Use a Humidifier or Air Purifier to Improve Air Quality Improving the air quality in your bedroom can loosen nasal congestion before you go to bed at night. Dry air will dry out the mucus that is used to trap allergens and irritants that you breathe.
Stuffy air typically occurs in rooms that lack ventilation. Open windows and doors, or run your ventilation system if you have one. Some areas of the home may also need spot ventilation. Adding a bathroom or kitchen fan near the moisture or pollution source helps to solve common problems.
Add Moisture to the Air
Running a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer in your home or office is a simple and effective way to reduce nasal congestion, says Stringer. Breathing in humid air helps soothe irritated nasal tissues, lessens sinus inflammation, and thins mucus (which helps it drain), he explains.
According to Dr. Leann Poston of Invigor Medical, “Elevating your head before bed can increase drainage and decrease congestion.” That's why the best position to sleep with a stuffy nose is on your back with different types of pillows elevating your head and neck.
When nasal passages become inflamed and your sinuses don't drain properly, it is hard to breathe through your nose. Propping your head up on a high pillow can help keep your sinuses more open. Or you could try sleeping in a recliner or on an adjustable bed with the head propped higher.
A stuffy nose at night can be caused by many different things, including a respiratory infection, allergies, asthma, sleep apnea, nasal polyps, dry air, and even your sleep posture. In some cases, the cause may be unknown.
This helps wash the viruses from the nose and sinuses. After 2 or 3 days, mucus may change to a white, yellow, or green color. This is normal and does not mean you need an antibiotic. Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days.
It's common and usually clears up on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. But medicines can help if it's taking a long time to go away.
A dry climate or heated indoor air will both dry out the membranes in your nose. And when the mucus up in there dries, it gets thicker and is more likely to clog your sinuses.
What are some of the symptoms breathing poorly circulated air cause? The official medical term [for the problem] is called building-related illness. It can cause headaches, fatigue, dry skin and irritation of the respiratory and nasal tract, resulting in coughing and nasal and sinus congestion.
Dust and Dust Mites
If you're waking up with a stuffy nose, perhaps all you need to do is ramp up your cleaning routine. Dust typically accumulates around carpets, beds, and other furniture. If your bedroom is carpeted, a thorough vacuum and washing your sheets is the first step to reducing this irritant.
“Blowing your nose is useful, but if nothing is coming out, it generally means there's not a lot of mucus.” The three common culprits behind inflammation in your nose are infections, allergies, and nonallergic rhinitis, says Dr. Alexander.
Patients frequently complain that they have one side of their nose that is always blocked. This is typically due to structural issues in the nose. The nasal septum is the divider between the right and left side of your nose. It is made of cartilage and bone and it may be deviated into one side of the nose.
Sinus and nasal complaints are common reasons for a visit to your primary care doctor, an allergist or an otolaryngologist (ENT). If you're asking yourself, "what are the reasons why I can't breathe through my nose," two common culprits to consider are a nasal obstruction and chronic sinusitis.
Blowing the nose can worsen the feeling of congestion due to pressure build-up within the nostrils, which may shoot up the mucus into the sinuses instead of ejection through the nose.
Both the swelling and extra mucus lead to nasal congestion. This is when the narrowed passages increase the effort of breathing through the nose. Clearing the mucus by blowing the nose should reduce this congestion somewhat. At the beginning of colds and for most of the time with hay fever, there's lots of runny mucus.
Experts suggest that particular positions can help or hinder sleep when you have a cold. When you sleep on your back, it can make congestion even worse. Try sleeping on your side, and prop up your pillows so you're sleeping at a slight angle to help prevent congestion from disrupting your sleep.
In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest.
The cold air seems to trigger nervous system reflexes in the nose that cause glands in the nasal membranes to produce mucus; the problem may be particularly common in those with allergies.
What causes a blocked nose at night? For many children, nasal congestion can become worse at night. This is because lying on their back causes mucus to pool at the back of their throats. Plus, their immune system is typically more active at night, which could increase any swelling.
Most people enjoy the cooling and comfortable breeze of a fan. But excess wind makes the air dry. When you sleep, this dry air may affect your breathing, causing sleep disruptions. Using a fan at night can even aggravate your allergies, making you uncomfortable throughout the night.