Nasal congestion, or a stuffed up nose, occurs when your nasal tissues are inflamed from infections,allergies, or other irritants.This can cause excessive secretions from the sinuses that block your nasal passages.
Learn about common causes of nasalcongestionand how you can treat it at home.
- Infections:Viral infections—such as theflu,common cold,respiratory syncytial virusinfection, andCOVID-19—can cause a stuffed up nose.
- Allergies:Allergicreactions topollen, pet dander, dust mites, ormoldcan cause a stuffy nose.Hay fever, also calledallergic rhinitis, is also a common cause.
- Sinusitis:Inflammation of the sinuses, orsinusitis, can be acute or chronic and cause symptoms such as a stuffy orrunny noseandheadache.
- 刺激:Environmental pollutants,cigarettesmoke, and certain fragrances can irritate the nasal mucosa, causing a stuffy nose.
- Nasal polyps:Polyps are fleshy painless growths that can develop on the lining of the mucosa inside your nose or sinuses.
- Hormones:In some cases, nasal congestion can be caused by hormonal changes caused bypregnancyas well asthyroid hormoneimbalance.
- Nonallergicrhinitis:Nonallergic rhinitis refers to nasal symptoms—sneezingand runny or stuffy nose—that occur in the absence of anallergyfor weeks to months at a time for at least a year.
- Other causes:
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Stress
- Dry, windy weather
- Spicy foods
- Sleep apnea
- Certain medications
- Rebound nasal congestion due to nose drops
How do you treat a stuffy nose?
Treatment of a stuffed up nose depends on the underlying cause. For example, you may need to avoid allergens or other triggers if they are causing your symptoms. If thyroid hormone problems or medications are causing your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe treatment. Do not adjust your medications or start taking any new medications without talking to your doctor.
Here are tips to recover from a stuffy nose:
- Rest:Get enough rest so that you can recover faster.
- Plenty of fluids:Drink water,green tea, and other fluids to stay hydrated. Many people report that sipping chicken soup can help relieve congestion.
- Saline nasal drops:Over-the-counter(OTC) saline nasal drops can help loosenmucusand relieve stuffiness.
- Humidifier:Since dry air can worsen symptoms, try using a humidifier to increase the moisture in your room.
- Petroleum jelly:Apply a little petroleum jelly under your nose to get relief from raw skin or irritation around the nostrils.
- Antihistamines:OTC antihistamines may provide relief from nasalallergies. Avoid using these in infants and young children without consulting a pediatrician.
- Warm bath:Inhaling steam from a warm bath can help thin out the mucus in your nose and encourage draining.
- OTCpainmedications:Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs, such asacetaminophenoribuprofen, as well as antiallergics can help relievepainand swelling.
When to contact a doctor
In some cases, a stuffy nose may be a sign of a serious infection such asCOVID-19. Talk to a doctor if you notice:
- Worsening or persistent symptoms even after 10 days
- Highfever
- Trouble sleeping
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath或困难breathing
- Chest painor pressure
- Yellow, green, or bloody nasal discharge
- Severeheadacheor pain over your sinuses
- Poor feeding, drowsiness, or inconsolable crying in infants and children
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Medically Reviewed on2/3/2022
References
Image Source:
梅奥Clinic. Nasal congestion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nasal-congestion/basics/causes/sym-20050644
Mount Sinai. Stuffy or runny nose – adult. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/stuffy-or-runny-nose-adult
梅奥Clinic. Nasal congestion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nasal-congestion/basics/causes/sym-20050644
Mount Sinai. Stuffy or runny nose – adult. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/stuffy-or-runny-nose-adult
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