A stuffy nose, known to health professionals as nasal congestion, is a common symptom of a cold, allergies and flu. Although these health problems may be treated by a variety of methods to solve the underlying cause, draining the congestion is often the more immediate goal to improve comfort and quality of life. Three easy methods to reduce nasal congestion are use of saline, decongestants and corticosteroids.
Nasal Wash
Saline (concentrated salt water solution) as a cleanser efficiently helps remove debris and excess mucus from the nasal passages and sinuses, and some methods of nasal wash result in immediate improvement of nasal congestion. For example, total nasal irrigation with saline in a neti pot or squeeze bottle sends the saline through both sinus areas and nasal passages to directly drain mucus from the mouth or nostrils. Although less effective immediately, continued use of marketed nasal spray saline solutions reduce dryness and irritation and encourage mucus drainage over time. These types of sprays do not contain medication, so they are safe to use without actual dosing directions, as needed when the nasal passages feel dry.
Decongestant Sprays
Over-the-counter nasal sprays are available that claim to reduce nasal congestion quickly. These sprays are made for children and adults, and they typically contain phenylephrine. This drug tightens blood vessels that may be swollen in the sinus area to provide rapid relief of the stuffy nose sensation. However, they do not work by directly washing out the nasal passages, so the relief is temporary and based on how long the drug is at work in the body. In addition, decongestant sprays with phenylephrine cannot be used longer than three days, because rebound congestion may occur; this type of congestion is caused by swollen blood vessels (not mucus) and is often harder to treat than the original congestion.
Prescription Nasal Sprays
When over-the-counter treatments fail, or when the congestion becomes chronic (occurring often, possibly because of repeat infection or continued allergies), prescription nasal sprays may be needed to stop the stuffy nose. These nasal sprays are usually corticosteroids, such as fluticasone, that reduce swelling in the sinus tissues and in the irritated nostrils. These drugs work best when they are sprayed into the nose after saline spray is used to remove the mucus first.
