NASAL CONGESTION

Nasal Congestion – General Information

Nasal Congestion – Symptoms

The most common causes of Nasal Congestion like colds and allergies are not life-threatening. But it can also be an initial symptom for a number of serious illnesses, which can involve cancer or aggressive infections involving the nose, sinuses, and facial bones. Allergy reactions usually cause inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages and can close the small openings from the nose and the sinuses. The intermittent inflammation of nasal passages, caused by allergy reactions, encourages mucous production and promotes bacteria and fungus growth. Individuals with weakened immune systems are at risk since they are prone to infections of all kinds. Nasal Congestion usually causes symptoms of pressure, tenderness, or pain in the frontal sinus area (above the eyebrows) and the maxillary sinus (above the upper, side teeth). Symptoms can also include nasal stuffiness sometimes accompanied by a thick yellow or green discharge, bad breath, postnasal drip and also an irritating dry cough.

In some the disease can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may also interfere with sleep, causing snoring, and can be associated with episodes of no breathing during the sleep, sleep apnea. At children, the disease from enlarged adenoids causes chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and right-sided heart failure. The problem is treated after surgery, by removing the adenoids and tonsils. In any case of acute Nasal Congestion that has not responded to the medication or conservative measures for 2 weeks or longer and has no obvious explanation, you should see your doctor as soon as you can.

Nasal Congestion – Treatment

To relieve a Nasal Congestion, there are some types of medicines called over-the-counter medicines and most of the times can help. These medicines include decongestants and antihistamines, which usually help. Decongestants relieve congestion by shrinking the blood vessels in the lining of the nose. They only help with stuffiness, not a runny nose or other symptoms. Decongestant nasal sprays and drops should not be used for more than 3 days, because then they can make the congestion worse. Antihistamines reduce the amount of mucus, and the patients have to be careful, because some antihistamines make people drowsy. These medicines can make breathing more comfortable, but do not treat the underlying condition. Many over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines contain multiple ingredients, so look carefully to see what is in the one you choose. Medicines are not the only way to relieve a stuffy or runny nose. Often, gentler solutions are better.

To thin the mucus, which can help the patient breathe easier and get his nasal secretion back to normal, there are some steps that can help improve the congestion: first, is recommended to use gentle saline nasal sprays, then try to increase the humidity in the air with a vaporizer or a humidifier, and also drink extra fluids like hot tea, broth, and even a chicken soup can be helpful. For a baby too young to blow his or her nose, an infant nasal aspirator can help remove the mucus. If the mucus is sticky and thick, loosen it by putting 2 or 3 saline nose drops into each nostril, and try not to insert any cotton swabs into the 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. Nasal Congestion is often worse when you are lying down. Keep upright, or at least keep the head elevated. This is especially helpful for young children. You can also use adhesive strips that can be placed on the nose when you are congested. These can help a patient with Nasal Congestion wide the nasal passages, making breathing easier.

To treat this disease there are also some products that may help reduce the symptoms. Those products include: aspirin (Bayer, Ecotrin, Bufferin), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol, can reduce the pain due to sinus pressure), topical nasal decongestants such as asoxymetazoline (Afrin) and phenylephrine (NeoSynephrine). These medicines may provide relief from Nasal Congestion, but they only be used for a few days. You can also use oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and can help relieve the symptoms, while antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), brompheniramine (Dimetapp) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) can help the excess mucous. There is also Guaifenesin (Robitussin), which is an expectorant used in the case of patients who have Nasal Congestion to remove mucous in the sinuses, lungs, and ears. Surgery may be used to unblock the sinuses and drain thick secretions if drug therapy is ineffective or if structural abnormalities are involved.