The feeling that your nose is blocked is often referred to as nasal obstruction, a stuffy nose or nasal congestion. Patients are affected by nasal obstruction in different ways. Click here to find out more.
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A blocked nose, or nasal congestion, is when you have a stuffy or blocked feeling in your nose.
On the inside of your nose, there are tiny hair-like structures that prevent dirt and allergens, including pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, from entering. Sometimes, particles might get past these hairs, causing the tissue lining the inside of your nose to become swollen and inflamed.
When your immune system kicks in, your nose is flooded with mucus to wash away contaminants – but this, combined with swollen nasal tissue, can block your nose.
The way a blocked nose affects patients can vary – some may find that a mild blockage causes them trouble, particularly when sleeping and exercising, while others can live with quite severe nasal congestion without significant impact on their daily activities.
At Welbeck's Ear, Nose and Throat clinic, our experienced ENT specialists take all of your symptoms into account to develop a personalised treatment plan.
There are several symptoms that indicate you have a blocked nose, including:
a runny nose – fluid can run or drip from the nose or down the back of the throat
coughing – excess mucus running down the throat can cause a sore throat and sometimes a cough
a sore throat – when mucus drips from the nose, it can irritate the throat and cause a sore throat and hoarse voice
a loss of smell or taste – nasal congestion can affect how your senses work, reducing your sense of taste and smell
sneezing – this is usually more severe if you have allergies
fatigue – when your nose is stuffy and breathing becomes difficult, you can feel dreary and fatigued
Many things can irritate the lining of the nose, causing swelling, which leads to a blocked nose. The most common causes of this are allergies (pollen, dust mites, mould, pet dander) and infections such as the common cold, flu and sinusitis.
Other, less common causes of nasal congestion include:
Diagnosis of a blocked nose will begin with your consultant asking questions about your symptoms to narrow down the cause. They will then look inside your nose using a small light, or if necessary, an endoscope (a thin tube with a light and/or camera on the end). This should not be painful, but may cause slight discomfort.
There may be some occasions in which your doctor will carry out other tests, such as blood tests, skin tests (for allergies), or a CT scan.
Nasal obstruction may be accompanied by other symptoms like:
rhinorrhoea (nasal discharge that drips from either the front of the nose or into the back of the throat (catarrh))
facial pain
loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
sneezing
itching
crusting
If so, this could help with the diagnosis of certain conditions.
There are many things that can cause a blocked nose, so you may not always be able to prevent it. However, avoiding known allergens and washing your hands regularly to avoid colds and flu can help to reduce your risk of developing a blocked nose or limit its severity.
A blocked nose will usually clear without treatment after a few days, but if it lasts for a week or more, this can be a sign of an infection. It's important to see a specialist at this point, as if left untreated, sinusitis, nasal polyps or middle ear infections can develop.
The best treatment for a blocked nose depends on the cause and severity of your symptoms. In mild cases, you may not need any treatment at all.
An over-the-counter medication, such as a decongestant nasal spray, can be used to treat symptoms that only last for a few days or up to 2 weeks. However, these should not be used as a long-term solution.
Steam inhalation or using vapours such as menthol and eucalyptus can also be helpful. Saline drops or sprays available from your local pharmacy can also help wash away thick, sticky mucus.
If your symptoms are caused by a seasonal allergy, antihistamine tablets may help, or if you decide to see a specialist, you may be prescribed a steroid nasal spray.
Intranasal steroid spray, antihistamines, or decongestants may also be prescribed by your doctor if the cause of your symptoms is found to be rhinitis. You may need to take the prescribed medicine for several weeks to achieve an improvement in symptoms. Your specialist will likely arrange a follow-up appointment after several weeks or months to monitor your progress.
An operation may be recommended
In cases where a nasal blockage cannot be treated by, or does not respond to, medication, surgery may be considered. The method of surgery chosen will depend on the cause of your blocked nose.
Surgical options include:
septoplasty to straighten the nasal septum
rhinoplasty to straighten the outside of the nose
turbinate surgery to reduce the swollen folds of mucous membrane
sinus surgery for blockages caused by persistent or recurrent infection
adenoidectomy for removal of enlarged adenoids
removal of polyps
At Welbeck, our ENT specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
If you’re suffering from a blocked nose and want to know more about the treatment options available and how you can ease your symptoms, get in touch today to book an appointment.
Unfortunately, medication can take a while to get into your system and provide relief.
However, if you want to unblock your nose quickly, there are a few things you can do, including:
applying a warm compress (either a towel or flannel) to your sinuses
taking a hot shower or inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water
drinking plenty of fluids to reduce pressure in your sinuses
using saline nasal sprays can flush out excess mucus and irritants
using a humidifier to thin the mucus in your sinuses
taking decongestant tablets or liquids containing pseudoephedrine hydrochloride if you have a cold
Nasal congestion is often caused by common colds, flu, sinus infections, or allergies and will usually resolve by itself within a week to 10 days.
If your blocked nose lasts longer than 10 days, it may be a sign of infection or an underlying medical condition – so it’s worth contacting a doctor as soon as possible.
A blocked nose usually clears up on its own in around a week in adults.
However, we highly advise consulting an ENT specialist if you have:
symptoms for more than 10 days
green, yellow, or bloody mucus coming from your nose
difficulty breathing
a fever
nausea
sinus pain
facial pain
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All our private ENT specialists at OneWelbeck in London are leaders in their sub-specialties, providing the highest quality treatment to ensure you receive the best available care.