Only one nostril clogs at a time because of the nasal cycle, a normal process where blood vessels (turbinates) in your nasal passages swell and shrink, alternating which nostril gets more congested to rest and moisturize one side while the other breathes, but it can also be due to a deviated septum, nasal polyps, allergies, or sleeping position. This natural cycle typically switches every few hours, but you might notice it more when sick or lying down.
Dealing with a blocked nostril can be frustrating and uncomfortable, especially when it seems to only affect one side. Common culprits include a deviated septum, allergies, or even the way you sleep. Fortunately, simple remedies like saline rinses and elevating your head at night can often provide relief.
Elevate Your Head To Get Rid of Your Stuffy Nose at Night
Your blood pressure and blood flow to the upper body also changes when you lie down in bed — this can cause inflammation in the nose and nasal passages. Sleeping on your side may cause the nostril closest to the bed to clog.
Signs and symptoms
You should seek care if you have the following symptoms: Your nasal congestion lasts more than 10 days. Mucus coming from your nose is green, yellow or has blood in it. You have a fever.
Being flat on your back can compound nasal congestion since mucus pools in the sinuses to block airflow. Sleeping with your head elevated will promote the drainage of mucus, preventing congestion from building during the night.
Using direct heat or steam
“Steam can also be risky if not used carefully,” Kadri said. “Leaning too close to a pot of boiling water or inhaling steam that is too hot can burn the delicate lining of your nose and throat, making congestion worse.”
Foods To Be Avoided During Sinusitis
Please identify if there are any red flags associated with the nasal block (unilateral bloody discharge, cacosmia (everything smells foul), bleeding, paraesthesia over the cheek, change in vision or dentition, neurological symptoms).
Location: With a bacterial sinus infection, it's common to feel pain and pressure on just one side of your face. That happens when the infection is in just one sinus. With a cold or allergies, sinuses on both sides will be affected. Color: With allergies, drainage from your nose is usually clear or slightly whitish.
We also found that rhinitis was associated with hypertension, even after multivariate adjustment. This finding emphasizes the potential clinical relevance of our study as hypertension identifies a category of patients with a high cardiovascular risk profile.
A deviated septum happens when the thin wall between the nasal passages, called the nasal septum, is off to one side. The nasal septum being off-center, called deviated, makes one side of the inside of the nose smaller. A deviated septum can block one side of the nose. The reduced airflow can make it hard to breathe.
Overview. Sick sinus syndrome is a type of heart rhythm disorder. It affects the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node), which controls the heartbeat. Sick sinus syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses (long periods between heartbeats) or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
Symptoms
Other disease processes can mimic sinusitis including the common cold, allergies, migraine headache, chronic daily headache, myofascial pain, temporomandibular joint or jaw pain, rhinitis medicamentosa, and even sleep apnea. Therefore an accurate diagnosis requires a thorough history and physical examination.
Imaging tests.
CT or MRI scans can show details of the sinuses and nasal area. These images might pinpoint the cause of chronic sinusitis.
The four main symptoms of sinusitis are nasal congestion/blockage, facial pain/pressure, thick, discolored mucus (yellow/green), and a reduced sense of smell or taste, often accompanied by a cough, postnasal drip, and fatigue, making it hard to breathe and causing discomfort around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead.
The Link Between Low Vitamin D and Sinus Problems
For example, one study found that patients with lower vitamin D levels not only had more nasal polyps on their scans but also experienced more frequent symptoms like facial pressure, congestion, and fatigue.
Get prompt medical care if you have nasal congestion accompanied by:
Nasal congestion typically involves swelling of the nasal passages due to inflammation or excess mucus production, often triggered by colds, allergies, or infections. In contrast, nasal obstruction refers to a physical blockage that prevents airflow, which may be due to structural issues, polyps, or growths.
The first and most important beverage to clear congestion is water. Drinking plenty of water can help thin mucus and ease congestion. Aim for at least eight cups of water a day. If you struggle to drink enough water, try swapping a couple of cups for coconut water or other natural fruit juices.
Anything that irritates the inside of the nose can cause a stuffy nose. Infections — such as colds, flu or sinusitis — and allergies often cause stuffy and runny noses. Irritants in the air, such as tobacco smoke, perfume, dust and car exhaust, also can cause these symptoms.
Go for ginger.
Sauté fresh ginger with sliced onion, chopped vegetables and meat for a healthy meal that can help fight inflammation caused by allergies. Alternatively, you can inhale the steam while sipping hot ginger tea to help thin mucus. This is definitely one of the greatest foods that help with nasal congestion.