John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and is an adjunct assistant professor at New York University Medical Center.
Nasal congestion is when the tissue lining inside of the nose swells because of inflamed blood vessels. Inflammation is the body's natural response to invaders like bacteria, viruses, other germs, and dust. Nasal congestion usually is a reaction to the common cold, allergies, environmental irritants, the flu, or sinus infection. The condition may or may not include a runny nose.
Nasal congestion usually disappears on its own in about a week, and there are many ways to manage the condition at home. Nasal congestion that lasts longer than three weeks may require medical attention.
This article covers the symptoms, types, and causes of nasal congestion; diagnosis and treatment of nasal congestion, and when to get help for nasal congestion.
Symptoms of nasal congestion include:
The most common causes of nasal congestion are:
The common cold and flu are caused by viruses that spread via air droplets from people's noses and mouths as they sneeze or cough. These viruses can irritate the nasal passages and cause inflammation leading to nasal congestion.
A sinus infection is caused by fluid buildup in sinuses, which are air pockets in the face. The fluid can become a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria, which can also irritate the nose.
Other possible causes of nasal congestion include:
The following medications can cause nasal congestion:
Remedies for treating nasal congestion at home include:
If nasal congestion lasts longer than three weeks, it's advised to seek medical attention so the underlying cause can be diagnosed.
If left untreated, chronic nasal congestion (nasal congestion that lasts longer than three weeks) could cause or mask more serious conditions like:
Chronic (long-term) nasal congestion may lead to:
If you seek medical attention for nasal congestion, a healthcare professional will likely test for allergy or infection using the following:
If the nasal congestion lasts for longer than three weeks, it's advised to see a healthcare provider.
Medical attention is also necessary if the following symptoms appear with nasal congestion:
Nasal congestion is when tissue lining the nose swells because of inflamed blood vessels. Symptoms of nasal congestion include runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, and loss of smell. The common cold, flu, and sinus infection are the most likely causes of nasal congestion. It's easily treated at home.
If nasal congestion includes swelling of the head, a head injury, non-white or non-yellow discharge, blurred vision, or fever, it's advised to seek medical attention immediately.
Nasal congestion can be uncomfortable, but it normally disappears on its own in about a week. With some simple home remedies, like warm (not hot) steam from a shower, drinking fluids, and staying elevated, you can be back in top shape in no time.
If your nasal congestion is long-lasting, know that there is hope. Allergies, bacteria, and other conditions are preventable and treatable. And even when nasal congestion is a side effect of medication, there are treatments that can help.
Nasal congestion is a result of inflamed blood vessels inside the nose's tissue lining. Inflammation is the body's natural response to threats like bacteria, viruses, or allergens. As viruses cause colds and flus that are spread through sneezing, coughing, and surfaces, the nasal passages become irritated and produce mucus.
Remedies include drinking clear fluids to thin out mucus, placing a warm and wet washcloth on the face, sitting in warm (but not hot) steam or vapor, staying elevated instead of lying down, using a saline spray, using a nasal decongestant spray for no longer than three days, taking OTC medications, and using nasal strips. Most nasal congestion should fade in about a week.
Nasal congestion that occurs with a head injury, swelling of the face, odd-colored mucus, dizziness, a smelly discharge, or spots in the throat requires medical attention immediately. If nasal congestion lasts longer than three weeks, it could be masking a chronic condition like unknown allergies, an immune system deficiency, or bacterial infection. Chronic nasal congestion could also be a sign of nasal polyps.
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By Neha Kashyap Neha is a New York-based health journalist who has written for WebMD, ADDitude, HuffPost Life, and dailyRx News. Neha enjoys writing about mental health, elder care, innovative health care technologies, paying for health care, and simple measures that we all can take to work toward better health.
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