Motion-related rhinitis?

My mother has chronic rhinitis, non-allergic as far as we can tell, but as she now has COPD, it's gone from being a nuisance to a danger.

When she has been relatively immobile for some time, there's no problem. But when she starts moving, her nose starts running like someone has turned on a faucet. For example, if we're watching television in the evening, she's fine, but when she gets up to go to bed, the runny nose begins and is really out of control--what doesn't come out the nose becomes post-nasal drip, and that's really, really bad for her chest. Or it strangles her, and she starts coughing badly, which exhausts her quickly.

None of the antihistamines work for very long, and they're really not recommended anyway for someone with emphysema. She's tried nasal sprays as well--I don't have a full list of everything we've tried and tossed, I'm afraid.

Is there such a thing as movement-related rhinitis? Why does movement trigger such an outpouring? More to the point, does anyone have any suggestions--treatments, meds, anything?

[National Jewish]

It is most likely that this is vasomotor rhinitis, which is a nonallergic inflammation of the lining of the nose that actually gets worse when there is activity, stress, spicy foods or anything that increases the blood flow to the nose.  I would suggest again speaking to the physician about using nasal steroid sprays to control this.  It will not get rid of the problem, but should be able to control the bad symptoms you are describing.

[Smithcraft]

Many thanks, that's very helpful information!