Why does stuffy nose tend to get worse at night?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Tuan Lam - Ear, Nose Throat Doctor - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital

Nasal congestion is a common symptom in respiratory diseases, causing a lot of discomfort for patients. Nasal congestion at night affects sleep due to difficulty in breathing. When this condition lasts for a long time, it will make the patient tired, even physically weak due to prolonged insomnia.

Nasal congestion can happen at any time of the day, even continuously throughout the day. However, in practice patients, nasal congestion is often worse at night, especially when sleeping. In a lying position, the amount of blood to the head will increase, leading to an increase in blood flow in the nose. To accommodate this, the small blood vessels in the nose are dilated more causing inflammation of the nose to increase, the nose to swell and possibly more painful.
On the other hand, in the lying position, mucus in the nasal cavity will be trapped and accumulate in the nasal cavities, unable to escape, obstructing the airway, leading to the patient's breathing becoming more difficult. That's why stuffy nose tends to be worse at night.

Nasal congestion can occur at any age with many different causes. Common causes of nasal congestion at night are:
Cold or flu: This is the most common clinical cause of runny nose, nasal congestion may be accompanied by fever, headache, body aches ... depending on each specific patient and each different level of disease. In these cases, you may encounter clear or green mucus, dark yellow with pus... the fluid may be thick or thin depending on the patient. Allergies: In fact, there are many patients with sensitive terrain, the nose is often allergic to pollen, fragranced products such as perfume, laundry detergent ... or allergic to dust and sometimes allergies to the weather or to drugs .... The patient usually has a stuffy nose, which may be accompanied by an itchy nose, sneezing. The longer the allergy lasts, the more mucus is secreted in the nasal cavities, the accumulation of fluid will make breathing difficult. Sinusitis: To ensure breathing, the paranasal sinuses are always filled with air, which helps to regulate breathing, makes the voice warmer and more resonant, and distributes substances to nourish the bones. When these sinuses are invaded by viruses and bacteria that cause sinusitis, it leads to increased mucus secretion in the nasal area, which gradually accumulates and obstructs the circulation of the airways, which makes it difficult for patients to breathe, especially when they are sick. at night or when the weather changes. Due to the impact of environment and climate: To ensure functional activities, it is always necessary to maintain a certain humidity in the nasal cavity. When the weather becomes dry plus the air is heavily polluted with dust, it will also increase the possibility of rhinitis leading to increased secretions and the final result is nasal congestion, severe can be infected with bacteria. Pregnancy: It sounds a bit strange, but in fact, in some cases, pregnant women often have a stuffy nose and trouble breathing at night. During the first 3 months of pregnancy, the mother's body changes a lot in terms of hormone levels. Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone also increase blood flow, the small blood vessels in the nose dilate, and the cells lining the nose are more prone to swelling than usual. Therefore, in pregnant women, many people often have a nose that is larger than usual and have nasal congestion at night. In addition, there are a number of other diseases in the nasal area that can also cause nasal congestion such as nasal polyps, deviated septum, allergic rhinitis ...

Currently, clinically, stuffy nose occurs a lot, can be seen at any age from the elderly to young children. In people with weakened immune systems or those with immune system diseases that lead to impaired function of the body's protective barrier, this condition may occur more often, to a more severe degree. . The question is when we fall into a stuffy nose, what should we do?
Nose is a very important organ in the respiratory system. When the nose has a problem, it will greatly affect the airway circulation. Therefore, to avoid affecting health, when there are abnormal signs of nasal congestion, it is necessary to note the following: Note that the pillow should not be too high because it can cause neck fatigue, shoulder pain due to the wrong sleeping position. Nasopharyngeal hygiene with physiological saline 0.9% NaCl. Maintain humidity in the bedroom, avoid leaving the air conditioner to ventilate for too long. In case if the air in the room is too dry, you can use humidifiers and misters at the head of the bed to increase the humidity in the room. Limit, should not eat before going to bed. This also helps limit stomach and digestive diseases. Drink plenty of water every day, at least 2 liters. Thorough treatment of diseases of the nose.

In general, nasal congestion is one of the most common clinical symptoms, which can be caused by many different causes or triggers. Nasal congestion often tends to worsen at night, not a life-threatening acute symptom, but if left for a long time, it will obstruct the airway and cause discomfort for the patient. So, go to the doctor right away to detect abnormal health problems in time, so that you can have the best treatment and treatment to avoid affecting your health.
Vinmec International General Hospital examines and treats common nasopharyngitis diseases, head and neck tumors, congenital malformations of the ear, nose and throat area with the most optimal internal and surgical methods for patients, both children and adults. Coming to Vinmec International General Hospital, patients will receive a direct, dedicated and professional examination from a team of qualified and experienced medical staff.