The nose is a highly vascular structure. A blocked, stuffy, or congested nose is caused by dilated blood vessels in the membranes lining the inside of your nostrils. This leads to excess mucous production in the nose, making it difficult to breathe.
What are the causes of the nasal block?
The nasal block can be a fixed block like a block that you may experience all throughout the day or a variable block
Fixed Nasal block can be due to
1. A deviated nasal septum ( Bend nose)
2. Chronic sinusitis
3. Nasal polyps
4. Foreign body inside the nose
5. Mass/ Tumor inside the nose
Variable nasal block (Nasal block on and off)
1. Common Cold/flu
2. Allergies
3. Breathing cold/ hot air
4. Stress-induced
5. Alcohol consumption
6. Smoking
7. Overuse of nasal drops ( decongestants)
Normally, when you lie down, blood flow to the upper part of your body increases, mainly into your head and nasal passageways. Increased blood flow can dilate the vessels inside your nose, causing congestion or making it worse.
What are the symptoms of nasal congestion?
Nasal congestion may not always be due to a blocked nose. It can also present as
1. Excessive mucous production
2. Sinus / facial pain
3. Breathlessness
4. Stuffy nose
Important note
A stuffy nose could just be an annoyance for children and adults.
Children and infants are obligatory nasal breathers, which means they must constantly breathe through the nose because they are less skilled in how to breathe via the mouth. Hence, nasal congestion can be serious in children, whose sleep is disturbed by their congestion, or in infants, who might have a hard time feeding as a result.
The symptoms of chronic sinusitis may include a blocked or stuffy nose that causes difficulty breathing through your nose and pain and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead.
Also, nasal congestion and a runny nose are common COVID-19 symptoms, particularly in the omicron period.
hot shower or inhaling steam from a hot beverage like tea can help thin mucus and encourage it to drain from your nose. (Pour boiling water into a large bowl. Cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl, and breathe in the steam).
Be hydrated at all times. Drink plenty of fluids.
Use a natural decongestant (As suggested by your doctor)
Apply a warm compress to your cheeks.
Run a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier by your bed to thin the mucus and encourage it to drain. Running a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer in your home or office helps
Put an extra pillow under the head end of the bed, so that the head end of the mattress is relatively higher than the foot end. Sleeping in this inclined position helps gravity drain the mucous to the throat and improves venous blood drainage. Avoid keeping the pillow just under the head because this will cause the neck to bend forward and prevents mucous from draining into the throat.
Put an extra pillow under the head end of the bed, so that the head end of the mattress is relatively higher than the foot end. Sleeping in this inclined position helps gravity drain the mucous to the throat and improves venous blood drainage. Avoid keeping the pillow just under the head because this will cause the neck to bend forward and prevents mucous from draining into the throat.
INCORRECT METHOD
CORRECT METHOD
- Dr. Prashanth R Reddy
“E.N.T. health – ENTry for better senses”.
