Nose - congested

Alternative names

Nasal congestion; Nasal congestion; Congested nose; Stuffy nose

Definition

Many people think that a nose gets congested (stuffy) from too much thick mucus. This is incorrect. A congested nose happens when the membranes lining the nose become swollen from inflamed blood vessels. Congestion can be caused by most of the same reasons as a runny nose - including colds, allergies, sinus infections, and the flu. Overuse of some nasal sprays or drops can also lead to congestion.

Considerations

A stuffy nose is usually caused by a virus and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.

Newborn infants 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 breathing problems. 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 episodes of not breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoids has caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and right-sided heart failure. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils.

Common Causes

• Common cold or the flu - often accompanied by a clear, watery discharge plus fever, cough, headache, joint aches, muscle aches, or sore throat
  
• Hay fever - often accompanied by a clear, watery discharge, itching eyes, and sneezing
  
• Sinus infection - often accompanied by thick, cloudy, yellow-green nasal discharge, and pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones that worsens when bending the head forward
  

Home Care

To relieve a runny or stuffy nose, the following over-the-counter medicines may help:

• Decongestants- these may help 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- these may reduce the amount of mucus. 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.