge.”
What causes a runny nose?
A runny nose is the result of excess nasal mucus production, leading to watery nasal secretions that discharge from the nostrils or drip down into the throat. While a cold or the flu is often the culprit, a runny nose can also be the result of allergies.
