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Nasal congestion

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Nose - congested; Congested nose; Stuffy nose

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.

Medicines are not the only way to relieve a stuffy or runny nose. Often, gentler solutions are better. Try these steps to thin the mucus, which can help you breathe easier and get your nasal secretions back to normal:

• Use gentle saline nasal sprays.
• Increase the humidity in the air with a vaporizer or humidifier.
• Drink extra fluids. Hot tea, broth, or chicken soup may be especially helpful.

For a baby too young to blow his or her nose, an infant nasal aspirator (bulb) can help remove the mucus. If the mucus is thick and sticky, loosen it by putting 2 or 3 saline nose drops into each nostril. Don't insert cotton swabs into a child's nostrils. Instead, catch the discharge outside the nostril on a tissue or swab, roll it around, and pull the discharge out of the nose.

Congestion is often worse when you are lying down. Keep upright, or at least keep the head elevated. This is especially helpful for young children.

Pharmacies and supermarkets sell adhesive strips that can be placed on the nose when you are congested. These help widen the nostrils, making breathing easier.

Call your health care provider if:

• Your stuffy nose is accompanied by swelling of the forehead, eyes, side of the nose, or cheek.
• You also have blurred vision.
• You have increased throat pain, or white or yellow spots on the tonsils or other parts of the throat.
• Coughing episodes last longer that 10 days.
• The cough produces yellow-green or gray sputum.
• A stuffy nose lasts longer than 2 weeks and significantly interferes with your life.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor may perform a physical examination, focusing on the upper respiratory system, ears, nose, and throat.

Your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• When did it develop? Is it always present?
• What have you done to try to relieve the congestion? How well has it worked?
• What other symptoms are also present -- nasal drainage , loss of sense of smell , watery or itching eyes , sneezing , fever , cough , headache , facial pain ?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• allergy skin tests (performed only by allergists)
• blood tests (such as CBC or blood differential )
• sputum culture and throat culture
• x-rays of the sinuses and chest x-ray
• serum total IgE (the allergy-related immunoglobin)

Over-the-counter medications may be recommended. Stronger, prescription medications may be advised. For severe hay fever cases, desensitization injections (allergy shots) for known allergens may be administered. Other treatment, including surgery, may be advised depending on the cause.

• Review Date: 11/18/2005
• Reviewed By: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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