Are you worried about your Nasal Congestion?
Nasal congestion has a wide range of causes. The most common cause of nasal congestion is infection from sinusitis, the common cold or flu but you may experience similar symptoms if you are allergic to pollen or animal hair. Even irritants that you experience in your everyday life such as, cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes or dust can also induce nasal congestion, in this case, it is known as vasomotor rhinitis.
If you are feeling unwell and struggling with nasal congestion there are medications available in most pharmacies, which could help relieve your discomfort, prior to seeking medical consultations.
- Try using a decongestant
- Blow your nose regularly to clear any mucus build up
- Try tissues with moisturiser to reduce any soreness around the nostril
- For babies or very young children it may be possible to extract mucus from the nose using a small, bulb-like syringe (Available in most pharmacies)
- Try sleeping using a pillow with a higher profile
- If you are suffering from an allergy, use antihistamine.
- Use hypoallergenic products and avoid allergy triggers where possible
In most cases, nasal congestion is rarely a sign of serious disease but will clear up on its own, usually within a couple of weeks. For children, nasal congestion can feel very uncomfortable particularly for younger babies who have not learned how to blow their nose. The condition often leads to a loss of sleep and general feeling of malaise. You should seek medical assistance if you or your child have experienced any of the following.
- Your nose is congested for longer than 10 days
- You also have a high fever
- Your nasal discharge is yellow or green and you are also experiencing pain in your sinuses in addition to fever
- You have blood in the nasal discharge
- The condition is disrupting your daily life
Here at VIDA we have expert clinicians on hand to help diagnose and treat your condition. To find out more about these services, we recommend visiting the following pages:
- Acute sinusitis (nasal and sinus infection)
- Alcohol
- Allergies
- Chronic sinusitis
- Churg-Strauss syndrome
- Common cold
- Decongestant nasal spray overuse
- Deviated septum
- Dry air
- Enlarged adenoids
- Food (especially spicy dishes)
- Foreign body in the nose
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)
- Hormonal changes
- Influenza (flu)
- Medications
- Nasal polyps
- Nonallergic rhinitis (chronic congestion or sneezing not related to allergies)
- Occupational asthma
- Pregnancy
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Sleep apnea
- Stress
- Thyroid disorders
- Tobacco smoke