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Jai Ganesh

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Nasal block

Nasal block

Gist

To unclog your nose, use steam inhalation, saline nasal sprays/washes, or a humidifier to moisten passages, drink plenty of fluids, apply a warm compress to your face, or try gentle sinus massage techniques; elevating your head while sleeping also helps, and for quick relief, decongestant sprays (use sparingly) or oral meds can work, but always prioritize hydration and natural methods first.

To cure a blocked nose, use home remedies like steam inhalation, warm compresses, and saline rinses to loosen mucus, stay hydrated with fluids, and use a humidifier to add moisture; for faster relief, try decongestant sprays (use sparingly) or medications, but see a doctor if symptoms persist as it could be allergies or infection. 

Summary

If you have the common cold or flu, the uncomfortable stuffed-up feeling you are experiencing is called nasal congestion, also known as a stuffy nose. When you’re all stuffed up, the simple act of breathing can be difficult. On top of that, you might feel tired and just plain dreary.

But what is nasal congestion, exactly? Nasal congestion (or “stuffy nose”) is often called “rhinitis” by healthcare providers. “Rhino” is a Greek prefix meaning the nose, and “–itis” refers to inflammation. Therefore, rhinitis is the inflammation of the linings of the nasal cavity.

Symptoms of Nasal Congestion

When your nose feels stuffy, you may find it hard to breathe. The inflammation leads to swollen nasal passages that constrict air flow, making it harder to breathe through your nose. The inflammation and swelling also makes it harder to get mucus out of your nose, so you may also have a build-up of mucus, as well. It causes you to feel stuffed up, which is why it’s also referred to as a stuffy nose.

The congested feeling may also be accompanied by other cold symptoms, like runny nose or headache. These symptoms can make it hard for you to perform your routine activities, and overall make you feel tired.

What Causes Nasal Congestion?

You may think your stuffy nose is the result of too much thick mucus. However, nasal congestion usually occurs because of a swelling of the tissues that line your nose.

This swelling happens when blood vessels in your nasal tissues become dilated, to get the immune response cells to the nose to fight the virus that has entered the body.

Nasal congestion causes include:

* A Virus. The viruses that cause the common cold or flu often enter the body directly through your nose. Once there, they begin to multiply inside the lining of your nasal passages. The body’s response to the infection leads to inflammation that brings nasal congestion.
* Allergies. If you experience certain allergies, you may find that your nose is frequently stuffy. Certain triggers, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, can cause an allergic response, which causes swelling of your nasal tissues and leads to nasal congestion.

How Long Does Nasal Congestion Last?

If your nasal congestion is from a cold or flu, it will likely last as long your cold or flu (anywhere from five to 10 days) or even longer. If your nasal congestion is the result of allergies, it may last longer, depending on your exposure to that particular allergen.

How to Treat Nasal Congestion Symptoms

When you have nasal congestion, it can stop you in your tracks. Constant sniffling or mouth breathing may make it more difficult to focus on the day ahead of you. While there’s no cure for nasal congestion from the cold or flu, you can treat the symptoms so you can feel better while your body rids itself of the cold or flu virus.

Many over-the-counter cold and flu medicines treat multiple symptoms. Make sure to identify what other symptoms you may be experiencing along with nasal congestion, if any, so you can choose the product that’s right for your situation.

Details

Nasal congestion is the partial or complete blockage of nasal passages, leading to impaired nasal breathing, usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflammation of blood vessels, or an excess of mucus in the sinuses caused by illnesses like the common cold.

Background

In about 85% of cases, nasal congestion leads to mouth breathing rather than nasal breathing. According to Jason Turowski, MD of the Cleveland Clinic, "we are designed to breathe through our noses from birth—it's the way humans have evolved." This is referred to as "obligate nasal breathing."

Nasal congestion can interfere with hearing and speech. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome. In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoids has caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and hypoxia. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils; however, the problem often relapses later in life due to craniofacial alterations from chronic nasal congestion.

Causes

* Allergies, like hay fever, allergic reaction to pollen or grass
* Common cold, influenza or COVID-19
* Rhinitis medicamentosa, a condition of rebound nasal congestion brought on by extended use of topical decongestants (e.g., oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, and naphazoline nasal sprays)
* Sinusitis or sinus infection
* Narrow or collapsing nasal valve
* Pregnancy may cause women to suffer from nasal congestion due to the increased amount of blood flowing through the body.
* Nasal polyps
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (theorized to cause chronic rhinosinusitis- the "airway reflux paradigm").

