What to do if nasal congestion persists?

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1. What is stuffy nose, difficulty breathing?

Nasal congestion , difficulty breathing is a condition in which the blood vessels inside the nose become inflamed and the nasal tissues swell, appearing an amount of mucus that prevents air circulation and makes it impossible for the patient to breathe normally.
Nasal congestion is also a common sign of allergies, when your respiratory system is exposed to irritants, the lining of the nose and sinuses is irritated, increasing mucus secretion to eliminate allergens. As a result, when the secretion of nasal secretions is too much, it will lead to nasal congestion, obstructing breathing.
Long-term stuffy nose makes many people uncomfortable, but not everyone is conscious of early examination because this is still considered a "mediocre" symptom that does no harm. Nasal congestion is not too serious, but if left untreated for a long time, it will lead to acute sinusitis, which is difficult to treat later.
Besides, when having a stuffy nose, the patient will also have some other symptoms, such as sore throat, ringing in the ears, headache, runny nose, frequent runny nose and stuffy nose on one side.

2. What are the common causes of stuffy nose and difficulty breathing?

When you have a stuffy nose, difficulty breathing for a long time, more than 3 weeks, it is considered chronic nasal congestion. Besides the fact that your nose always has fluid leading to blocked nose, unable to breathe through the nose, chronic nasal congestion also has other signs such as:
Voice change: your voice becomes hoarse, sounds hoarse as if nothing is not there. air passes through the nose. Shortness of breath when you sleep: Nasal congestion often increases at night, making it difficult to breathe, disrupting sleep, not sleeping deeply, as a result, you are always tired, sleepy during the day, tend to have a tendency to sleep. more, reducing labor efficiency With young children. More snoring during sleep can also be a sign of persistent nasal congestion.
Long-lasting stuffy nose and shortness of breath are rarely caused by an acute cause such as a common cold or viral infection.
Symptoms of stuffy nose appear in a lot of diseases, so it is also necessary to have many causes for this condition, such as:
2.1 Colds Most likely you have a cold due to changes in the weather or your body. You cannot adapt to the current living environment if your stuffy nose is accompanied by symptoms including constant sneezing, sore throat, many coughs or fever.

2.2. People with allergies or changes in living environment Some people will experience stuffy nose, discomfort, even difficulty breathing when they come into contact with objects or items (sometimes drugs) will be allergic.
When your body is gradually used to a certain temperature, change of location or season will take place, the body begins to feel uncomfortable and symptoms of nasal congestion and sneezing become worse.
2.3. Air quality Persistent stuffy nose can come from objective reasons, such as too much dust accumulation in the current living environment. Allergies that suddenly appear due to too humid or too dry air will make nasal congestion worse.
2.4. Respiratory tract infections Respiratory tract infections including allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and sinusitis all share a common symptom of nasal congestion, severity will vary from individual to individual. .
In which, sinusitis is the most common, common in adults and accompanied by frequent nasal congestion, sense of smell and jaw pain due to the influence of the disease.
2.5. Hormonal changes during pregnancy Congestion during pregnancy will start to appear symptoms, such as stuffy nose, itchy nose, sneezing...
Currently, there is no way to completely cure these symptoms. stuffy nose that can only be used with some natural methods to relieve the above conditions.

2.6. Here are the problems that need to be changed or stopped immediately: When you regularly inhale toxic substances into your body that make your stuffy nose worse Daily exposure to substances or agents cause allergies, stuffy nose Lazy drink water every day and supplement all kinds of vitamins and nutrients needed by the body. Not cleaning the nose regularly also causes the mucus in the nose to remain blocked.

3. A few effective ways to treat a stuffy nose with difficulty breathing

For common stuffy noses due to irritation or inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, rhinitis, these simple remedies will be effective. However, with severe disease, or with nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, it will affect breathing activities, especially in people with sensitive respiratory conditions, it is necessary to use therapeutic drugs.
Most nasal decongestants are over-the-counter medicines, you can use them as directed by your doctor.
3.1. Nasal decongestant spray Nasal spray is the most commonly used drug for cases of nasal congestion, nasal allergies with pharmaceutical ingredients such as Oxymetazoline, Rhinex,... When in contact with the nasal mucosa, the drug has a reducing effect. swelling, relieve sinus pressure and reduce mucus secretion, thereby eliminating nasal congestion. In addition to sprays, there are also oral decongestants on the market, but they are less common.
Decongestant nasal spray has a quick effect in the treatment of nasal congestion, but should not be used many times a day and for too long, it can adversely affect this organ. To use the drug most effectively and avoid possible complications, you need to consult an Ear - Nose - Throat specialist.

