What is the reason for constant nasal congestion?

Colds can occur in any season of the year, and they are often accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion and cough. The common cold is an infectious disease caused by filterable viral dust. It usually occurs in our respiratory tract, so it is called a respiratory tract infection. The respiratory tract includes our nose, throat, trachea, etc. It is the only way for gas to enter the human body, so the nose is the first to be affected by a cold. There are many nasal hairs in the nose, and the surface of the nasal cavity is covered with a layer of mucous membrane with cilia, capillaries and extremely rich blood vessels. When you have a cold, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed and the capillaries dilate, which increases the secretions and causes nasal congestion. But why does this always happen?

1. Allergic rhinitis: Allergic rhinitis is caused by the nasal mucosa being highly sensitive to certain components in the inhaled air, and its symptoms are very similar to those of a cold.

2. Acute rhinitis: A common acute inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which is a viral infection and often followed by a bacterial infection. The main symptoms are nasal congestion and increased secretions. In the early stage, it is clear watery nasal discharge, which later turns into mucopurulent nasal discharge. The patient may have a low fever and general discomfort.

3. Chronic rhinitis: The main symptom is nasal congestion, which may be intermittent or alternating in mild cases and persistent in severe cases, with increased nasal secretions.

4. Dry rhinitis: It is caused by long-term irritation of the nasal mucosa, which leads to atrophy of the mucus glands and reduced secretion, making the mucosa dry and even causing superficial erosion.

5. Cheesy rhinitis: Cheesy substances accumulate in the nose, which have a foul odor and erode soft tissue and bone over time, causing deformities inside and outside the nose. Desquamated epithelium, necrotic tissue, purulent cells, cholesterol crystals and mold-like microorganisms were found in the caseous substance.

6. Atrophic rhinitis: It is mainly characterized by atrophy of the nasal mucosa, periosteum and turbinate bones. Due to atrophy of the nasal tissue, although the nasal cavity is relatively wide, the nasal mucosa loses its normal physiological function, and due to the formation of dryness in the nose, the patient still feels poor ventilation. When there is a bacterial infection, its toxins and excrement produce a foul odor.

7. Prevention

1/3 Drink more water, eat a light, easy to digest and nutritious diet, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat more ginger and raw garlic in winter to prevent colds. People with weak resistance should eat some high-protein foods, such as lean meat, eggs, fresh shrimps, fish, etc. to replenish physical strength and enhance disease resistance.

2/3 advocate the correct way to blow your nose: press one nostril tightly and gently blow out the mucus in the opposite nasal cavity to avoid complications.

3/3 To drain nasal secretions, the nasal cavity can be flushed with warm saline.