A combination of at-home remedies and medication can provide relief from a stuffy nose. Cool-mist humidifiers, saline nasal sprays, decongestants, steroid sprays, oral decongestants, and antihistamines are some beneficial options. Read on to learn about pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches to alleviating a stuffy nose.
What Causes a Stuffy Nose?
Nasal inflammation is the primary cause of a stuffy nose. This can occur due to respiratory infections like the common cold, the flu, or allergies. Additionally, congestion can be caused by hormonal shifts during pregnancy or medications, such as antihypertensives and erectile dysfunction drugs.
Structural anomalies like a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, or nasal polyps can produce symptoms similar to congestion in adults. These issues may result from hereditary factors, chronic allergies, chronic sinusitis, or injury. The presence of dry air and tobacco smoke can exacerbate nasal congestion.
Over-The-Counter Oral and Nasal Decongestants
Decongestants constrict the blood vessels in the nasal passages. There are both oral and nasal forms of these medications. Pseudoephedrine, or Sudafed, is an oral decongestant used to alleviate nasal or sinus congestion resulting from respiratory allergies, sinusitis, and the common cold.
Even though Sudafed can be purchased without a prescription, one needs an ID. Sudafed PE is a similar medication that can be acquired without restrictions, but it’s not as effective as pseudoephedrine. Nasal decongestant sprays like Afrin also provide short-term relief.
Nasal Steroid Sprays
Sprays such as Flonase or Nasonex offer prolonged relief. These medications reduce inflammation in the nasal or sinus tissues and quickly alleviate congestion related to hay fever and nasal polyps. However, as nasal steroids suppress the immune response, excessive use of these medications can result in a higher likelihood of sinus infections.
Oral Antihistamines
Some drugs work better for congestion caused by allergies than for congestion caused by viruses.
These include over-the-counter drugs like:
-Allegra (fexofenadine)
-Claritin (loratadine)
-Zyrtec (cetirizine)
-Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Non-Drug Treatments
Stuffy noses don’t always need to be treated with medication. Home remedies may be suitable for treating mild sinus or nasal congestion.
These include:
-Drinking a lot of water
-Using a cool-mist humidifier
-Using an over-the-counter saline nasal spray
-Trying a neti pot
-Using nasal adhesive strips, like Breathe Right
-Rubbing Vicks VapoRub on the chest (not recommended for young children or infants)
-Sucking on a cough drop
-Using a bulb syringe to discard nasal secretions in infants
