Nose Stuffy

Nose, Stuffy

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* You have tried home remedies for five days with no relief.

* You are troubled by a stuffy nose at the same time every year.

* You also have a fever and facial pain.

* You're producing thick greenish or yellowish mucus.

* Your stuffy nose is interfering with your sleep or causing a snoring problem.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

You feel like your nose is stuffed with socks, and not only can you not smell anything, but you're starting to wonder if breathing is still an option.

When your nose is stuffed up, the membranes that line it are swollen—perhaps from a cold or other viral or bacterial infections or an allergy. A chronic sinus infection may also leave you feeling stuffy—as well as tired. And certain medications—both over-the-counter and prescription drugs—can trigger stuffiness.

Don't keep blowing, because it's also possible that your nose is blocked by something besides mucus. Although it's probably been years since you tried the jelly-bean-in-the-nostril trick to impress your friends, it is possible to have a structural blockage caused by a deviated nasal septum, a benign nasal polyp or some other growth.

Symptom Relief

Take a deep breath (through your mouth, for now) and read on for relief.

Wait it out. If a cold or other viral infection is stuffing you up, there's a time limit on your suffering, says Robert Enberg, M.D., an allergist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. These infections almost always go away in a week or two, he says.

Humidify when the air is dry. From October through May, you'll keep your nose in better health if you humidify the bedroom, says Richard Mabry, M.D., clinical professor of otolaryngology at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. An ultrasonic vaporizer is less likely to grow harmful molds than the cool-mist varieties, says Dr. Mabry, but regular cleaning is critical whichever model you choose. Use a diluted bleach solution of one tablespoon bleach to one quart water to clean your vaporizer weekly, he says.

Spray with saline. Nasal saline, a diluted salt water spray available without prescription, such as Ocean or Ayr, is balm to those dry, stuffy nasal passages, says Dr. Enberg. If you make up a new batch every day or two, you can also use do-it-yourself saline: 1Ž4 teaspoon salt in seven ounces of previously boiled water. You can use nasal saline as many times a day as you need for relief, he says.

Steam away the stuffies. A nasal steamer humidifies dry, stuffy noses, says Alexander Chester, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. It's also effective to create your own steamer, he says. Boil a pot of water, drape a towel over your head and the pot, and in-hale the steam through your nose for about 15 minutes three or four times a day, he suggests. Be sure to keep your face at least 18 inches from the water to avoid burning yourself.

Reach over-the-counter for relief. Over-the-counter cold remedies may ease your stuffy nose, says Dr. Mabry. Use oral decongestants to ease congestion. Use antihistamines only for "wet" symptoms, like sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose that suggest allergies. Use a combination remedy if you feel you need both, but avoid multi-symptom medicines that pack cough suppressants, drying agents, antihistamines, decongestants and pain relievers into one formula, he says.

Don't exceed the limits. Do-it-yourself doctoring is okay for nasal congestion with clear mucus and those "wet" symptoms that suggest allergies, Dr. Mabry says. Limit your use of over-the-counter decongestant sprays to five days or less. If overused, they cause a rebound effect that will leave you even more stuffed up than before.

Check your medicines. A number of medications, including beta blockers, medications for high blood pressure and high-dose estrogen, can cause nasal stuffiness. Let your doctor know about all medications you're taking, and ask him if switching medications would be helpful.

Cut back on chocolate. Concentrated sweets, particularly chocolate, may trigger swelling in your nasal membranes, says Dr. Chester. So avoid those sweets until your stuffy nose has cleared.

Pile on the pepper. "Cook with red pepper," suggests Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Capsaicin, the active ingredient in red pepper, causes the mucus lining of your nose to increase secretions. "It'll make your nose runny and help clear it out," Dr. Tyler says.

Take your nose for a walk. As long as it's just a head cold, and you have no fever or flu, moderate exercise is good for your stuffy nose, says David Nieman, Dr.P.H., professor of health sciences at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. And exercise can help prevent your next cold, too. Research has shown that the immune system is strengthened during exercise and for about four hours afterward, Dr. Nieman says.

Decongest with a warm bath. When you come in from the cold after your walk, climb into a nice hot bath, suggests Dr. Chester. It'll warm your entire body and increase circulation in your nose, with a decongesting effect, he says.

Be happy without happy hour. When your nose is congested, avoid beer, wine and cordials, says Dr. Chester. By-products from the fermentation process of these beverages, called tyramine and tannin, will swell your nose further and block your sinus ducts. Red wine is worse than white, but distilled spirits may be less of a problem, he adds.

Take your nose to tea. A Chinese herb called ephedra is a good nasal decongestant, says Dr. Tyler. You can often find it in teas in health food stores, but make sure you're getting Ephedra sinica, the Chinese or Indian variety. The American species of ephedra lacks the active ingredient you need. Dr. Tyler cautions that ephedra will also act as a mild stimulant and should be avoided if you have high blood pressure or heart problems. Drink two cups a day until you feel better.

What if It's an Allergy?

If your doctor says your chronic stuffy nose results from an allergy, these are the basic treatments.

Avoid the allergen. If you work outdoors, you can't avoid ragweed, but you can banish the kitty from the bedroom. Learn what you're allergic to, and learn to avoid it whenever possible, says Dr. Enberg.

Take your medicine. Your doctor may prescribe various medicines for your allergic stuffy nose. Antihistamines, decongestants, a prescription nasal spray called cromolyn sodium and nasal steroid sprays will all bring relief.

Give it a shot. If your allergy-caused nasal congestion is severe and chronic, your doctor may recommend allergy shots, which desensitize your body to the allergen.

Swear off the moo juice. About 10 percent of people with chronic stuffy nose may have a milk allergy, says Dr. Chester. Try avoiding milk products for two weeks to see if this clears the congestion.

Read up on allergies. Need basic information on allergies? A helpful booklet called The Allergy Almanac can be ordered for $1 from the Foundation for Allergy Care and Treatment, P.O. Box 13367, Silver Spring, MD 20911-1336. (Allow four to six weeks for delivery.)

Removing Obstructions

If an obstruction or blockage is what's making you feel stuffed up, your doctor can help. Here are some possible surgical procedures.

Remove nasal polyps. A benign fleshy growth called a polyp results when the membrane lining your sinuses extends down into your nose, says Dr. Mabry. In most cases, your doctor can remove nasal polyps right in the office.

Straighten out the septum. If you ever got whacked on the nose, you may have a stuffy nose because of a crooked or deviated septum—that piece of cartilage that divides your nostrils. A procedure called septoplasy corrects the crooked septum, Dr. Enberg says.