Nasal congestion explained

Nasal congestion
Synonyms:Nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, stuffy nose, plugged nose

Nasal congestion is the partial or complete blockage of nasal passages, leading to impaired nasal breathing, usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflammation of blood vessels.[1]

Background

In about 85% of cases, nasal congestion leads to mouth breathing rather than nasal breathing.[2] According to Jason Turowski, MD of the Cleveland Clinic, "we are designed to breathe through our noses from birth—it's the way humans have evolved."[3] This is referred to as "obligate nasal breathing."[4]

Nasal congestion can interfere with hearing and speech. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome.[5] In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoids has caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and hypoxia. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils, however the problem often relapses later in life due to craniofacial alterations from chronic nasal congestion.[6]

Causes

Nasal obstruction

Nasal obstruction characterized by insufficient airflow through the nose can be a subjective sensation or the result of objective pathology.[10] It is difficult to quantify by subjective complaints or clinical examinations alone, hence both clinicians and researchers depend both on concurrent subjective assessment and on objective measurement of the nasal airway.[11]

Prevalence of kyphosis has been linked to nasal obstruction in a study.[12]

Treatment

According to WebMD, congestion can be addressed through the use of a humidifier, warm showers, drinking fluids, using a neti pot, using a nasal saline spray, and sleeping with one's head elevated. It also recommends a number of over the counter decongestants and antihistamines.[13] A 2012 study concluded that combining nasal sprays with "nasal breathing exercises" (NBE) led to improvement of symptoms. Though it may seem an odd recommendation, crying may also be helpful.[14]

The Cleveland Clinic also states that congestion may be a sign of a deviated septum, a condition that needs to be addressed by a doctor.[15]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Nasal congestion. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. A.D.A.M., Inc.
  2. Book: Rao A. Principles and Practice of Pedodontics.. 2012. Jaypee Brothers Medical Pub. New Delhi. 9789350258910. 169, 170. 3rd.
  3. Web site: Should You Breathe Through Your Mouth or Your Nose?. 2020-06-28. Turowski. Jason. 2016-04-29. Cleveland Clinic.
  4. Bergeson PS, Shaw JC . Are infants really obligatory nasal breathers? . Clinical Pediatrics . 40 . 10 . 567–9 . October 2001 . 11681824 . 10.1177/000992280104001006 . 44715721 .
  5. de Oliveira . Pedro Wey Barbosa . Gregorio . Luciano Lobato . Silva . Rogério Santos . Bittencourt . Lia Rita Azevedo . Tufik . Sergio . Gregório . Luis Carlos . Orofacial-cervical alterations in individuals with upper airway resistance syndrome . Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology . July 2016 . 82 . 4 . 377–384 . 10.1016/j.bjorl.2015.05.015. 26671020 . 9448996 . free .
  6. Buschang PH, Carrillo R, Rossouw PE . Orthopedic correction of growing hyperdivergent, retrognathic patients with miniscrew implants . Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 69 . 3 . 754–62 . March 2011 . 21236539 . 3046301 . 10.1016/j.joms.2010.11.013 .
  7. Web site: Blocked Nose, Restricted Air Flow.. Aerin Medical. en-US. 2016-07-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160826081748/http://aerinmedical.com/nasal-conditions/. 2016-08-26. dead.
  8. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003049.htm Nasal congestion
  9. Pacheco-Galván A, Hart SP, Morice AH . Relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux and airway diseases: the airway reflux paradigm . Archivos de Bronconeumologia . 47 . 4 . 195–203 . April 2011 . 21459504 . 10.1016/j.arbres.2011.02.001 .
  10. Wang DY, Raza MT, Gordon BR . Control of nasal obstruction in perennial allergic rhinitis . Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology . 4 . 3 . 165–70 . June 2004 . 15126936 . 10.1097/00130832-200406000-00005 . 20608574 .
  11. Wang DY, Raza MT, Goh DY, Lee BW, Chan YH . Acoustic rhinometry in nasal allergen challenge study: which dimensional measures are meaningful? . Clinical and Experimental Allergy . 34 . 7 . 1093–8 . July 2004 . 15248855 . 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.01988.x . 28523614 .
  12. Šidlauskienė M, Smailienė D, Lopatienė K, Čekanauskas E, Pribuišienė R, Šidlauskas M . Relationships between Malocclusion, Body Posture, and Nasopharyngeal Pathology in Pre-Orthodontic Children . Medical Science Monitor . 21 . 1765–73 . June 2015 . 26086193 . 4484615 . 10.12659/MSM.893395 .
  13. Web site: 'How to Treat Nasal Congestion and Sinus Pressure. 2020-06-28. Swiner. Carmelita. 2020-01-27. WebMD.
  14. Nasal Breathing Exercise and its Effect on Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis. Nair. Satish. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. 2011-04-12. 64. 2. 172–176. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 10.1007/s12070-011-0243-5. 23730580. 3392338.
  15. Web site: Is Your Nose Working Against You? 5 Signs of a Deviated Septum. 7 November 2019. 2020-06-28. Cleveland Clinic.

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