What’s worse than the common cold? One-sided blocked nose. It’s so frustrating how this congestion makes breathing such a challenge. Moreover, it worsens at night. Do you also experience one-sided nasal congestion and wonder why this happens? Keep reading to understand what might be causing it and how to treat it.
Common Causes of One-Sided Nasal Congestion
Deviated Septum
The narrow bone that serves as a barrier between the two nostrils is the area called the septum. A misaligned septum is a major contributing factor to congestion on one side of the nose. It affects the flow of the air if it’s bent, uneven, or shifted and causes nasal congestion on one side of the nose. This might be the result of an injury that makes breathing uncomfortable, or it could be something that just happens at birth.
Symptoms: On one side, there would be difficulty breathing and stuffiness. You might also experience frequent nosebleeds and loud breathing or snoring at night.
Treatment: Mild cases can be treated with nasal sprays, but severe cases must be operated on.
Nasal Polyps
These are non-cancerous growths inside the nasal passages and are capable of blocking airflow and causing nasal congestion on one side of the nose. While they’re not painful by nature, they add to the suffering by making sinus infections more severe.
Symptoms: There will be continuous stuffiness and a feeling of pain/pressure on the face. You might also experience loss of sense of smell and backflow of mucus in the throat.
Treatment: You may be prescribed nasal sprays to shrink the polyps, but if the polyps are large or repetitive, there is no other option than surgery.
Sinus Infections (Sinusitis)
One-sided sinus congestion normally indicates a sinus infection. Inflammation due to the infection in the sinus cavities on one side of your face can cause restricted congestion. It could either be short-term or go more than 12 weeks.
Symptoms: Besides a single blocked nostril, there could be a reduced sense of smell, thick nasal discharge, and pressure around your eyes, nose, and forehead that will cause headaches.
Treatment: Common cures are antibiotics, nasal rinses, and decongestants, but worse-case scenarios need stronger medications or surgery.
Allergies
If a person is allergic to pollen, dust, or even pet fur or feathers, it can lead to inflammation. One-sided nose congestion results from the nose being more affected on one side than the other.
Symptoms: Itchiness in the nose, eyes, or throat is very common, and so is sneezing. There would be a clear nasal discharge and one or both blocked nostrils.
Treatment: Anti-allergy medicines and nasal sprays work the best here.
Vasomotor Rhinitis
It’s caused by irritants such as changes in weather or maybe strong odors. In this condition, usually, the environmental factors cause congestion on one side.
Symptoms: Congestion, runny nose, phlegm dripping down, and irritation to strong smells.
Treatment: Saline nasal sprays and medications can help manage symptoms pretty well.
Foreign Object in the Nose
It mostly happens in children that some bead, little toy, or maybe a food item blocks the nasal passage and causes congestion. If it stays inside, it can cause irritation, infection, and blockage in one nasal side.
Symptoms: In one nostril there will be a bad-smelling discharge, difficulty breathing, and pain.
Treatment: You need to medically get that element removed ASAP.
Turbinate Hypertrophy
The air you breathe is humidified and filtered by turbinates. When they become enlarged due to any allergy or infection, they can block airflow and cause one-sided nose congestion.
Symptoms: You can’t breathe properly through one nostril, the mouth is dry because of mouth breathing, and you often snore and can’t sleep properly.
Treatment: Nasal sprays might help, or surgery would restore normal airflow.
Nasal Congestion at Night
Several people suffer from one-sided nasal congestion at night, which can happen due to nasal inflammation, a deviated septum, or any other reason. It could also be the sleeping position, that is, when you lie down, the blood flow of your nose is affected and makes it more congested than the other.
Helpful Tips:
- Use extra pillows to keep the head elevated.
- A humidifier will maintain the moisture content of the air.
- Nasal strips might help to open up nasal passages
- Sleep sideways to not block one nostril.
From a deviated septum to environmental factors, there could be multiple reasons behind one-sided nasal congestion. The conditions get worse if there are allergies or any infection. While over-the-counter treatments or certain lifestyle changes can help manage the situation, some people are also recommended surgery. In case, you are not able to sleep because of one-sided nasal congestion or have one side of your nose constantly blocked, it’s time to see a doctor and get the right treatment.
