Stuffy Nose at Night

In general, a stuffy nose at night is one of the many symptoms of a sinus infection. It is also a symptom of a bad cold or a chronic allergy. Clinically, when there is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the membranes which line the inside of the nostrils, the after-effect is a stuffy nose which worsens at night. For adults, this condition is just a source of annoyance, however, a toddler stuffy nose at night is something as serious as a life-threatening situation. Not wasting much time, let's get down to knowing as to what makes the nose stuffy at night and what are its possible remedies?

Why do I Get a Stuffy Nose at Night?
The nasal membranes cannot produce enough mucus owing to changing humidity levels (low humidity). Insufficient amount of moisture in the air results in drying out of the nasal passages, which ultimately causes swelling or irritation, causing stuffy nose at night.

As mentioned earlier, sinus infection or sinusitis also cause stuffy nose. This problem worsens at night when the affected person lies down. While in a lying position, the sinus drainage may occur at the back of the throat and cause irritation. So, if suppose the person lies on his left side, the left nostril is sure to get stuffy making it difficult to breathe.

People who suffer from stuffy nose only at night, may be allergic to the bedding materials (pillow, blankets, etc). A defect in the septum (a dividing partition between two tissues or cavities) which in most cases is a deviated septum may also be one of the causes of stuffy nose at night. This defect may be caused due to injury or it can also be a from birth.

Other than these, stuffy nose has other causes which have their sources from respiratory and upper respiratory infections like common cold and flu. These factors are mostly responsible for stuffy nose which are not chronic illnesses. Factors which cause chronic stuffy nose are allergies, hay fever, adenoiditis, vasomotor rhinitis, nasal polyp and nasal tumor. Nasal blockage or nasal abnormality is also responsible for causing stuffy nose for some people.

How To Get Rid of Stuffy Nose?
Here are some effective infant stuffy nose at night remedies.

• Prepare a solution of lukewarm water and salt. Add two or three drops of the saline solution into the baby's nasal cavity. Apart from saline solution, you can also administer over-the-counter solutions for treating stuffy nose.
• You can also use a suction device to get rid of the mucous form the baby's nose. Alternatively, letting your baby take in hot steam can help clear the nasal passage and hence the stuffy nose. This can be done by turning on the hot shower in the bathroom and sitting inside the steam filled enclosure with your baby.
• Give your toddler liquid foods as much as possible. This will reduce the chances of dehydration which normally happens as the child tends to breath through the mouth.
• Helping the baby breathe in fresh air during the first hours of the morning also helps clearing out the nasal passages and so does holding the child in an upright position.
• Use a a vaporizer or cool mist humidifier at home. This will help in keeping the mucus moist and will provide relief from dry stuffy nose at night.
• Most importantly, keep your baby warm and comfortable.

When it comes to adults about getting rid of stuffy nose at night or at any time during the day, avoiding smoking is what is expected. Smoking is one major cause of sinus infection and hence stuffy nose. Administering over-the-counter medicines such as a decongestant combined with an anti-inflammatory analgesic (pain reliever) like Ibuprofen helps in draining out of your sinuses. If the stuffy nose is causes due to allergies, then it should be informed to the chemist in order to get the right kind of drugs for the stuffy nose relief. For other methods, read more on stuffy nose remedies.

It would also be beneficial to know about how to sleep with stuffy nose at night as sleeping does play a major role. While sleeping, ensure that you maintain an elevated position of your head. Use more than one pillow or make any arrangements as you desire, to keep your head elevated. This posture encourages proper sinus drainage and prevents stuffy nose at night. Avoid sniffling as much as possible, as this will suck the mucus into your lungs and increase the healing period. So, carry soft tissues so that you can blow your nose whenever you feel the need. It is advisable to blow your nose gently and slowly. Also read more on stuffy nose remedies for babies.

Stuffy nose at night is a common medical condition which affects everyone at one time or the other. For adults, as said earlier, it is not a great deal of concern. However, in case of the young ones, they might find it very difficult to breathe, sleep, eat and communicate. So, extra attention has to go behind their care and treatment.