Q: My nose is stopped up more than I like. How can I keep it functioning normally?
A: Nasal congestion, commonly known as a stuffy nose, occurs when the tissues lining the inside of your nose become irritated and inflamed. This irritation triggers a chain reaction of swelling and mucus production, not only making it difficult to breathe through your nose, but also affecting your sleep and increasing chronic sinus infections.
The most common causes of congestion are viral infections, airborne irritants such as smoke or strong smells, structural issues like a deviated septum and allergies. In Chattanooga, allergies to tree, grass and weed pollen are particularly troublesome. In addition to congestion, these triggers can lead to a runny nose, cough and headaches.
Allergy testing is helpful in finding triggers and guiding therapy choices. Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) can potentially cure congestion caused by allergies, reducing the need for medication. Children who suffer from congestion due to allergies are 40% more likely to develop asthma if their allergies remain untreated. A board-certified allergist will help you determine the most appropriate treatment to alleviate your symptoms and avoid potentially serious consequences in the future.
Allergy shots may be offered along with other complementary and effective treatments for congestion. Saline nasal rinses are a good, natural way to clean and moisturize the nasal passages. Regular saline rinses have been shown to decrease sinus infections. Antihistamines are helpful in decreasing mucus production and drying out our nasal passages.
Nasal steroids like Flonase are the best medication for nasal congestion. They work by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages. We generally try to avoid long-term use of nasal decongestants like Afrin as they are habit-forming. Additionally, oral decongestants like Sudafed can cause high blood pressure, high heart rates and difficulty sleeping.
An allergy specialist can help you both identify the cause of your symptoms and formulate the best plan for relief.
Dr. Todd Levin is a board-certified allergist with The Chattanooga Allergy Clinic and is a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.