How To Handle Common Nose or Sinus Problems (2024)

Nose and sinus troubles drive more than 20 million outpatient visits annually in the United States. Many of those visits are for nasal congestion and sinus problems, including infections, inflammation, pain, and pressure. Other common complaints include allergic rhinitis, nasal sores, and nosebleeds.

A healthcare provider can help manage many nose and sinus issues, though treatment depends on the underlying cause and its severity. Some situations call for specialty care from an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (otolaryngologist), allergist, or pulmonologist. Read on to learn about different types of nose and sinus problems, symptoms, how to treat them, and more.

How To Handle Common Nose or Sinus Problems (1)

There are several types of nose and sinus problems. You might group those ailments by the affected structures or their symptoms. For example, one of the most common problems is sinusitis, which is inflammation of the spaces in your cheeks, forehead, and nose (sinuses).

Another way to describe nose and sinus problems is by their duration. Certain issues are short-lived (acute), such as a case of sinusitis that develops after a cold. Other troubles are long-lasting (chronic).

1. Allergic Rhinitis

People with allergic rhinitis might cough, have watery eyes, and sneeze when they breathe in something they are allergic to. Common allergens include animal dander, dust, and pollen. Allergic rhinitis is sometimes known as hay fever or seasonal allergies if pollen is the cause.

Other allergic rhinitis symptoms include:

  • Clogged ears
  • Dark circles and puffiness under your eyes
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Itchy eyes, nose, mouth, skin, and throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Trouble smelling

2. Deviated Septum

The nasal cavities are generally equal in size. In contrast, a deviated septum occurs if the septum, or the bone and cartilage separating each nasal cavity, is off-center.

A deviated septum can lead to a number of symptoms, such as:

  • Frequent sinus infections
  • Noisy breathing (in infants and young children)
  • Nosebleeds
  • Mouth breathing
  • Trouble breathing through one or both sides of your nose

3. Nasal Polyps

These are noncancerous (benign) soft growths of tissue in your nasal passages or sinuses. The growths might not cause symptoms unless they are large and block your nasal passages. You might frequently have sinus infections or feel like you have a head cold.

Nasal polyps might cause symptoms like:

  • Feeling like there's a blockage in your nose
  • Headache
  • Loss of smell or taste
  • Pain
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Snoring

4. Nosebleeds

The medical term for nosebleeds is epistaxis. The only sign of an anterior nosebleed, the most prevalent type, is usually bleeding from one nostril. Bleeding might be the result of a health condition, medication use, or nasal trauma or be spontaneous. An anterior nosebleed is typically not serious and is most common in children and older adults.

A posterior nosebleed is bleeding in the back of your nose and down your throat. This type begins in large blood vessels in the back of your nose, near your throat. A posterior nosebleed can be severe and require medical attention right away if the bleeding does not stop.

5. Sinusitis

This is inflammation of your sinuses. Acute sinusitis, often the result of a cold, typically lasts four weeks or less. You might have chronic sinusitis if your symptoms persist for three months or longer. Subacute sinusitis involves symptoms that last one to three months.

Sinusitis may cause symptoms like:

  • Bad breath
  • Cough that worsens at night
  • Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip)
  • Fatigue or a general ill feeling (malaise)
  • Fever
  • Loss of smell
  • Pain, tenderness, and swelling behind your cheeks, eyes, forehead, and nose
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sore throat
  • Toothache

Causes

Your nose and sinuses typically protect you from germs and other irritants. Your sinuses are hollow spaces within your face and skull that make mucus. The mucus keeps your nose moist and traps germs and other small particles before they can make their way to your lungs.

There are two passages in your nose, separated by the septum, which is a strip of bone and cartilage. The nasal cavity, an empty space, sits behind your nose. Air flows through the nasal cavity. Mucus-secreting membranes, which humidify and warm the air you breathe, line the nasal cavity.

There are several reasons why you might have a nose or sinus problem. Causes and risk factors often depend on the underlying issue.

