The nose does an amazing job of heating, moisturizing, and cleaning the air we breathe, not to mention the sampling of the various odors that are ever present. In fact, it does such a good job, that we usually take it completely for granted. Anything that causes nasal congestion quickly reminds us of how annoying it is when our nose isn't functioning properly. Nasal congestion is anything that causes blockage of the flow of air through the nose. There are many different causes of nasal congestion and the treatments for the congestion are just as varied.

Causes of nasal congestion

• Deviated nasal septum: Bone and cartilage that should be in the middle of the nose, but instead has been pushed off to one side or the other
• Allergies: Seasonal or year-round response to something in the air that causes swelling of the lining of the nose
• Turbinate hypertrophy: Swelling or overgrowth of the bony shelves lining the walls inside the nose
• Polyps: Swollen tissue that hangs in the nose and blocks the flow of air and mucous
• Infection: Can be viral or bacterial and last for a week (common cold) or much longer (sinusitis)
• Adenoid hypertrophy: Tonsils tissue at the back of the nose that commonly causes nasal obstruction in children
• Rhinitis medicamentosa: Overuse of nasal sprays that causes the nasal tissue to remain in a constant swollen state.

As you can see, the potential causes of nasal congestion can very greatly, and this list includes only some of the possibilities. If you suffer from nasal congestion, contact our office for today so we can help you find some relief.