|  | Conditions Treatments | Allergies

Chronic Nasal Congestion Treatment

Chronic nasal congestion is a symptom of allergies (allergic rhinitis). If a patient is able to identify what triggers her allergies, she can take steps to treat her symptoms, including the congestion. She has several options, which include medication therapy, immunotherapy, behavioral changes and surgery.

  1. Chronic Nasal Congestion

    • A sufferer typically encounters environmental triggers, such as dust, pet dander or pollen. His body reacts to the trigger he is allergic to and goes into overdrive. One result of his body's overreaction to the allergy-causing substance is to develop a chronic nasal congestion. His nasal passages swell, leaving him little room to inhale. He may alternately develop a runny nose and then a stuffy nose.

    Drug Therapy

    • If a patient knows she suffers from allergies, she can ask her doctor to prescribe medications (oral as well as nasal sprays) to provide symptomatic relief. These medications will not cure her allergies; they will only control the symptoms. These prescription medications include antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroid nasal sprays. The patient should take her medications at least two weeks before allergy season starts if she wants to avoid the worst of her nasal congestion. She can also buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may help. One of these is a saline solution nasal spray that acts to keep her nasal passages moist.

    Surgical Intervention

    • If medications are not effective in relieving chronic nasal congestion, a patient may need surgery to reduce the size of his turbinates. The turbinates are small, bony projections inside the nose. They act on the air he breathes before it reaches the lungs. Turbinates also help a patient perceive the inflow of air into his nose. This surgery helps to relieve chronic nasal congestion. However, the patient needs to continue use of nasal spray and may require surgery again if his turbinates begin to obstruct his ability to breathe.

    Behavioral Intervention

    • If a patient knows what she is allergic to, she can learn to alter her routine to avoid her allergy triggers. If, for instance, she encounters mulberry trees when she is going to work or running errands, she can try to change her routine to avoid as many of these trees as possible. If she has an allergy-causing plant or tree in her yard or if she owns dander-producing pets, she can get rid of the trees or plants and give her pets away. However, this may not always be possible.

    Immunotherapy

    • A patient can opt for allergy shots (immunotherapy) if medical therapy is ineffective. His allergist can test for specific substances he is allergic to and give injections that contain an allergen into his arm. His body responds by developing an immunity to the allergen. The allergist gradually increases the amount of the allergen over several months. It is important to receive these shots under medical supervision in case of a severe allergic reaction.

Allergies - Related Articles