Allergic Rhinitis

Pollen is one of the most common causes of allergic rhinitis. Pollen might come from flowers, grasses, ragweed, and trees. You might only develop allergic rhinitis symptoms in response to certain plants. The weather typically affects how much pollen is in the air. Hot, dry, and windy environments have more pollen in the air than cool, damp, and rainy places.

Other allergens include:

  • Animal dander
  • Food
  • Dust
  • Mold

Your body releases chemicals (histamines) in response to an allergen. An increase in those chemicals triggers allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Allergies typically run in families. For example, you are likelier to develop an allergy to pollen if someone in your family has the same allergy.

Deviated Septum

Some people are born with a deviated septum. Others develop a deviated septum over time, sometimes as the result of nasal trauma or injury.

Nasal Polyps

It's not exactly clear what causes nasal polyps. Still, anything that irritates or inflames the nasal cavity—such as allergies, asthma, or an infection—may cause these painless growths.

Other risk factors for nasal polyps include:

  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Cystic fibrosis, which causes a build-up of thick mucus in body parts like the gut and lungs
  • Sensitivity to aspirin

Nosebleeds

Some health issues, such as a bleeding disorder, high blood pressure, or tumors, may cause frequent nosebleeds. Blood thinners might also be the culprit if you often have nosebleeds.

Your risk of a nosebleed increases if you:

  • Are exposed to very cold or dry air
  • Blow your nose too hard
  • Have irritation from allergic rhinitis, colds, sneezing, or other sinus problems
  • Have nasal trauma
  • Have structural abnormalities within the nose (e.g., a deviated septum and nasal polyps)
  • Ingest chemical irritants or drugs
  • Pick your nose
  • Require a nasal cannula, which delivers oxygen through the nose
  • Use decongestant nasal sprays too often

Sinusitis

Viruses most commonly inflame your sinuses. For example, you might develop sinusitis after recovering from a cold. Bacteria and fungi sometimes cause your sinuses to swell.

Other risk factors include:

  • A weak immune system
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Altitude changes (e.g., while flying and scuba diving)
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Having young children who go to daycare
  • Health conditions that affect the cilia, or hair-life structures that move germs and debris out of your airways
  • Large adenoids, or tissues that sit between the back of your nose and throat
  • Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Structural abnormalities within the nose (e.g., a deviated septum and nasal polyps)

Healthcare providers diagnose nose or sinus problems based on your symptoms. They will likely rule out other health conditions using a physical exam, imaging, and other diagnostic tests. The exact process varies by your symptoms and their severity.

Some diagnostic tests that a healthcare provider might use include:

  • Allergy testing: Healthcare providers commonly use skin tests to see what allergens cause your allergic rhinitis symptoms.
  • Ciliary function test: This checks how well cilia remove germs and debris from your airways.
  • Complete blood count (CBC): This blood test might diagnose allergic rhinitis or figure out the cause of a nosebleed.
  • CT scan: This imaging test looks at the structure of your nose and sinuses. A healthcare provider might also use a CT scan to check your sinuses for nasal polyps.
  • IgE RAST test: This is a blood test that checks for antibodies that your body releases in reaction to an allergen.
  • MRI: This imaging test checks your sinuses for a fungal infection or tumor.
  • Nasal endoscopy: A healthcare provider inserts a flexible tube with a camera on the end (endoscope) to see inside your nose. They might remove a small piece of tissue for analysis.
  • Partial thromboplastin time (PTT): This measures how long it takes your blood to clot.
  • Prothrombin time (PT): This looks at the time it takes for your plasma to clot.
  • Toxicology screening: This checks for substance use, which might cause a nosebleed.

Treatment

There's no single solution for nose and sinus problems. Treatment usually depends on your diagnosis and how severe your symptoms are. Some ailments require little more than self-care, while others may require medication or surgery.

