Nasal congestion: causes
Nasal congestion can result from multiple morbid conditions: allergies, deviation of the nasal septum, hay fever, pregnancy, viral infections of the respiratory tract, enlarged adenoids, nasal polyposis, colds, gastric reflux, sinusitis and the administration of certain drugs.
Nasal congestion: symptoms
Nasal congestion can trigger symptoms of varying degrees: impaired hearing and speech skills, sleep apnea, difficulty in resting, dyspnoea, snoring. Complications: hypoxia, feeling of suffocation, heart failure (stuffy nose associated with enlarged adenoids) .
Nasal congestion: remedies and medications
The cure for a stuffy nose depends on the triggering cause: antihistamines (for allergy-dependent stuffy nose), NSAIDs, acetaminophen and aspirin (for flu-related nasal congestion), and decongestants. When needed, adenoid removal is an effective remedy for nasal congestion related to enlarged adenoids.
, viral rhinitis, allergies, colds and many others. Every individual, at least once in their life, has complained of symptoms of nasal congestion: from what has been said, we understand how widespread and frequent the disorder is.Despite being a popular disease (if it is possible to define it that way), nasal congestion creates more or less important discomforts, especially when it occurs in its chronic form. However, patients with nasal congestion tend to self-manage the disorder, using do-it-yourself natural remedies, or over-the-counter medications recommended by friends or relatives. Although it is a totally reversible phenomenon and easy to resolve (in most cases), we must not forget the advice of experts in the health sector, which are always fundamental. In fact, neglecting the disease causes the phenomenon of nasal congestion to remain largely ignored in its epidemiological dimension: the consequences of this approach - obviously incorrect - trigger a series of effects not only for the patient himself, but also for the health system itself. .
The goal of this article is to inform the reader about the causes, symptoms and consequences of the disease; despite the therapeutic strategies described, we remind you that the request for a medical consultation is always and in any case the first precaution to consider, even in the case of a simple disorder. such as nasal congestion.
of the nasal mucous membranes?
The most common causes of nasal congestion are:
- Pollen allergies and seasonal allergies
- Deviation of the nasal septum
- Hay fever
- Pregnancy
- Inhalation (passive or active) of large quantities of cigarette smoke
- Respiratory tract infections
- Influence
- Enlarged adenoids: Nasal congestion associated with this disease is a serious problem. In fact, especially affected children, they can develop sleep apnea, hypoxia and even heart failure.
- Nasal polyps
- Cold
- Rhinitis
- Sinusitis
- Excessive administration of certain drugs (nasal drops or nasal sprays formulated with oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, xylometazoline, morniflumate, naphazoline).
The correlation between stuffy nose and gastric reflux is particular: many patients suffering from reflux diseases also complain of chronic sinusitis (therefore chronic nasal congestion). Probably, acid reflux can reach the nasopharyngeal area, creating irritation and inflammation even in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Not surprisingly, drugs for the treatment of reflux diseases have also proved extremely effective in the treatment of associated nasal congestion to this pathology.
(unable to feed), as well as causing severe respiratory deficits.
and with the NIGHT APNEE.
As anticipated, patients suffering from enlarged adenoids and nasal congestion are exposed to serious breathing difficulties, such as HYPOXIA, FEELING OF CHOKING and heart failure. In such circumstances, surgery (removal of adenoids / tonsils) is the most effective remedy ever.
Often times, nasal congestion does not remain a phenomenon in its own right, since it is a symptom common to many diseases. Most people with nasal congestion complain of other symptoms simultaneously:
- Chest pain
- Facial pain
- Fever
- Lack of appetite
- Tearing
- Headache
- General malaise
- Cough
When nasal congestion is found only in one nostril, it is likely that the baby has inserted a small object into the nose.
- Remedies for stuffy nose
What to do in case of Nasal Congestion
Treatment for nasal congestion depends on the underlying cause.
When the stuffy nose occurs during the flu or cold, the most suitable drugs aim to relieve the general symptoms: paracetamol (antipyretic par excellence), aspirin and other NSAIDs (eg ibuprofen), with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving action, are absolutely the most used active ingredients.
If nasal congestion is related to allergic reactions, antihistamines, possibly associated with corticosteroids, exert their therapeutic function excellently. The remission of allergic symptoms also includes recovery from nasal congestion.
Children affected by enlarged adenoids are generally subjected to surgery, aimed at their removal: by doing so, the little patient will be able to recover completely from hypoxia and sleep apnea, which often accompany the disorder of enlarged adenoids.
Regardless of the triggering factor, most people with nasal congestion benefit from the administration of oral decongestant drugs, such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. The same active ingredients can be formulated in the form of a nasal spray.
It is recommended not to abuse these decongestant drugs: paradoxically, excessive use could even aggravate the clinical picture of nasal congestion.
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