Stuffy nose
A stuffy nose can be very uncomfortable. The nose is the olfactory organ and therefore also an important part of the respiratory tract. For this reason, a blocked nose can impede smelling and breathing (restricted nasal breathing). Usually swollen nasal mucous membranes (runny nose), foreign objects in the nose or regular use of nasal spray are the reasons for a blocked nose.
What is a stuffy nose?
The inhaled air enters the nasal cavity through the two nostrils. The nasal cavity is divided into left and right nasal cavities, which in turn are divided into three cartilaginous nasal conchae. There are also three nasal passages between these three nasal conchae. These nasal passages connect the nose to the throat and paranasal sinuses. In addition, the entire nose is lined with mucous membrane.
If the nasal mucous membranes are swollen or if there is a foreign body (polyp, tumor) in the nose, this makes breathing difficult or impeded and the sense of smell is impaired.
causes
If the nose is blocked, this can have different causes. For example, the nasal mucosa can swell up due to frequent cleaning of the nose when you have a cold.There can also be obstacles in the nose or throat area, such as nasal polyps .
The most common causes of a blocked nose are a runny nose and infections associated with a cold or flu .
This also includes sinusitis . Other causes of a stuffy nose can be allergies , such as hay fever , in addition to a curvature of the nasal septum .
Dry air, dust, certain toxins, or smoke can also cause nasal congestion. Frequent use of nasal drops can also be a cause. In contrast, benign or malignant nasal tumors are rather rare.
sinus infection
When to the doctor?
Only in a few cases does a doctor need to be consulted for a stuffy nose. The symptom usually occurs with a cold or the flu and is completely normal. A stuffy nose is therefore not a medically dangerous condition and does not necessarily require treatment. However, a doctor can prescribe medicines for the patient to clear the congestion in the nose and thus allow them to breathe freely.
A doctor should be consulted if nasal congestion occurs even when no illness is present. These can be polyps, which can be surgically removed by the doctor. Treatment with medication cannot take place. As a rule, people are particularly affected by a blocked nose in winter and when the air is dry. Treatment at home is carried out using various sprays, in most cases the symptom disappears on its own and does not require treatment.
If you are no longer able to breathe freely due to a blocked nose and blood is constantly running out of your nose, you should also see a doctor. This condition is unhealthy in the long run and must be treated.
symptoms and course
People with nasal congestion have trouble breathing through their nose. You find it difficult to breathe through your nose. Smelling is often restricted or not possible at all. If it is a blocked nose caused by a cold, the symptoms usually subside after the infection is over. Depending on how severely nasal breathing is restricted, symptoms such as snoring or even shortness of breath can occur.
Diagnose
A blocked nose does not always require a diagnosis by an ear, nose and throat doctor. A mild cold usually goes away on its own. However, if the symptoms occur over a longer period of time and get worse, a targeted diagnosis by a doctor makes sense.
A doctor will first ask a few questions, for example whether there are other symptoms or allergies or previous illnesses. The doctor will then examine your nose and sinuses. In some cases, blood tests, allergy tests and ultrasound and X-ray examinations are then necessary for diagnosis. If there is a suspicion that there are foreign objects in the nose, a nose examination can be useful.
complications
There are a number of complications associated with a stuffy nose. Patients with a blocked nose can suddenly develop a high fever and severe headaches and body aches. These symptoms indicate a real flu (influenza). With a blocked nose, the nasal mucosa usually swells and the passages to the paranasal sinuses can be completely blocked. Pathogens can spread unhindered and infections can develop. This can lead to sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses). The pathogen can also migrate to the ear and cause a middle ear infection.
Associated with a blocked nose, pathogens can spread through the throat into the airways and cause laryngitis or bronchitis . The frontal sinus can become inflamed and spread to the eye. Vision impairment may occur. The pathogens can spread in the brain and meninges and cause meningitis. People with a stuffy nose can suffer from a stiff neck and migraines. Paralysis and epileptic seizures are also not excluded. A stuffy nose can become chronic.
treatment and therapy
As with all diseases, therapy depends on the cause. A cold with a runny nose will generally heal on its own. The healing process can be supported by those affected taking it easy on themselves, especially physically. If severe cold symptoms occur, home remedies, fever-reducing or pain-relieving medication can alleviate the symptoms. In the case of bacterial infections, antibiotics may be necessary.
In the case of an allergy, the therapy consists of first finding the trigger. This can be pollen or animal hair, for example. Furthermore, the active ingredient cromoglicic acid can prevent obstructed nasal breathing. The so-called hyposensitization can also be considered for allergy therapy under certain circumstances.
If there is a foreign body in the nose, it can sometimes be removed by blowing the nose vigorously. If this is not possible, the ear, nose and throat doctor can remove the foreign body with the appropriate instruments.If there is a curvature of the nasal septum or nasal polyps, these can be surgically corrected or removed.
It can help those affected who permanently suffer from a sensitive and swollen nose if they stay in smoky and dry rooms for more than just a short time. In addition, the nose can be easily moistened by inhaling steam, which helps the nose to clear up again. Permanent treatment with a nasal spray should definitely be avoided.
Although the nasal spray helps in that it quickly swells the nasal mucosa, the nasal mucosa gets used to this active ingredient very quickly and can swell up permanently. It makes much more sense to treat the blocked nose with a home remedy. However, a nasal rinse can help to remove germs from the nose. A pharmacist or ear, nose and throat doctor can explain exactly how nasal rinsing works.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.