|  | Conditions Treatments | Cold Flu

Signs of Head Congestion

Head or nasal congestion is a condition that occurs when mucus (commonly called snot) builds up in the airways in the nose and blocks passage of breath. Congestion can often build up far into the head and sometimes feels like it is almost near the ears. Congestion is caused by many factors, and is a symptom rather than a disease itself. But this symptom can cause pain and suffering on its own. It is important to know when you may be congested in order to treat it with the proper medicine.

  1. Airway Obstruction

    • Is it difficult to breath? Does it feel like you're breathing through something? This may be because you ARE breathing through something. When you are congested, mucus builds up in your nasal airways. This is a defense mechanism that the body uses when it is trying to prevent foreign objects, like viruses or bacteria, from entering the body. If your nose feels plugged up, it is possible that you have head congestion.

    Mucus Discharge

    • When too much mucus builds up in the nasal passages, it will often discharge through the nostrils and sometimes even through the throat and the mouth. This is an unpleasant feeling and can often lead to mucus swallowing or a runny nose. This symptom usually occurs in tandem with general mucus buildup.

    Coughing and Sneezing

    • Mucus buildup obstructs the airways and makes it difficult to breathe. Sometimes the body will attempt to clear the airways by coughing or sneezing. Though coughing or sneezing are common symptoms of other diseases, they are usually connected with head congestion and mucus buildup in general.

    Headaches

    • Headaches are a common result of congestion. Sometimes mucus buildup will become too heavy, or the nasal tissues will become too inflamed and swollen, for the nose to get rid of all the excess mucus. When this happens, the mucus buildup will begin building pressure in the head that can lead to headaches.

    Upset Stomach

    • Though not common, it is possible for congestion to lead to an upset stomach. This usually happens when too much snot is swallowed. Although not harmful, swallowing too much will often lead to a queasy and unsettled stomach. Keep a napkin or handkerchief around whenever you're congested to avoid swallowing the mucus by spitting it out.

Cold Flu - Related Articles