Today, more and more people who monitor their health are faced with the question: "Why is my nose stuffed up, but there is no runny nose?" This condition cannot be considered completely normal. It most often occurs against the background of some pathological inflammatory process developing in the body.
Causes of the phenomenon
Almost everyone can face this condition. Otolaryngologists name many reasons why the nose is constantly stuffy without a cold. Among the main factors can be identified such:
- response to certain drugs;
- very dry indoor air;
- hypothermia;
- allergic reactions;
- alcohol and nicotine addiction;
- a strong effect on the body of the flu or the common cold;
- polyps in the nose or adenoids.
In the event that the source of nasal congestion arises from one of these factors, then there is practically no reason for concern. After the irritating factor is removed, breathing should be completely normalized. But if nasal congestion is present , then this may indicate the beginning of the development of some rather serious diseases.
Very often there are cases that otolaryngologists call vasomotor rhinitis. It is characterized by the fact that at first it lays only one nostril. Although there is no mucus. Further, swelling and laying of one or the other nasal passage alternately occur. This disease is considered quite complicated in terms of treatment. If the wrong therapeutic procedures are performed, then rhinitis can cause severe complications. In all patients with vasomotor rhinitis, this clinical situation is almost always observed: instead of the usual air circulation in the nasal passages, a person often feels some tickling, frequent sneezing, and a clear fluid that is completely uncharacteristic of a common cold.
Many scientists and doctors are considering the version that vasomotor rhinitis may be just a consequence of the action of various irritating factors on the body, and not inflammation of the nasopharynx, in which unpleasant symptoms are observed: the nose is stuffy, but there are no snot.
It can also characterize developing polyps. Since the tissues, growing, close the nasal passages.
Main symptoms
The condition when the nose is stuffy, but there is no runny nose, can not be considered an independent disease. Most often, it is the direct result of an untreated banal cold or common allergic rhinitis.
In most cases, the general symptomatology of such an uncomfortable condition is not much different from a stuffy nose with a runny nose. Key features:
- frequent sneezing
- headache;
- lacrimation
- burning and severe itching in the nose;
- slight soreness in the face.
The only and most important difference can be considered the absence of nasal secretions. Moreover, the patient always has a desire to blow his nose well and relieve his general condition.
Causes of the problem in children
Why does it block your nose? The sources of the problem can be completely different. Often they lie in the structural features of each individual organism. That is, there may be a curvature of the nasal septum. The development of such a defect takes quite a long time, therefore, before the appearance of constant nasal congestion, more than one year can pass. In this case, an otolaryngological operation must be performed, as a result of which the septal defect will be permanently eliminated. After this intervention, almost all patients again feel completely free nasal breathing.
However, this is not the only reason why the nose is blocked. Another important source may be developing nasal pollinosis. For its complete elimination, surgical intervention is also necessary. This condition usually develops gradually and directly depends on the degree of proliferation of polyps. The use of various home remedies can only help temporarily relieve symptoms.
In infants, a congenital disease, for example, atresia, can also occur.
Such a situation requires great attention (especially if the child is small): the nose is stuffy , the baby does not have snot . Indeed, very often children, playing, can put various small foreign bodies into their nasal passages. It is after this that the nose ceases to participate in the necessary act of breathing. If you are extremely careful, you can pull out a foreign body yourself. And if it is stuck far in the nasal passage, then you should definitely seek specialist help from a specialist.
What is the danger?
The constant feeling that the nose is stuffy and there are no snot, disturbing for quite a long time, can cause great harm to human health. The most common and serious complications are:
- complete loss of smell, which is not restored in all cases;
- pain and feeling of pressure in the head;
- sinusitis;
- otitis.
In order to alleviate the condition in which the nose is constantly stuffed up without a runny nose, appropriate measures must be taken to eliminate its original cause. You should always remember that with such phenomena it is impossible to take any medications on your own, without a doctor’s prescription. The choice of this or that tool should be completely carried out by a qualified specialist. He will be able to take into account the individual tolerance of the drug to each organism, the presence of allergic reactions.
Treatment
The only right solution in the event of a condition when the nose is stuffed up, but there is no runny nose, we can only consider turning to a highly qualified specialist for help. An ENT doctor will always help to identify the root cause of such a pathological condition for the body. And also prescribe the most correct and effective treatment.
If you can’t immediately visit a doctor, then you can alleviate your condition for some time using well-known medicines or some home healing methods.
Medication used
If the nose is stuffy, but there is no runny nose, it is recommended to use decongestants. Vasoconstrictive drops and various nasal sprays will also help relieve swelling and other symptoms. The most effective are the following known drugs:
- Nasal drops "Brizolin." Buried in adults and children from 6 years, 2-3 drops in a well-cleaned nasal passage.
- Sprays or nasal drops "Vibrocil". They are used in adults and children from one year to 2-3 drops 4 times a day.
Anti-edematous drugs are often available in the form of tablets or instant powders. They do not immediately bring such relief as sprays and drops, but they last much longer.
The most popular of them are such drugs:
- "Cetrin" - take 1 tablet per day. Children under 6 years of age are strictly forbidden to take this drug.
- "Loratadine" - adults take 1 tablet per day. Contraindicated in children under 12 years.
Home methods
Do not experiment with self-medication, if the nose is blocked, the temperature is high. Such symptoms may indicate the onset of a serious illness.
You can alleviate your condition as follows. First of all, the nasal passages should be sufficiently moistened. This can be achieved in several ways:
- wipe your nose well with a slightly warm, damp towel;
- wash the sinuses with a solution of sea salt or saline;
- breathe over steam.
Such procedures will help to quickly remove mucus. After all, it is the main cause of prolonged nasal congestion. In some cases, there may not be a runny nose, but mucus nevertheless accumulates in the sinuses, which can provoke a complication such as sinusitis.
Prevention
The most common causes of nasal congestion are various viral and infectious diseases that occur in a latent form. In this case, the treatment is quite simple.
It is not possible to completely protect yourself from colds, but it is quite possible to reduce their number.
There are several fairly simple rules for this:
- avoid hypothermia;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- avoid large crowds during SARS epidemics;
- take complex vitamins;
- never forget the benefits of positive emotions.
These very simple rules will always help you maintain your body in good shape and protect yourself from various viruses and infections.
Conclusion
If you are faced with unpleasant symptoms, do not tempt fate - seek the advice of a doctor. And even if you think that you have a stuffy nose for a month for the most harmless reason.