Stuffed Nose: Causes

What causes a stuffed nose?

A variety of diseases, disorders and conditions can cause a stuffed nose, including infection, allergies, and deformities or abnormalities in the structure of the nose.

The inside of your nose is covered with mucous membranes that are supplied with blood by arteries, veins and capillaries. These blood vessels can dilate (expand) and constrict (contract) in response to different stimuli. When they dilate, they cause the mucous membranes inside the nose to swell, leading to congestion and nasal obstruction.

A substance called histamine commonly causes this reaction. Histamine is released by the body in response to allergies or nasal infections, such as a cold or sinus infection.

Allergic causes of a stuffed nose

A stuffed nose can be caused by allergies to animal dander, dust mites, molds, and pollen. These allergies are known by various names including:

• Grass fever

• Hay fever

• Indoor allergies, such as mold allergy or house dust allergy

• Outdoor allergies

• Pine fever

• Seasonal allergies

Infectious causes of a stuffed nose

A stuffed nose can also be caused by infectious diseases including:

• Acute or chronic sinusitis (inflammation or infection of the sinuses)

• Common cold

• Flu

• Pharyngitis (sore throat)

• Upper respiratory infection

Structural causes of a stuffed nose

Structural causes of a stuffed or congested nose include:

• Deformities of the nose or nasal septum (flat piece of cartilage and bone that separates the nostrils)

• Enlarged adenoids

• Foreign body

• Injury

• Nasal tumors

• Polyps

Vasomotor causes of stuffed nose

The term vasomotor refers to the nerves that control the blood vessels in the nose. When these nerves are stimulated, they cause the blood vessels to dilate, resulting in nasal congestion. A variety of stimuli can cause this reaction in someone who otherwise does not have a cold or allergies. These stimuli include:

• Alcohol

• Certain blood pressure medications

• Cold or dry air

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

• Irritants, such as perfumes or smoke

• Overuse of nasal decongestant sprays

• Pregnancy

• Psychological or emotional stress

• Spicy foods

Serious or life-threatening causes of a stuffed nose

In some cases, a stuffed nose may be a symptom of anaphylaxis, which is a serious and life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.

Questions for diagnosing the cause of stuffed nose

To diagnose the underlying cause of a stuffed nose, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner may ask you several questions related to your symptoms. You can best help your health care practitioner in diagnosing the underlying cause of your stuffed nose by providing complete answers to these questions:

• How long have you had nasal congestion?

• Is your nose congested all the time or only at certain times?

• Have you had any injuries to your face or nose?

• What have you tried so far to relieve your nasal congestion? Has it worked?

• What other symptoms are you experiencing?

• Have you been in recent contact with any unusual or new substances or environments?

• Provide your full medical history, including all medical conditions, surgeries and treatments, family history, and a complete list of the prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, and dietary supplements that you take.

• Do you smoke?

What are the potential complications of a stuffed nose?

Complications of a stuffed nose vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Identifying and treating the underlying cause of a stuffed nose and nasal congestion is important to minimize any potential complications. Children, infants and newborn babies have an increased risk of developing complications. Complications include:

• Asthma attack

• Bronchitis

• Chronic cough

• Chronic sinusitis

• Dental deformities or a sagging face in children who are chronic mouth breathers

• Difficulty with feeding or nursing in infants

• Facial and dental deformities

• Impaired speech development and learning problems in children

• Noisy breathing and snoring

• Obstructed breathing in infants, which may require surgical correction

• Sleep apnea

• Sleep disturbances