Nasal obstruction

Nasal obstruction characterized by insufficient airflow through the nose can be a subjective sensation or the result of objective pathology. It is difficult to quantify by subjective complaints or clinical examinations alone, hence both clinicians and researchers depend both on concurrent subjective assessment and on objective measurement of the nasal airway.

Prevalence of kyphosis has been linked to nasal obstruction in a study.

Treatment

According to WebMD, congestion can be addressed through the use of a humidifier, warm showers, drinking fluids, using a neti pot, using a nasal saline spray, and sleeping with one's head elevated. It also recommends several over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines. A 2012 study concluded that combining nasal sprays with "nasal breathing exercises" (NBE) led to improvement of symptoms. Though it may seem an odd recommendation, crying may also be helpful.

The Cleveland Clinic also states that congestion may be a sign of a deviated septum, a condition that needs to be addressed by a doctor.

Additional Information

Nasal congestion happens when something irritates tissues lining the inside of your nose. The irritation sets off a chain reaction of inflammation, swelling and mucus production, making it hard to take in air through your nose. Left untreated, nasal congestion may cause sinusitis, nasal polyps or middle ear infections.

What is nasal congestion (stuffy nose)?

Nasal congestion happens when something irritates tissues lining the inside of your nose. The irritation sets off a chain reaction of inflammation, swelling and mucus production, making it hard to take in air through your nose. Nasal congestion typically clears after a few days, but congestion that lasts for a week or more may be a sign of an infection. Left untreated, nasal congestion may cause sinusitis, nasal polyps or middle ear infections.

How does nasal congestion affect my body?

A stuffy nose is nothing to sneeze at. If your nose is congested or stuffy, you may:

* Have trouble breathing through your nose.
* Have mucus flowing from your nose, also known as a runny nose.
* Start breathing through your mouth because you can’t take in air through your nose. This is mouth breathing.
* Babies who have nasal congestion may have trouble nursing or taking a bottle.

Sometimes, nasal congestion is the first sign your body is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Rarely, a tumor or polyp in your nose may make your nose feel congested.

Who does it affect?

At any given time, about 12% of the U.S. population has nasal congestion.

Symptoms and Causes:

What are nasal congestion symptoms?

Nasal congestion may cause additional symptoms such as:

* Sneezing.
* Cough.
* Headache.

What triggers nasal congestion?

The short answer is many things trigger nasal congestion. That’s because your nose is on the front line when it comes to protecting your body from intruders. Your nose takes in air that may carry dirt, particles and allergens. The inside of your nose houses a battalion of hair and cilia (tiny hair-like structures) that snare intruders, sending them to your nostrils. When you sneeze or blow your nose, you’re kicking intruders out of your system. Sometimes, your nose hair and cilia don’t catch all intruders. When that happens, the tissue lining the inside of your nose becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Then, your immune system kicks in, flooding your nose with mucus that’s intended to wash away intruders. Swollen nasal tissues and mucus combine to block your nose, making your condition worse.

What are the most common causes of nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion often happens with conditions such as rhinitis. There are two kinds of rhinitis — allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and nonallergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever is how your body reacts to allergens. Allergens are tiny particles in the air. Common allergens include:

* Pollen: When trees and plants bloom in the spring, summer and fall, they produce pollen that may make its way to your nose, setting off an allergic reaction.
* Dust mites: Even the cleanest environments may have dust mites that live in carpeting, furniture and bedding.
* Mold: Mold sends out spores that may cause allergic reactions.
* Pet dander: Some people are very allergic to dander from furry friends.

Nonallergic rhinitis

Nonallergic rhinitis — and nasal congestion — happens when inflammation makes fluid buildup in your nasal tissues, making them swell. This inflammation may happen because you have a viral illness or you’ve been exposed to certain triggers. Triggers may be:

* Environmental: Stress, exposure to smoke, paint fumes or spicy food are examples of substances that can cause nasal congestion.
* Medications: You can develop nasal congestion if you take certain medications for high blood pressure or pain.
* Hormonal: Hormonal changes like going through puberty or being pregnant may trigger nasal congestion.
* Infections: Sinus infections (sinusitis) or the common cold may cause nasal congestion.
* Enlarged adenoids: Adenoids are glands located just behind your nasal passage. They help trap germs. Sometimes, adenoids swell, causing nasal congestion.

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