What Is Congestion?

Nasal congestion is a common condition characterized by stuffiness. Congestion in the nose occurs when the tissues that line it swell up because of an inflammation of the blood vessels. In general, congestion is caused by viruses (such as the common cold). Congestion usually disappears, without any treatment, within a week or less.

Discomfort

• Nasal congestion can cause a lot of physical discomfort. It can affect your ears, hearing and speech. In more severe cases, people can experience difficulty sleeping, snoring (even when they usually do not snore) and breathing.

Common Causes

• There are several causes of nasal congestion: the common cold, a flu, a sinus infection, hay fever (or other allergies) and using nasal sprays or drops to excess. Vasomotor rhinitis is another potential cause of congestion. Vasomotor rhinitis is a nonallergic inflammation of the mucous membrane that results in a persistent runny nose and sneezing, among other symptoms.

Less Common Causes

• There are several less common causes of congestion. Congestion also can be due to chicken pox, measles, allergy to milk, roseola (rose-colored rash), whooping cough, thyroid issues, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinitis (nonallergic), occupational asthma, DiGeorge syndrome (congenital disorder which usually involves heart defects) and swollen lymph nodes.

Treatments

• Congestion can generally be treated effectively at home, with antihistamines or decongestants. Antihistamines decrease mucus within the nose. Decongestants work by shrinking the blood vessels in the nose. They also help soothe the uncomfortable feeling of stuffiness associated with congestion. Common decongestants come in spray form.

Severity

• Nasal congestion is considered significantly more dangerous and severe in babies. For adults and older children, congestion is usually just annoying and uncomfortable. In babies, it can make breathing and nursing extremely difficult.