3.2. Antihistamines If the cause of your stuffy nose and other respiratory symptoms is an allergy, you'll need an antihistamine to control your allergy. However, antihistamines should not be used without a doctor's prescription or the cause of nasal congestion and allergies is unknown.
3.3. Some home remedies to help with stuffy nose, shortness of breath Use a humidifier or nebulizer to increase the humidity of the air for you One of the causes of a stuffy nose can be dry air and a lack of body water due to weather changes or staying in the air conditioner for too long.
A humidifier will make the air more humid to soothe irritated tissues and swollen blood vessels in the nose and sinuses, and thin the mucus in the sinuses.
Remember to clean and keep the humidifier clean because humidity will also create conditions for bacteria and mold to grow, negatively affecting the health of the user.
Use essential oils from nature for steaming Nasal congestion will quickly disappear when using essential oils for steaming. How to do:
Prepare to shrink hot water, add a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil or lemongrass, lavender essential oil to give off a pleasant smell
Use a large towel to cover your head so that the steam in the bowl rises, then Steam for about 10 minutes
Apply a steam bath 2-3 times a day to treat nasal congestion
Or if you have a facial steamer or an essential oil vaporizer, you can also use it to steam your nose. Pay attention to keep a safe distance between the face and the water basin to avoid burns.

Drink honey ginger tea When you have a stuffy nose, a cup of hot honey ginger tea is also a simple but effective remedy, especially for people with a stuffy nose due to a cold. How to make ginger tea:
Wash fresh ginger, scrape off the skin and cut it into small pieces, then put it in a cup of hot water. Wait about 15 minutes for the water in the cup to turn ginger yellow. Next, add 2 teaspoons of honey, stir well and enjoy. However, if you are suffering from diseases such as stomach ulcers, gastric reflux, you need to be more careful when using ginger.
Need to buy good honey and clear origin for best results.
Drink hot perilla juice In perilla leaves contain natural anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-allergic, skin-beautifying, resistance-boosting active ingredients, which are applied in many oriental medicine.
How to make hot perilla juice to drink as follows:
Wash perilla leaves and soak them in dilute salt water for about 5 minutes. Then, put perilla in 2.5 liters of filtered water and bring to a boil, cover the lid. When boiling for about 2 minutes, then turn off the heat. Let the perilla juice cool down with 3 slices of fresh lemon in a jar, store it in the refrigerator and drink it within a day. Although perilla juice is very good and natural, when you experience allergic symptoms, please stop using it immediately.
Supplementing vitamins and herbs will help strengthen your body's immune system You need to eat fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of vitamin C such as oranges, guava, broccoli, strawberries, kiwi, papaya ...if you are having a stuffy nose.
Hot showers Nasal congestion can temporarily stop when you take a hot shower to thin the mucus. When showering, remember to close the bathroom door so that the hot steam in the bathroom helps you better.

Drink plenty of water (especially warm water) for your body Drinking enough water every day is very important because our body accounts for 70% of water, so when there is a lack of water, the body will not work properly.
Remember to drink water every 20-30 minutes, don't wait until you are too thirsty to drink.
Gargle with warm salt water Doctors recommend that people who are suffering from ENT diseases should gargle with warm salt water to antibacterial and remove viruses.
Create favorable conditions to help you sleep more easily Congested nose, shortness of breath will become worse at night, so when you prepare to sleep, raise your pillow because it will help the nose part drain out mucus and prevent the condition. frequent heartburn.
At the same time, humidify your bedroom with a humidifier to thin the mucus in your nose.
Rest When your nose is too stuffy, you should not try to work, especially hard work will make the condition last longer.
Take more time to relax, avoid stress and stress if you don't want the stuffy nose to get worse.

4. When do you need to see a doctor?

The stuffy nose, shortness of breath will go away on its own, but if it persists for 10 days to 1 week and is accompanied by other symptoms such as high fever, bleeding from one side of the nose, wheezing or difficulty breathing, facial pain or pain If you have persistent teeth, you should visit your doctor immediately to be examined and prescribed the appropriate treatment for your condition, in order to avoid dangerous complications of the nose disease.
Nasal congestion, runny nose and decreased sense of smell are the main symptoms of nasal polyps. But those are also symptoms of many other conditions, such as the flu. However, the symptoms of the flu usually go away after a week, but the symptoms of polyps do not abate. It is necessary to seek medical attention when you have difficulty breathing and a persistent runny nose.

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