Allergy is an exaggerated inflammatory response to a foreign substance which, in the case of a stuffy nose, is usually a pollen, mold, animal dander, or some element in house dust. Foods sometime play a role. Pollens cause problems in spring trees and summer grasses or fall weeds whereas house dust allergies and mold may be a year-around problem. Ideally the best treatment is avoidance of these substances, but that is impractical in most cases.
In the allergic patient, the release of histamine and similar substances results in congestion and excess production of watery nasal mucus. Antihistamine Help relieve the sneezing and runny nose of allergy.
Many antihistamines are now available without a prescription. All these preparations have potential side effects, and patients must heed the warnings of the package or prescription insert. This is especially important if the patient suffers from high blood pressure, glaucoma, irregular heart beats, difficulty in urination, or is pregnant. Allergy shots are the most specific treatment available, and they are highly successful in allergic patients.
Skin tests or at times blood tests are used to make up treatment vials of substances to which the patient is allergic. The physician determines the best concentration for initiating the treatment. These treatments are given by injection. Many patients prefer allergy shots over drugs because of the side effects of the drugs. Patients with allergies have an increased tendency to develop sinus infections and require treatment as discussed in the previous section.
The membranes of the nose have an abundant supply of arteries, veins, and capillaries, which have a great capacity for both expansion and constriction. Normally these blood vessels are in a half-constricted, half-open state.
The adrenaline causes constriction or squeezing of the nasal membranes so that the air passages open up and the person breathes more freely. In addition to allergies and infections, other events can also cause nasal blood vessels to expand, leading to vasomotor rhinitis.
These include psychological stress, inadequate thyroid function, pregnancy, certain anti-high blood pressure drugs, and overuse or prolonged use of decongesting nasal sprays and irritants such as perfumes and tobacco smoke.
In the early stages of each of these disorders, the nasal stuffiness is temporary and reversible. That is, it will improve if the primary cause is corrected. However, if the condition persists for a long enough period, the blood vessels lose their capacity to constrict.
They become somewhat like varicose veins. The congestion often interferes with sleep. So it is helpful for stuffy patients to sleep with the head of the bed elevated two to four inches accomplish this by placing a brick or two under each castor of the bedposts at the head of the bed. Surgery may offer dramatic and long time relief.
Stuffy nose is one symptom caused by a remarkable array of different disorders, and the physician with special interest in nasal disorders will offer treatments based on the specific causes. The FDA-cleared technology uses a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter to open up blocked sinus passageways, restoring normal sinus drainage. When the sinus balloon is inflated, it gently restructures and widens the walls of the passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.
All rights reserved. Nosebleeds Post Nasal Drip Sinusitis Stuffy Nose Balloon Sinuplasty The nose is an area of the body that contains many tiny blood vessels or arterioles that can break easily.
What is an anterior nosebleed? How to stop an anterior nosebleed? Stay calm, or help a young child stay calm. Keep head higher than the level of the heart. Sit up. Using the thumb and index finger, pinch all the soft parts of the nose or place a cotton ball soaked with Afrin, Neo-Synephrine, or Dura-Vent spray into the nostril and apply preassure.
The area where pressure should be applied is located between the end of the nose and the hard, bony ridge that forms the bridge of the nose. Do not pack the inside of the nose with gauze or cotton. Apply ice—crushed in a plastic bag or washcloth—to nose and cheeks. Hold the position for five minutes. What is a posterior nosebleed? More rarely, a nosebleed can begin high and deep within the nose and flow down the back of the mouth and throat even if the patient is sitting or standing Obviously, when lying down, even anterior front of nasal cavity nosebleeds may seem to flow toward the back of the throat especially if coughing or blowing the nose.
Posterior nosebleeds are more likely to occur in older people, persons with high blood pressure, and in cases of injury to the nose or face What are the causes of recurring nosebleeds? Allergies, infections, or dryness that cause itching and lead to picking of the nose. Vigorous nose blowing that ruptures superficial blood vessels. Clotting disorders that run in families or are due to medications. Drugs such as anticoagulants or anti-inflammatories.
