Stuffy and Runny Noses

What Is Stuffy and Runny Noses?
A stuffy or congested nose occurs when the tissues lining it become swollen. The swelling is due to inflamed blood vessels. The problem may also include nasal discharge or "runny nose." If excess mucus runs down the back of your throat (postnasal drip), it may cause a cough or sore throat. It is also known as nasal congestion.
Causes of Stuffy and Runny Noses
It is often a symptom of another health problem, such as

• Sinus infection. It may also be caused by the
• Common cold                                                                                 
• Flu

Nasal congestion is marked by:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sinus pain
• Mucus buildup
• Swollen nasal tissue

Home remedies may be enough to alleviate nasal congestion, particularly if it is caused by the common cold. However, if you experience chronic, or long-term, congestion, you should seek medical treatment.
Another Cause could be

1. Cold allergies
2. Bacteria
3. Unhealthy environment
4. Dust allergy. Dust allergy is severe in many cases. Due to dust allergy runny nose may stay for up to 4-5 days.
5. Inappropriate nutrient
6. Emotional feelings.

  Symptoms/Signs of Stuffy and Runny Noses

• A feeling of being tired
• Burning feeling in the nose
• Burning feeling in the throat
• Feeling of unwell
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Get Rid of Stuffy or Runny Nose
The cause of the Stuffy or Runny Nose determines the method you will apply to treat it
Allergies: Take an over the counter antihistamine.
Cold/Sickness: Manage symptoms with steam and decongestants. See a doctor if symptoms worsen or last longer than 48 hours.
Clogging: Blow your nose and try and clear the irritant.
Stress/Lifestyle choices: Get plenty of sleep and relax for a night. Manage

• You can also apply these methods:
• Clean out your nose regularly
• Gently massage your nose, between your eyes, and earlobes to ease sinus pressure
• Blow your nose
• Apply a warm compress. Soak a hand towel in hot water and place it on your face. This will help alleviate sinus pressure and open up the nasal passages                                                       

Treatment for Stuffy and Runny Noses
Apply a warm compress
Putting a warm compress over your nose and forehead can help relieve sinus pressure and congestion. If you dont have a compress, try moistening a washcloth with warm water and applying it to your face several times a day. This will help relieve nasal congestion and help stop your runny nose.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Sipping lots of water and clear chicken broth will help thin your mucus and allow it to drain faster from your nose and sinuses. Drinking hot tea or milk can also have a soothing, warming effect.
Get Plenty of Rest
When youre not feeling well, its crucial to get plenty of sleep so your body can heal. Plus, resting will give you a much-needed break from blowing your nose!
Get steamy
The next time you have a stuffy nose, try sitting in the bathroom with the shower running. You can also breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water. Inhaling warm (not hot) steam can help soothe the mucous membranes lining the nose. Try a saline nasal spray or drops
Using a gentle saline nasal spray, or drops three to four times a day can help stop a runny nose and make it easier to breathe. The saline solution will help soothe the mucous membranes inside the nose.
Use the Right OTC Medications
Non-prescription medications can help ease your symptoms. Although Vicks products cant cure a runny nose, they can help you feel better until it clears up on its own. Cold medicines, like NyQuil SEVERE, will help dry up your nasal passages—and help relieve your runny nose. If your runny nose is the result of allergies, try a medication like QlearQuil All Day & All Night 24 Hour Allergy Relief. For cold symptoms and runny nose at night, try Nyquil Cold & Flu which can dry up your runny nose and calm your cough so you can get the rest you need.
Use a Humidifier
A clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer is a great way to add moisture back into your environment. Doing so will help keep your nasal passages moist, allowing mucus to drain faster. In other words, youll get rid of your runny nose faster. Home Remedies/Home Cure for Stuffy and Runny Noses

• Take vitamin C, echinacea, and zinc for a cold.
• Although they arent cures, but vitamin C and zinc may shorten the length of an illness.Before you use these products, meet with your doctor to make sure they are compatible with system and that they can work with other medicines youre taking.
• Nasal strips can also help you breathe easier, since they can enlarge nasal passages while you wear them.
• Drink plenty of liquids, including chicken soup. It can make you feel better.
• To relieve a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water, use throat sprays, and suck on ice or lozenges.
• Try a saltwater nasal rinse. These can help with a stuffy or runny nose.
• Use petroleum jelly on your nose if its irritated from constant blowing. Facial tissues with added lotions can help prevent, and heal, redness and soreness.
• Use a humidifier to help break up phlegm.
• Do what you can to make yourself as comfortable as possible, and rest while your body fights the cold virus.

When to See a Doctor
If you have tried all the home cure listed above and it does not relief you, contact you doctor immediately especially if  you are experiencing any of the listed below symptoms:
Adults
With the common cold, you are not likely to experience a high fever or be sidelined by fatigue; these are symptoms commonly associated with the flu. So, see your doctor if you have:

• A fever with sweating, chills, or a cough that produces mucus 
• Chest pain
• Cold symptoms that last longer than 10 days
• Ear pain 
• Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Severely swollen lymph nodes
• Sinus pain that is severe
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath

Children
See your childs pediatrician immediately if your child:

• is under 6 weeks and has a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• is 6 weeks or older and has a fever of 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• has a fever that has lasted for more than three days
• has cold symptoms (of any type) that have lasted for more than 10 days
• is vomiting or having abdominal pain
•  is having difficulty breathing or is wheezing
• has a stiff neck or severe headache 
• is not drinking and is urinating less
• is having trouble swallowing or is drooling more than usual
• is complaining of ear pain
• has a persistent cough
• is crying more than usual
• seems unusually sleepy or irritable
• has a blue or gray tint to their skin, especially around the lips, nose, and fingernails

Complications of Stuffy and Runny Noses

• Acute Ear Infection (Otitis Media)
• Sinusitis
• Asthma Attack
• Sinusitis
• Strep Throat