So many people suffer from nasal congestion in the morning. Most people prefer not to pay attention to this, because some time after waking up, unpleasant symptoms disappear. However, it is important to understand that if you put your nose in the mornings for a rather long time, for example, several weeks, or even months, then in this case it is imperative to understand the cause of the appearance of such an unpleasant syndrome.
It is best, of course, to see a doctor. As a rule, the specialist quickly determines why the nose is stuffed up in the morning and prescribes treatment. However, it will be useful to learn about the standard causes of this symptom.
What usually causes nasal congestion
As a rule, specialists consider three main causes that cause similar symptoms. For example, if the nose and throat are blocked in the morning, then this can be caused by a sharp or severe swelling of the mucous membrane. Similar phenomena are quite common.
Also, a runny nose or a strong and constant discharge of purulent or mucous masses from the nasopharynx often leads to nasal congestion. In addition, doctors are considering the possibility of genetic abnormalities. If a person for a long time complains that his nose is stuffed up in the morning, then he may have the wrong structure of the nasal septum. It is likely that the patient was affected by a fracture in this area. It also bends the septum, disrupting the normal breathing process in a horizontal position.
There are also a number of other reasons that can trigger such symptoms.
Dry mucosa and hypothermia
If we talk about why an adult or a child has a stuffy nose in the morning, then the common cold is most often the cause. For example, if a window was left open at night in a room, and there was a cooling outside, then it is not surprising that, awakening from a dream, a person will feel such a malaise.
A negative effect on the state of the body and excessive dryness in the room. If the air in the room is too dry, then the nasal mucosa may become crusty. To get rid of it, the body begins to excrete mucus more actively, which leads to unpleasant symptoms in the morning.
Medication
If a patient complains that he has a stuffy nose in the morning, then the doctor first of all wonders if he has recently undergone any medication. The fact is that some drugs, especially when it comes to potent antibiotics, provoke dry mucous membranes. In this case, the body also begins to increase mucus secretion. As a rule, unpleasant symptoms disappear on their own, but the doctor may prescribe medications that can help restore all body functions.
Also, various pathologies can be the reasons for laying your nose in the morning.
Chronic runny nose
In this case, we are talking about rhinitis or sinusitis. As a rule, in this case, in the daytime, the mucus that is secreted by the body slides down the patient’s nasopharynx. Therefore, he can breathe quite normally and not complain of discomfort. However, at night, when the body is in a horizontal position, all the secretions accumulate in one zone. That is why, waking up, a person cannot breathe normally and fully.
Allergic reactions
Very often, in the morning, a stuffy nose is due to the fact that a person does not tolerate pollen. In this case, the problem is observed precisely during the flowering period of some plants. This means that if morning nasal congestion bothers only in spring or summer, then you should consult an allergist and identify an irritant that must be avoided.
Some people are allergic to dust in a similar way. Even if the room looks pretty clean, this does not mean that it does not contain any allergens. For example, old mattresses always contain a huge amount of dust. When a person is awake, he does not have difficulty breathing. However, as soon as he lays on a dusty mattress, the corresponding reaction begins. Therefore, waking up in the morning, he notices that he cannot breathe normally, and a lot of mucus has accumulated in his nose.
It is worth paying attention to the symptoms during rest. If the dream is restless and a person constantly sneezes and coughs, but in the daytime there are no such problems, then you should consider buying anti-allergenic underwear and a new mattress.
Also, if the nose is stuffed up in the morning, and the snot flows in a stream, it is recommended to look at the pets. As a rule, it is the allergy to wool that is most actively manifested in the morning, when a person just wakes up.
Another common cause is inflammation of the adenoids or the presence of polyps in the nasopharynx. In this case, patients note a drying out of the mucous membrane and copious discharge from the nose.
What to do to get rid of nasal congestion
First of all, it is worth conducting a complete diagnosis. It is impossible to complete all the necessary measures at home, so you will have to go to the therapist, who will write a referral to specialized specialists.
As a rule, doctors primarily examine the nasopharynx. After that - palpation of the lymph nodes. If visual diagnostic methods do not give a result, then a tomography of the sinuses of the nasal cavity is performed. It is also recommended to take tests and exclude the likelihood of an allergic reaction.
To identify the infection, specialists conduct laboratory tests. Based on the data obtained, the doctor draws up an individual course of therapeutic measures.
Treatment features
In this case, first of all, it all depends on the causes that caused the unpleasant symptoms in the morning. For example, if we are talking about an allergic rhinitis, then medications can be prescribed, as well as some therapeutic procedures that can help relieve symptoms. The doctor should identify the allergen and choose a drug that will be most effective against it. In addition, drops with vasoconstrictor type drugs are prescribed to patients. In addition, you need to take a course of taking medications that will help improve the functions of the immune system.
In some situations, doctors allow treatment at home. For example, patients are allowed to rinse the nasal cavity with herbs and a weak salt solution.
If during diagnostic measures it was revealed that the patient is suffering from an infection, then such a diagnosis implies a more advanced treatment. For example, ointments or special drops of an antibacterial type may be prescribed. You will also need to rinse the sinuses with the help of pharmacies or decoctions. In more complex situations, antiviral drugs and antibiotics are prescribed. Additionally, in order to quickly relieve the patient of an unpleasant symptom, the doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictive drops or sprays.
If it is a chronic runny nose or a curvature of the septum, then in this situation only individual treatment is possible. Sometimes it’s enough to limit yourself to therapeutic procedures and medications. However, in some situations, the doctor may decide to have surgery.
Finally
Do not perceive morning nasal congestion as a normal phenomenon. Symptoms often worsen over time. As a result, this may well lead to serious complications. It is best to diagnose and identify the causes of the disease.