Nasal congestion

Nasal congestion is usually caused by a virusand typically resolves spontaneously within a week. It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, and stuffy nose.

Nasal congestion has many causes and can range from a mild annoyance to a life-threatening condition. The newborn infant is an obligate nose breather (must breathe through the nose). Nasal congestion in an infant in the first few months of life can interfere with nursing and cause life-threatening respiratory distress. Nasal congestion in older children and adolescents is often just an annoyance but can cause other difficulties.

Nasal congestion can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with sleep apnea. In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoidshas caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels (hypoxia) and right-sided heart failure. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils.

Blocked nose can also causes mild facial and head pain and discomfort.

Common causes

• Allergic reaction
• Common coldor influenza.
• Hayfever, allergic reaction to pollen or grass.
• Sinusitis(sinus infection)
• Many women suffer from nasal congestion during pregnancy due to the increased amount of blood flowing through the body.

Home care

Drink plenty of fluids, more than usual. Water, fruit juice, teas, and carbonated drinks are recommended. Rest as much as possible. Increase air moisture with a vaporizer or humidifier.

Neither influenza nor the common cold can be cured with medication; however, nonprescription drugs, such as acetaminophen, decongestants, nasal spraysor drops, cough remedies (Cough/Cold Combinations - oral), and throat lozenges may provide some symptom relief. Furthermore, medications have recently been approved which, when started shortly after the onset of symptoms, may shorten the duration of influenza.

For a stuffy nose caused by hay fever, avoid exposure to as many allergens (such as pets, foods that cause allergic reaction, and dust) as possible. Antihistaminesand decongestants can provide significant symptom relief although they do not cure hay fever. Antihistamines may be given continuously during pollen season for optimum control of symptoms.

Topical decongestantsshould only be used for a maximum of 3 days in a row. If used longer than 3 days, rebound congestion may occur (also know as rhinitis medicamentosa).

For a baby too young to blow his or her nose, use an infant nasal aspirator. If mucus is thick and sticky, loosen it by putting 2 or 3 drops of salt solution (consisting of one-half teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water) into each nostril.

If the air in your home is dry, a humidifiershould be used.

Don't insert cotton swabs into a child's nostrils. Instead, catch the discharge outside the nostril on a tissue or swab, roll it around, and pull the discharge out of the nose. Petroleum jelly applied to the nasal openings (be sure not to block them) will help protect against irritation.

The ancient use of nasal irrigation, which originated from the Yogapractice of jala neti, is also said to help reduce nasal congestions. It involves rinsing the nasal cavityregularly with salty water.

Call your health care provider if

• the stuffy nose is accompanied by swelling of the face (forehead, eyes, side of the nose, or cheek) or blurred vision.
• there is increased throat pain, or white or yellow spots on the tonsils or other parts of the throat.
• there are coughing episodes that last longer that 10 days or if the cough produces yellow-green or gray sputum.
• a stuffy nose lasts longer than two weeks and impairs lifestyle.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal+congestion Wikipedia article Nasal congestion.