Bad nose breathing? Many people face this problem. If the nose is stuffed up, but there is no runny nose, there are no manifestations of the disease and this condition lasts several days, then the help of a physician is required. This situation has a negative impact on the functioning of vital organs and systems, provokes the development of infectious and inflammatory diseases. In addition, if the baby has a stuffy nose, then apathy, lethargy, difficulty breathing, possibly fever, and insomnia may occur.
Causes of nasal congestion without a runny nose
When the nose is breathing poorly, but there is no runny nose, an inflammatory process occurs, and the mucous membrane swells. Contributes to the disease poor ecology and dry indoor air. Of the main reasons that provoke pathology, there are:
- allergies
- infection
- unwanted effects of drugs;
- colds;
- adenoids or polyps;
- viral diseases in the initial stage.
Among the factors that provoke this phenomenon in an adult individual, note:
- regular hypothermia;
- excessive consumption of alcohol-containing drinks;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- rhinitis;
- cold;
- sinusitis or sinusitis in the chronic stage;
- imbalance of hormonal substances;
- gallbladder inflammation;
- swelling in the nasopharyngeal region;
- weakened immunity.
Causes of nasal congestion in children without a cold. Diagnostics
If the nose of a newborn is not breathing well, then this condition may be a consequence of a congenital anomaly. In older children - when stuffing various small objects into the nose. In addition, the following conditions are provoking factors:
- allergy;
- injuries
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- viral infections;
- polyps;
- drying of mucus in the nasal cavity;
- bad habits - typical for adolescence.
The nasal passages at an early age are quite narrow, the mucous membrane due to good blood supply quickly responds to all changes in the external environment. As a result, swelling occurs at high temperature or dry air, malfunctioning of the epithelium and cilia. Due to the fact that the mucous membranes of the baby are very delicate, they are prone to irritation and swelling. As a result, the lumen of the nasal passages narrows, and the child does not breathe well with his nose, but there are no snot. Nasal congestion and swelling are more pronounced at a younger age. This phenomenon is explained by the structural features of the nasal concha. Against the background of nasal congestion, tissue hypoxia occurs, and the following symptoms are observed in children:
- tearfulness;
- insomnia;
- lack of appetite;
- dizziness;
- malaise;
- headache.
Why does the nose breathe poorly? To identify the causes of nasal congestion, a thorough diagnosis should be made. To do this, you need to contact the doctor of the otorhinolaryngologist, who will conduct an examination using special tools, and will collect an anamnesis. If necessary, recommend the following types of examinations:
- radiography and ultrasound of the sinuses;
- sowing smears from the nose on the microflora;
- blood test: immunological, allergological, general, biochemistry.
Drug and surgical treatment
The choice of a specific drug depends on the cause of the disease. If nasal congestion is caused by an infection, then antibacterial agents are indicated:
- Amoxicillin;
- Clarithromycin;
- "Erythromycin";
- Polydex.
If low immunity has caused the disease, then in this case herbal preparations containing ginseng, echinacea and having an immunostimulating effect will help.
If the nose does not breathe well, but there is no runny nose, inhalation using a nebulizer is recommended to relieve or reduce swelling, thanks to this device, finely dispersed particles of the drug penetrate deeper into the diseased organ. From eucalyptus, calendula, thyme and chamomile, decoctions are prepared that are used for inhalation. In addition, antiallergic drugs are prescribed - “Zodak”, “Loratadin”, drugs based on xylometazoline - “Tizin”, “Rinorus” and others. They constrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa, remove redness and swelling, and also help restore patency of the nasal passages. As a result, nasal breathing is restored.
The main indications for surgery:
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- adenoids or polyps;
- the presence of a foreign body in the nasal passages;
- excessive proliferation of mucous tissue.
An operation is performed in a hospital.
Folk remedies
If the nose does not breathe well, and there are no snot, then after consulting a doctor, you can use the following recipes of alternative medicine. They have been tested for years and are very popular:
- foot baths;
- tea drink with linden and raspberry;
- hot shower;
- mustard plasters on the calf muscles.
All of the above methods have a distracting effect. For children, you can use the following tools:
- rinsing the nose with saline;
- warming with a hard-boiled egg;
- instillation of aloe juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1;
- lubrication of the nose with onion oil (onion juice is poured with sunflower oil and insisted for about eight hours).
Breasts are instilled with breast milk in their nose, and they can also be breathed through a nebulizer.
Bad nose breathing, what to do?
First of all, it is necessary to create conditions that facilitate breathing, namely:
- humidify the air and ventilate the room more often;
- take a large amount of liquid;
- regularly do inhalation and rinsing of the nose;
- sleep with your head held high;
- inhale wet steam;
- warm your nose.
In addition, to relieve the condition, a good effect is provided by acupressure of the nose and nose wings, breathing exercises, physiotherapy and yoga. Surgical intervention is indicated in complex cases. Timely initiated therapy will avoid serious complications. In addition to traditional treatment, the use of traditional medicine recipes is allowed.
Causes of nasal congestion in infants
It is bad to breathe through the nose - this phenomenon is often found in babies and causes him a lot of inconvenience. The baby becomes moody, restless, sleeps poorly. The causes of nasal congestion are as follows:
- Adaptation to the environment - in the first days after birth, the mucous membrane adapts to external conditions, so a baby’s nose is often stuffy. This is a natural process and soon passes on its own. If the problem persists within a few weeks, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
- Dry air - as a result, the delicate mucous membrane dries, and the baby begins to wheeze, because it is difficult for him to breathe. In the room where the baby is, it is necessary to maintain a certain humidity and constantly ventilate.
