“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.
Take a Hot Shower. Taking a hot shower can help to improve your congestion and make you feel a whole lot more comfortable quickly. The steam from a hot shower helps to thin and loosen the mucus in your nose and lowers the amount of inflammation in your nasal passages.
Nasal congestion typically clears within a few days. If it doesn't, you may develop a bacterial infection. You should seek care if you have the following symptoms: Your nasal congestion lasts more than 10 days.
Prop yourself up
The best position to sleep with a stuffy nose is typically on your back with your head slightly elevated13. A blocked nose at night often feels worse as your body position causes more blood to flow to your nose, increasing the swelling14. It also means your body can't drain mucus properly15.
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.
On the other hand, repeated and forceful nose-blowing can generate pressures that are high enough to force mucus into the sinuses, which could be a factor in chronic sinusitis. If you are going to blow your nose, stick to one nostril at a time and do it gently.
The problem will usually clear up by itself, but if you're bothered by a blocked nose then there are some breathing exercises and other remedies that might help. You should also discuss the problem with a doctor if it doesn't clear up quickly or if it happens a lot.
While nose-blowing helps to alleviate symptoms of the common cold and hayfever, when it is done excessively or incorrectly it may bring potential adverse health effects. Nose-blowing generates high pressure in the nostrils.
The underlying mechanism has to do with an asymmetry in blood flow between the nasal cavities. Blood vessels can swell and change the airflow in one nostril in comparison with the other. This cycle is controlled by your autonomic nervous system (ANS) and lasts around 2 hours per cycle.
Chronic sinusitis and obstructions are the two most common causes of poor breathing through the nose.
Use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays or drops to help unblock your nose and allow you to breathe more easily – these shouldn't be used for more than a week at a time. Apply warm packs to your face to soothe your pain and help mucus drain from your sinuses.
Balloon sinuplasty allows the surgeon to dilate a blocked sinus, creating open space, which allows the sinus to drain normally. The surgeon uses a flexible endoscope with a light to guide the insertion of a thin wire. The wire is then moved through the nasal passages toward the opening of the blocked sinus.