Rhinitis, a condition that affects about 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States, is the most common cause of a stuffed nose, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Most cases are associated with allergies, viruses or bacterial infections, although nasal congestion may also cause chronic stuffiness. According to MedlinePlus, nasal congestion occurs when the tissues in the nose become inflamed. Treatment focuses on relieving inflammation while thinning mucus to enable easier breathing.
Nasal Irrigation
Nasal irrigation, or nasal lavage, helps relieve a stuffed nose by flushing mucus and irritating dust or debris out of the nasal passages. Saline solution is available in most pharmacies and retail stores or can be made at home by mixing 1/4 tsp. salt with 1/2 cup lukewarm water. Adding a pinch of baking soda to the solution will reduce any burning during use. To flush the nasal passages, lean the head back and administer the solution with a bulb syringe to one nostril at a time, letting the saline flow back through the nasal cavity and out through the mouth. Placing two to three drops of saline into each nostril every few hours will thin mucus and make nose-blowing more effective.
Medications
Several medications are available to treat a stuffed nose, depending on the underlying cause of the congestion. Antihistamines are beneficial in cases of allergic rhinitis and work to reduce mucus and clear the nasal passages. Decongestants help by shrinking blood vessels in the nasal lining. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, reduce inflammation and ease pain and pressure. The American Academy of Family Physicians cautions against using over-the-counter nasal sprays for more than three days, as doing so can worsen inflammation and congestion. Nasal swelling and stuffiness caused by infection may require a course of antibiotics. The AAAAI states that corticosteroid nasal sprays, anti-leukotriene medications and immunotherapy are helpful for allergic rhinitis.
Surgical Treatments
When nasal congestion is chronic or fails to improve with home treatment, specialized care by an ear-nose-throat doctor is usually necessary. These doctors, called otorhinolaryngologists, can look for and surgically treat nasal blockages and other causes of chronic congestion, according to the AAAAI. Outpatient surgical procedures for stuffed noses include radiofrequency turbinate ablation and laser turbinate surgery. Structural abnormalities or significant blockages are surgically treated with septal deviation correction, turbinate reduction or nasal valve surgery, according to the American Rhinologic Society. Endoscopic sinus surgery, which involves insertion of a thin, flexible tube into the nasal and sinus passages to seek out and remove obstructions, is effective at treating chronic stuffiness due to excess tissue, polyps or other blockages, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Other Remedies
Home remedies and lifestyle changes can remedy stuffed noses due to environmental irritants, allergic triggers and viruses. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends avoiding smoke, dust, pollen and other irritants, increasing fluid intake, raising the head of the bed during sleep, applying warm compresses to the nose and sinuses, and avoiding alcoholic beverages. Increasing environmental humidity by running a humidifier indoors or taking long, steamy showers can also reduce nasal inflammation and thin mucus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Use of over-the-counter nasal strips can open passages to help breathing during sleep.
