Nasal congestion is one of the most miserable aspects of a cold, flu or allergies.‚ It is usually caused when nasal membranes lining the nose become swollen due to inflamed blood vessels. It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, and stuffy nose.‚ Need help with it?

Nasal congestion has many causes and can range from mildly annoying to life-threatening.‚ Newborn babies can only breathe through the nose as they are “obligate nose breathers”. Nasal congestion in an infant in the first few months of life can interfere with breastfeeding and cause life-threatening respiratory distress. Nasal congestion in older children and adolescents is often just an annoyance but can cause other difficulties.

Nasal congestion can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. Significant congestion may interfere with sleep, cause snoring, and can be associated with sleep apnea. In children, nasal congestion from enlarged adenoids has caused chronic sleep apnea with insufficient oxygen levels and hypoxia, as well as right-sided heart failure. The problem usually resolves after surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils.

A blocked nose can also cause mild facial and head pain, and a degree of discomfort.‚ Most common causes for nasal congestion are:
¢‚¬¢‚ Allergic reaction
¢‚¬¢‚ Common cold or influenza
¢‚¬¢‚ Hay fever, allergic reaction to pollen or grass
¢‚¬¢‚ Sinusitis or sinus infection
¢‚¬¢‚ Many women suffer from nasal congestion during pregnancy due to the increased amount of blood flowing through the body.

Drinking more fluid than normal aids the body in expelling the irritant and clearing congestion. Water, fruit juice, and teas are recommended by medical experts to resolve congestion, and rest and sleep are also suggested remedies in a case of nasal congestion. Avoid caffeine. Increasing air moisture with a humidifier or a steamy bath or shower usually helps relieve the congestion and accompanying discomfort.
Neither influenza nor the common cold can be cured with medication; however, drugs such as acetaminophen, decongestants, nasal sprays or drops, cough remedies and throat lozenges may provide some symptom relief. Furthermore, medications have recently been approved which, when started shortly after the onset of symptoms, may shorten the duration of influenza.

A cause of nasal congestion may also be due to an allergic reaction caused by hay fever, so avoiding allergens is a common remedy if this becomes a confirmed diagnosis. Antihistamines and decongestants can provide significant symptom relief although they do not cure hay fever. Antihistamines may be given continuously during pollen season for optimum control of symptoms.

Today there is a safe and earth-friendly product to comfort and relieve nasal congestion.‚ Healing Leaf LLC offers Breathtaking‚®, a vapor rub that contains NO petroleum products and no chemicals.‚ A blend of oils, menthol crystals, eucalyptus oil and other natural healing products, Breathtaking‚® is the perfect solution when anyone in your family suffers from nasal congestion.‚ Just a note here: Infants should never have oils applied to their skin (including Baby Oil!) until they are at least two months old.‚ These products block their pores and their breathing systems are much too immature for that.‚ But for everyone else, keep Breathtaking‚® Vapor Rub on hand and use the ultimate comfort rub when nasal congestion occurs.

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Beverly Vines-Haines is the Marketing, Research and Text Coordinator for Healing Leaf LLC.‚ This is a company that tackles the toughest skin and nail conditions known to man.‚ A best-selling author for years before she became a part of Healing Leaf LLC, she is dedicated to natural healing and creating pure products that are both safe and earth friendly. To learn more about these effective products, visit www.NoFungusAmongUs.com.