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Relief From Nasal Congestion While Sleeping

Nasal congestion typically occurs when a virus, allergy or infection causes the nasal passages to become inflamed. A stuffy nose is usually worse when you are lying down, and may make it difficult to get a good night's sleep. While you are waiting for the cause of your nasal congestion to pass, there are steps you can take to relieve your nighttime stuffiness.

  1. Stay Upright

    • Use pillows to keep your head and upper body elevated through the night to relieve nasal congestion. The upright position will allow excess mucus to drain instead of making congestion worse.

    Increase Humidity

    • Humidifiers are devices that increase the amount of moisture in the air, and they can help ease nasal congestion, according to the Mayo Clinic. Place a portable humidifier in your bedroom to improve congestion while you sleep. Choose a cool mist humidifier over the steam variety to prevent burns if you have children in your home. Carefully follow cleaning instructions as dirty humidifiers can cause more irritation.

    Thin Mucus

    • Consider using a saline nasal spray before bed to help thin mucus and relieve congestion. Drink plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin, and avoid cigarette smoke and other irritating substances.

    Consider Medications

    • If nasal congestion is greatly interfering with your sleep, consider using an over-the-counter medication at night. Decongestants and antihistamines can help relieve nasal congestion, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Decongestants improve congestion by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nose, and antihistamines can decrease the amount of mucus. Decongestant nasal sprays are also available, but they can make congestion worse if used longer than three days.

    Warning

    • Follow all package directions when using medications to treat nasal congestion. See your doctor if you have nasal congestion for more than two weeks, high fever, facial swelling, blurred vision, increased throat pain or a cough that lasts longer than ten days or produces yellow-green or gray mucus. These may be signs of an infection or another condition that requires medical treatment.

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