Why do I often have stuffy nose (nasal congestion) when lying down? How to solve the problem?

If you often have stuffy nose while lying down, it could be a respiratory infection if you have other symptoms like fever, body ache, cough, runny nose, sore throat...etc. If not, you might be suffering from either allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum or nasal polyp.

Allergic rhinitis / Hay Fever
Allergic rhinitis, also known as Hay Fever, is the allergic reaction of the nasal membranes caused by certain allergens from the air or surrounding. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, runny and/or stuffy nose, red, itchy and/or watery eyes, eczema and asthma, etc.

Chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is the prolonged swelling and inflammation of nasal and sinus mucous membranes. Its symptoms include stuffy nose, runny nose with thick mucus, postnasal drip, cough, headache, pain, pressure and swelling within the sinus areas, and reduced sense of smell and taste that last for 3 months or more.

Deviated nasal septum
Deviated nasal septum is the condition where the cartilage and bone of the nasal septum is significantly displaced to one side, causing one nasal air passage narrower than the other. The condition could be either congenital or due to the impact of physical trauma. Patient suffers from deviated nasal septum might experience prolonged stuffy nose at one nostril or both, snoring, breathing difficulties, nosebleeds, facial pain and repeated inflammations etc.



Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are soft, painless inflammatory and hyperplastic tissues that line the nose and sinus. Common symptoms of nasal polyps include - stuffy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, frequent nosebleeds, facial pain, reduced or loss of sense of smell etc.



Solutions
First, you need to keep up with personal and household hygiene, ensure good ventilation in home and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If the symptoms persist and prohibit you from living your lifestyle, learning, working or sleeping, you should seek medical advice early. There are various treatment options for different health conditions at different stages. For example, when it is at the early stage, oral or nasal spray medications would be prescribed for treating the problems.
When the condition is getting serious, diagnostic imaging or perform diagnostic telescope might be ordered to further evaluate the situation before deciding on the treatment options.
For conditions like compromised chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps, surgical treatment might be the option.

> If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to schedule a consultation appointment with our otolaryngologist.