Fractures of the nose or the base of the skull. Head injuries that cause nosebleeds should be regarded seriously. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a disorder involving a blood vessel growth similar to a birthmark in the back of the nose. Tumors, both malignant and nonmalignant, have to be considered, particularly in the older patient or in smokers.
When should an otolaryngologist be consulted? Tips to prevent a nosebleed Keep the lining of the nose moist by gently applying a light coating of petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment with a cotton swab three times daily, including at bedtime. Counteract the effects of dry air by using a humidifier. Use a saline nasal spray to moisten dry nasal membranes. Quit smoking. Smoking dries out the nose and irritates it. Tips to prevent rebleeding after initial bleeding has stopped.
Do not pick or blow nose. Do not strain or bend down to lift anything heavy. Keep head higher than the heart. If rebleeding occurs: Attempt to clear nose of all blood clots. Repeat the steps to stop an anterior nosebleed. Call a doctor if bleeding persists after 30 minutes or if nosebleed occurs after an injury to the head.
What Is Post-Nasal Drip? Swallowing Problems Swallowing problems may result in accumulation of solids or liquids in the throat that may complicate or feel like post nasal drip. Several factors contribute to swallowing problems: With age, swallowing muscles often lose strength and coordination.
Decongestants relieve nasal congestion by drying up the mucus. These can be in the form of tablets and nasal drops or sprays. Care must be taken as decongestants can excessively dry the nasal mucous membranes, which leads to further swelling and congestion. It is important to clearly follow the medication instructions when using nasal decongestants.
Corticosteroid medications such as prednisone may be prescribed, in conjunction with an extended course of antibiotics, to treat cases of chronic sinusitis. Corticosteroid nasal sprays may also be prescribed. Other treatments that aim to relieve the symptoms include pain-relieving medications, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, steam inhalers, saline nasal sprays, and the application of heat or cold packs to the area surrounding the sinuses.
Drinking plenty of fluids helps to thin the mucus so that it drains more easily. Avoiding allergens allergy-producing irritants and taking antihistamines medications to reduce allergic reactions may also prove effective.
If allergies contribute to the sinusitis, treatment that gradually builds up immunity to allergens desensitisation therapy may be recommended. Surgery may be recommended for cases of recurrent or chronic sinusitis where non-surgical treatment has not been effective.
It aims to improve airflow and drainage between the sinuses and the nasal cavity by correcting structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum, removing obstructions such as polyps, and by removing areas of diseased tissue. Endoscopic surgical techniques have largely replaced conventional open surgery for sinusitis in New Zealand. Open surgery is used mainly in the treatment of seriously damaged sinuses or to allow areas not easily reached by an endoscope to be treated.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is usually a day-stay procedure performed under either a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic with sedation. The endoscope allows the surgeon to easily see the inside of nasal cavity and into the sinus openings.
The surgery can be performed with minimal damage to healthy tissue. There is usually only minimal pain after the surgery and this may be treated with pain-relieving medications such as paracetamol.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent post-operative infection and nasal sprays may be prescribed to flush out debris and promote healing. Everyone has had one. While they are often frightening, they are rarely anything more than a nuisance.
When the membranes lining the inside of the nose dry out and become irritated, the blood vessels break, causing a nosebleed. These are more common in the winter months, when the air is cold and dry.
Other factors that may contribute to nosebleeds include:. There are two types of nosebleeds, anterior and posterior. Anterior nosebleeds are the most common and are caused by bleeding in the front part of the nose. The bleeding from a posterior nosebleed comes from an artery in the back portion of the nose.
If nosebleeds are chronic or occur frequently, they may be the result of high blood pressure or other vascular diseases or, in rare cases, a serious medical condition like a tumor. Bleeding from only one nostril is the most common symptom of a nosebleed. Usually a nosebleed from both nostrils is due to a heavy flow from one nostril; the blood has just backed up and overflown into the other. If blood drips down the back of the throat into the stomach you may spit up or vomit blood.
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