Did you wake up today with the inability to breathe through your nose? Sounds like nasal congestion. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga wants you to know the symptoms to watch out for when it comes to nasal congestion, as well as the treatment options available to help ease congestion.
What Can Be Done to Get Rid of Nasal Congestion?
As soon as nasal congestion strikes, the only thing you can probably think about is how to get rid of it as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are ways that you can find relief from nasal congestion sooner rather than later. Decongestants are a common medication recommended to alleviate nasal congestion. But before taking this medication, it’s important to speak with your doctor or pharmacist—this type of medication can interact negatively with certain medications.Symptoms of Nasal Congestion
- Bad breath
- Ear pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Facial pain
- Itchy eyes, nose, mouth and/or throat
What Causes Nasal Congestion at Night?
Do you feel as though your nasal congestion gets worse at night? You are not wrong. There are a couple of reasons why nasal congestion feels worse when the sun goes down. For one, allergies tend to worsen at night. And two, your nose becomes more congested when you lie down. Therefore, you may find that it’s easier to breathe at night when you have congestion if you prop yourself up in the bed.Treatment for Nasal Congestion
- Use a humidifier.
- Try a vaporizer.
- Take a long shower to breathe in steam from warm water.
- Drink lots of fluids.
- Try a Neti pot or other type of nasal irrigator.
- Use nasal saline spray.
- Place a warm, wet washcloth on your face.
