Everything you need to know about nasal congestion and ways to treat it
Nasal congestion or nasal congestion is a common problem that is caused by various diseases, conditions and environmental factors.... In most cases, nasal congestion improves with time and with the help of home remedies.... But if it continues for a long time, it needs drug treatment.... In today's article GCORP magazine LLC, an explanation for you We will tell you what factors cause a runny nose and what are the solutions to this problem... Stay with us.
Table of contents
- Symptoms of stuffy nose
- When to see a doctor
- Causes of stuffy nose
- 1....allergic rhinitis
- 2....non-allergic rhinitis
- Methods to treat nasal congestion in babies, children and adults
- 1.... drug therapy
- Treatment of allergic rhinitis
- Treatment of non-allergic rhinitis
- 2....surgery
- 3....home treatment of congestion Nose
- Treatment of allergic rhinitis
- Children
- 1.... drug therapy
- Methods to prevent nasal congestion
- Frequently asked questions
- Final words
Symptoms of nasal congestion
Nasal congestion is often a symptom of other problems such as a cold or a sinus infection... Usually, people who experience this annoying problem also have other symptoms, which include:
- Running nose
- Sinus pain
- increasing mucous secretions
- Swelling of nasal tissue
- sneezing
- Cough
If you have such symptoms, be sure to consult an otolaryngologist.
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Time to see a doctor
If nasal congestion interferes with your daily activities or home remedies are not effective, consult your doctor.... It is necessary to see a doctor in the following situations:
- Having a nose cap lasts more than 2 weeks.
- In addition to nasal congestion, high fever lasts more than three days.
- Experience symptoms such as fever, sinus pain and green discharge from the nose.
- You have asthma or emphysema or you have a weak immune system.
Also, if you have recently suffered a blow to the head and now have bloody discharge from your nose, or you have persistent clear discharge, you should see a doctor immediately.
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Reasons of nasal congestion
There are many reasons for a runny nose.... because when it comes to protecting the body against pathogens, the nose is at the forefront.... Your nose absorbs air that may contain various pollutants, particles and allergens.
Inside the nose, there are fine hairs that trap foreign particles so that you can later sneeze them out of the body.... Sometimes, the hairs in the nose cannot absorb all the particles.... As a result, the inner lining of the nose becomes inflamed and swollen and the immune system tries to wash away the secretions by increasing the annoying mucus... Nasal swelling and increased mucus production go hand in hand and cause nasal congestion..
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Nasal congestion often occurs with problems such as rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa). There are two types of rhinitis: allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and non-allergic rhinitis.
1.... allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis occurs when the body's immune system reacts strongly to allergens or allergens in the air. The most common allergens are:
- Plant Pollen: Pollen produced by different plants can enter your nose and cause an allergic reaction.
- Dust Mites: Dust mites are microscopic creatures that live in carpets, furniture and bedding... Ticks can exist even in the cleanest environments.
- Mold: Molds release spores that may lead to allergic reactions.
- Pet Dandruff: Some people are very allergic to pet dander.
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2... Non-allergic rhinitis
Non-allergic rhinitis occurs when inflammation causes the accumulation of fluid in the nasal tissues and their swelling.. Usually, this inflammation occurs due to a viral disease or exposure to some stimuli... These stimuli include:
- Environmental triggers: Stress and smoke are the most common factors that can cause nasal congestion.
- Drugs: Some pain relievers or blood pressure lowering drugs play a role in nasal congestion.
- Hormones: During puberty and pregnancy, hormonal changes cause nasal congestion.
- Infection: cold and sinus infection (sinusitis) are common causes of nasal congestion.
- Swollen Adenoids: Adenoids are glands located just behind the nasal passages that trap germs.... Sometimes, swollen adenoids cause a runny nose.
How to diagnose the cause of nasal congestion
By examining the symptoms and examining the nose, ears and throat, the doctor can diagnose the cause of nasal congestion.... In some cases, the doctor uses the following methods to rule out other possible causes:
- Throat culture: This test is performed by drawing a sterile cotton swab to the back of the throat and checking the presence of bacteria in the throat.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: Your doctor may recommend a CT scan to look for blockages in the nose.
- Nasal endoscopy: The doctor examines the inside of the nose using a special camera.
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Ways to treat nasal congestion in babies, children and adults
The doctor treats nasal congestion according to its cause.
1... drug therapy
There are many medicines to treat nasal congestion, some of which you can get without a doctor's prescription..
Treatment of allergic rhinitis
People with allergic rhinitis may use antihistamines or corticosteroids to relieve inflamed nasal tissues... Other medications used to treat this condition include:
- Nasal decongestant sprays: These medicines relieve nasal congestion, but you should not use them for more than three days.... because long-term use may aggravate nasal congestion.
- Anticholinergic nasal sprays: These drugs reduce nasal mucus.
Treatment of non-allergic rhinitis
If the stuffy nose is not related to allergies, you can use the following medicines to fix it:
- Antihistamines: These drugs make the body's immune system less reactive to allergens and other stimuli.
- Corticosteroid nasal spray: This drug helps reduce inflammation.
- Ipratropium bromide spray: This spray can relieve a runny nose.
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2.... Surgery
If the symptoms caused by a polyp in the sinuses or nasal passage cannot be relieved by other methods, the doctor may remove it with surgery. Also, if there is a tumor in the nasal passage, the doctor will perform a biopsy to determine whether it is malignant or benign and may recommend surgery to remove it.
3... home treatment of nasal congestion
The following home remedies help relieve nasal congestion:
- Use a neti pot and saline solution to wash the inside of your nose.
- When you sleep, raise your head... Place one or two extra pillows under your head so that the mucus is easier to get out of the nasal passages.
- Drink mint tea. Put a teaspoon of dry mint in a glass of boiling water and brew for 10 minutes.
- Eat chicken soup... Hot food like soup thins mucus and reduces nasal congestion.
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Treatment of nasal congestion in babies and children
A runny nose is common among babies and children. Since babies breathe mostly through their nose in the first few months of life, nasal congestion can potentially interfere with their feeding and cause breathing problems.
Ways to prevent nasal congestion
Sincenasal congestion has many causes, it is difficult to prevent it... However, you can reduce the incidence of this complication by following the following tips:
- If you have a runny nose during certain seasons, talk to your doctor about seasonal allergies.... Your doctor can help you identify potential allergens and treat your symptoms.
- Protect yourself from viral infections such as colds and flu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When your nose is stuffy, you can't get air into your lungs through your nose, so you breathe through your mouth.... You may also have a runny nose.... Some babies with stuffy noses have trouble feeding.
Hormone Related Changes With pregnancy, it causes swelling of the nose and increased mucus production.... In addition, increased blood circulation during this period can swell the small vessels inside the nose and cause it to clog.
A neti pot is a teapot-like tool that you can use to wash your nose... It is better to consult a doctor about how to use this device.
Endword
Nasal congestion is a common problem that occurs for a variety of reasons such as colds, seasonal allergies, hormonal changes, and the use of certain medications. This problem rarely affects health negatively and usually improves immediately with proper treatment. If nasal congestion persists for more than two weeks, consult your doctor to be checked for infection. href="https://gcorp.cc/">GCORP LLC Make an appointment or consult online with the best otolaryngologist.
Sources: webmd, healthline, my.clevelandclinic
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