- Overheating - if the baby is warmly dressed and sweats, then it is bad for him to breathe through his nose as a result of the mucous membrane drying out. You should not wrap it, and in addition, when choosing clothes, you must give preference to natural materials.
- Teething - during this period, the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and nose swells and becomes inflamed, which causes shortness of breath. However, this is a temporary phenomenon and soon passes.
- Foreign body - if a foreign object gets in, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is not recommended to extract it yourself.
Pathological causes of nasal congestion in infants
When a child is a month old and has a bad nose breathing, the reason may be associated with various pathological conditions:
- Allergic rhinitis is a seasonal problem, mainly associated with the flowering of some plants.
- Congenital malformations - curvature of the nasal septum.
- Nasal obstruction - full or partial.
- Complications after infectious diseases.
- Inflammation of adenoids - is quite rare in such small children.
It is important to remember that prolonged mouth breathing leads to hypoxia, which adversely affects the development of the child's body.
The child does not breathe well at night: reasons
Violation of nasal breathing during sleep leads to lethargy and fatigue. If the baby does not breathe with his nose at night, then he switches to breathing by mouth. As a result, the pharynx and oral cavity dries up, and in addition, the likelihood of developing infectious pathologies increases: laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis. There are several reasons that prevent breathing through the nose at night:
- Mucosal edema. It occurs against the background of the inflammatory process. An increased flow of blood goes to the inflamed area, the vessels expand, and the volume of the mucous membrane increases. As a result, the nasal passages narrow, and the air does not pass through them.
- Mucous discharge. A viscous and thick secret prevents the baby from breathing freely.
- Adenoids.
- Polyps.
- Curvature of the nasal septum.
- Hereditary pathology.
Among the causes of edema, in the first place are infectious diseases. In the daytime, the baby breathes through his nose, at night he has problems.
Why does she keep her nose up at night?
In the inflammatory process, the nasopharynx regularly synthesizes mucus. It flows through the nasal passages, as well as through the pharynx and gets into the throat. In the afternoon, when the child is active, he involuntarily swallows it, and when lying down, its outflow from the nasopharynx is difficult. The reason is as follows:
- mucus flows down the throat when taking a horizontal position;
- Ingestion in a dream does not occur.
As a result, a thick and viscous secret, as well as swelling of the nasopharyngeal tissues, makes nasal breathing impossible. One of the most common causes of nasal congestion at night is the so-called post-nasal congestion syndrome, i.e. when mucus flows down the back of the nasopharynx into the throat.
Signs of postnasal leakage
The clinical picture is as follows:
- painful dry cough in the morning and at night;
- a feeling of mucus in the throat;
- nasal congestion at night;
- sore throat after sleep;
- headache;
- general weakness;
- constant drowsiness.
In addition, the nose does not breathe well at night with diseases such as:
- rhinitis in the chronic and acute stages;
- inflammation of adenoids and others.
In addition, postnasal syndrome manifests itself with anomalies in the form of a curvature of the nasal septum and allergies, which at night can be caused by:
- particles of bleach, rinse aid, laundry detergent left on underwear or bedding;
- the materials from which the toys are made;
- pet hair;
- dry or contaminated air in the room where the baby sleeps.
Treatment
It is divided into:
- Symptomatic - is aimed at restoring normal breathing through the nose.
- Etiological - treat a disease that provoked shortness of breath at night.
- Auxiliary - aimed at facilitating general well-being and recovery.
The most effective drugs for relieving edema are vasoconstrictors. They are usually used in the form of a nasal spray or drops. By acting on the smooth muscles of blood vessels, they cause their contraction. As a result, puffiness subsides, and nasal passages become free. It is recommended to use these funds for a limited period, in addition, you should not exceed the dosage and frequency of instillation in excess of that prescribed by the treating doctor. Otherwise, the risk of developing adverse reactions increases significantly. Despite the quick result after using vasoconstrictor drugs, doctors advise first of all to use more gentle means:
- Saline solution - it can be instilled into each nasal passage every thirty minutes. It helps to normalize nasal breathing by releasing the nasopharynx from the accumulation of dust and mucus.
- Medicines based on sea water. Their action is similar to saline.
- Oil-based medicines. For example, "Pinosol" containing plant components. These agents reduce swelling, protect against drying out of the mucous membrane and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.
If breathing badly due to the presence of an allergic component, preference should be given to antihistamines. They inhibit the formation of mucus and the production of substances that provoke edema. The most popular are Allergodil, Fenistil.
In addition, the following procedures have worked well:
- rubbing the chest, including ointments with a warming effect;
- hot drink;
- compress and massage of the nose;
- steam inhalation;
- inhalation of pine, eucalyptus or fir oil.
It is also necessary to create favorable conditions in the bedroom of the baby. The air should be fresh, cool, humidity about 60 percent, and temperature about 20 degrees. Such conditions will allow the baby to sleep peacefully and breathe through the nose.
Nasal congestion in children should be treated promptly. In the early stages, this problem can be dealt with using only physiotherapy, and upon transition to the chronic stage, surgical intervention will be required. Thus, if the child does not breathe well with his nose, this is an occasion to seek the advice of a doctor.