Do you always suffer from stuffy nose at bedtime? There are many causes of a stuffy nose during sleep, such as allergies, colds and flu, and in this article we will learn about the causes of this problem, and how to treat it.

Causes of a stuffy nose during sleep

There are a variety of causes of a stuffy nose during sleep, some of which are listed below:

1. Earth’s gravity

When standing or sitting upright, nasal mucus is drained naturally, thanks to the force of gravity that helps to drain mucus from the nose and sinuses of the throat, but when lying down to sleep, the position of the body is opposite to the direction of gravity, which works to collect mucus and make it difficult to drain, so we note Some people feel better with a stuffy nose an hour or two after waking up.

2. Allergy

Seasonal allergies or exposure to environmental factors that increase sensitivity such as exposure to smoke, perfume or dust mite allergy, cause congestion and nasal obstruction during sleep.

3. Respiratory infection

A stuffy nose increases during sleep, in the case of a respiratory infection such as the common cold.

4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease

During sleep, patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease experience more stomach acid from reaching the nasal passages, which leads to nasal irritation and obstruction during sleep.

5. Change the direction of blood flow

Lying down to sleep increases blood flow to the upper body, which includes the head and nasal passages, which can cause the blood vessels inside the nose to become inflamed, and a stuffy or severe nose to develop. An example of this is changes in blood flow during pregnancy.

Nasal obstruction during sleep

There are some ways to relieve a stuffy nose during sleep, including the following:

1. How to sleep when a stuffy nose

The best position to get rid of a stuffy nose during sleep is to lie on the back and raise the head through a number of pillows, which helps reduce blood flow to the head and facilitates the drainage of nasal mucus.

2. Humidifier

Using a humidifier at bedtime helps reduce the dryness of the air, which increases congestion in the throat and nasal passages, while making sure to clean it continuously to avoid the growth of bacteria and fungi inside.

3. Air purifier

We mentioned at the beginning of the article that one of the causes of a stuffy nose during sleep is due to exposure to some factors such as smoke, perfume or dirt, so the air purifier helps prevent the possibility of a stuffy nose.

4. Steam bath

Taking a hot steam bath before bed helps loosen dry mucus and nasal drainage before bed, which helps reduce nasal congestion and stuffiness.

5. Saline nasal wash

Using a saline nasal rinse or spray, which contains sterile water and salt, helps reduce nasal irritation, swelling, and obstruction.

6. Breathable nose strips

Using nasal strips for breathing helps open the nasal passages and improve breathing when the nose is blocked.

7. Medicines

In the case of seasonal allergies, a specialist may be consulted to take oral medications, or use nasal sprays.

8. Drink water

Drinking the right amounts of water helps reduce nasal congestion and facilitate runny mucus.

Treatment of stuffy nose in children at bedtime

Using a saline nasal spray and nasal aspirator helps infants and young children sleep and get rid of a stuffy nose. The saline nasal spray softens the mucus, then a syringe or nasal aspirator is used to draw out the mucus.

For children older than this age, some of the previously mentioned tips for adults can be applied, such as sleeping on the back using more than one pillow and drinking fluids during daylight hours, which helps hydrate the body, and making sure that children do not take cold medicines except under the care of a specialist doctor.

After learning how to treat a stuffy nose during sleep, the tips we mentioned in the article can be applied, which will help reduce the severity of the obstruction, and sleep deeply.