Why do we get stuffy noses

Are you sneezing or coughing? Have a runny nose or watery eyes? You may have allergies or a cold. These conditions share many of the same symptoms…. Learn how to use this alternative treatment. It's not always easy to determine if you have a cold or the flu, but knowing the differences helps treatment work more quickly.

You can help normalize your overactive bladder naturally by avoiding artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and alcohol, losing weight, and performing…. Taking sick time isn't easy, but you don't want to spread your illness or infect your co-workers if you're contagious. But how do you determine when…. However, there are steps you can take to help your little one feel better.

From Indonesia to Greece to Brazil, soup is a staple in every kitchen on the globe. Try these recipes! There's a lot you can do to try to keep the rest of the family healthy including yourself when illness strikes. Anthropophobia is a fear of people. Typically, a fear of people is associated with…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. How to Clear a Stuffy Nose. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Use a humidifier. Take a shower.

Stay hydrated. Use a saline spray. Drain your sinuses. Use a warm compress. Take medications. Read this next. Sinus Infection Symptoms. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Is It Allergies or a Cold? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. When there is an excess of mucus secretions the nose is runny.

The additional secretions drain from the front of the nose, or down the back post-nasal drip. The sensation of a stuffy nose occurs when the memebranes that line the nose become swollen from inflamed blood vessels. You've got that feeling again: Your nose is stuffy, your head seems heavy, and your sinuses feel swollen and on fire. You once again, have Nasal Congestion. Many people think that their nose gets congested from too much thick mucus. But, usually, your nose gets stuffy when the tissues lining it become swollen.

The swelling is from inflamed blood vessels. Your nose can become stuffy because of a cold, the flu, and allergies. Sometimes the congestion goes away in a week, sometimes you have it nearly every day or during certain times a year, especially if you're allergic or sensitive to something like pollen, tobacco smoke, or pet dander.

If your baby is congested, you can make your own saline drops, adding a quarter teaspoon of salt to a half-cup of lukewarm water. Lay your child on his or her back, put a rolled up towel beneath their shoulders, and put two or three drops into each nostril.

After 30 seconds, turn the child on their belly to help the fluids drain. You can also use an infant nasal bulb, called an aspirator, to help remove some of the mucous in their nose. Other tips for helping kids include raising the head of your child's bed; Have your child drink plenty of fluids; Use a cool-mist vaporizer in your child's room at night; DO NOT use over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for any child under the age of 6.

They don't help much anyway, and they can cause serious health problems in kids. Older kids and adults can take over-the-counter medicines to help relieve their stuff nose.

Oral decongestants can shrink the blood vessels throughout the body, including in the lining of your nose. Nasal decongestants are more targeted, but shouldn't be used more than 3 days in a row. Antihistamines may reduce the amount of mucus in your nose. But these medicines don't treat the problem, just the symptoms. You can also try gentler solutions, like a Neti pot, saline irrigation, saline nasal drops, using a vaporizer or humidifier when you sleep, and drinking plenty of fluids such as hot tea or chicken soup.

A stuffy nose will usually go away in about a week. But if it doesn't, or you get congested at certain times of year or when you're around pets or smokers, your doctor can help you find out if you have allergies and get you the right treatment to make any allergies less of an annoyance. The reason for the cycle is unknown, but it is not a disorder.

The congestion occurs when a turbinate a structure along the sinus wall that produces mucus becomes swollen in one nostril. This blocks airflow on that side. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is a condition that causes stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus , the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Known as reflux, it occurs when the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus esophageal sphincter is weak and unable to stay closed.

Acid reflux can cause nasal irritation that can lead to congestion. People with GERD can experience acid reflux at any time of day. And hen you lie down and lose the help of gravity, stomach acid is even more likely to come up the esophagus. This is why GERD symptoms, including nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, postnasal drip , wheezing, and hoarseness, tend to be worse at night and first thing in the morning.

Acid reflux due to GERD can cause nasal congestion. Reflux symptoms tend to get worse at night when you lie down. As a result, your nose may become more congested at night. Studies show that nasal congestion at night can have a big impact on sleep quality. In fact, people with chronic sinusitis are three to nine times more likely to experience sleep disturbances with frequent nighttime awakenings. Try these tips to help reduce nighttime congestion and sleep better:.

If a medical condition is causing your stuffiness, your healthcare provider may recommend additional strategies and medications to ease your symptoms and help you sleep. For example, allergies can be treated with antihistamines, nasal steroids, or immunotherapy. Medications such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors are commonly used to treat GERD. You're not imagining that your nasal congestion gets worse at night. There are a few different reasons you could be experiencing this, and more than one may be at play.

Some, like your sleep position, can be easily fixed. Others, like GERD, may need medical treatment. Your healthcare provider can determine the cause of your nighttime congestion, so you can get restful sleep. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Pathophysiology of nasal congestion. Int J Gen Med. Measuring and characterizing the human nasal cycle. PLoS One. Gaude GS. Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ann Thorac Med.