Allergic Rhinitis

You can typically treat allergic rhinitis by limiting your exposure to allergens. A healthcare provider might also advise an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medication to reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms. Medications typically include antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids. Some medications are available as liquids, nasal sprays, or pills.

Other treatments include:

  • Allergy shots or sublingual tablets: Helps your body build up a resistance to pollen
  • Cromolyn sodium (nasal spray): Stops an allergic reaction
  • Eye drops: Alleviates itchy, watery eyes
  • Leukotriene inhibitors: Blocks leukotrienes, or chemicals that your body produces in reaction to allergens

Deviated Septum

A healthcare provider may prescribe antihistamines, decongestants, or nasal sprays if you have difficulty breathing, recurrent infections, or other symptoms. Those medications help open up your nasal passages. You might require surgery (septoplasty) if those medications do not provide relief.

Nasal Polyps

Treatment typically begins with noninvasive measures, such as steroid liquids, pills, or sprays to shrink nasal polyps. Allergy medicines might prevent nasal polyps, and antibiotics help treat sinusitis that results from a bacterial infection. A healthcare provider might advise surgery to remove the growths if that does not work.

Nosebleeds

Most nosebleeds are not severe. You can typically stop a nosebleed by applying pressure to your nostrils for at least 10 minutes. Make sure that you lean forward so that you do not swallow blood. Gently pressing a cold compress to the bridge of your nose might help.

See a healthcare provider if bleeding:

  • Happens frequently without an obvious cause
  • Lasts more than 20 minutes
  • Occurs while you are taking blood thinners
  • Results from a broken nose or head injury

A healthcare provider might treat serious nosebleeds by inserting gauze or an inflatable balloon into your nostrils. Those devices put pressure on the bleeding vessel. They may need to perform a procedure to seal off the vessel.

Sinusitis

You typically do not need antibiotics to treat acute sinusitis since a virus is most commonly the culprit. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.

Instead, some medications that help treat sinusitis include:

  • Antihistamines: A healthcare provider might prescribe antihistamines if allergic rhinitis is the cause of your infection.
  • Decongestants: These help reduce congestion, but use them carefully. Taking decongestants for more than a few days might cause "rebound congestion," which worsens symptoms.
  • Pain relievers: Take OTC pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) to lessen pain and tenderness.

Treatment for chronic sinusitis depends on several factors, such as your symptoms and the underlying cause, but typically includes medications. For example, steroid injectables, nasal sprays, and pills help alleviate swelling. Sinus surgery may be necessary if medication fails to provide relief.

You cannot always prevent nose and sinus problems. Still, there are steps you can take that help reduce your risk.

Here are a few ways you might prevent common nose and sinus issues:

  • Get a yearly flu shot.
  • Irrigate your nasal passages with a saline solution or use a nasal spray.
  • Manage underlying health conditions (e.g., allergy rhinitis and asthma)
  • Reduce stress.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Stop smoking, or do not start.
  • Use a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

Complications

Nose and sinus problems typically get better at home with treatment. Complications do not usually occur.

Although rare, some complications might include:

  • Abscess: A build-up of pus that becomes inflamed and swollen
  • Meningitis: An infection of the membranes that protect your brain and spinal cord
  • Nosebleed: Flares might happen with a deviated septum and nasal polyps
  • Orbital cellulitis: A skin infection near your eye that might occur with sinusitis
  • Osteomyelitis: A bone infection that might result from sinusitis
  • Sleep disorders: May worsen with mouth breathing due to a deviated septum

How To Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose, Depending on What's Causing It

Nose and sinus problems are prevalent and often include allergic rhinitis, a deviated septum, nosebleeds, and more. Those issues might arise if allergens, germs, or irritants inflame and irritate your nasal passages or sinuses. Some people have structural problems that result in nose and sinus troubles.

Consult a healthcare provider if you have persistent nasal and sinus symptoms. They can assess your symptoms and use diagnostic tests to rule out other health conditions. Treatment often includes medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and steroids. You may require surgery in severe cases.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 1. What do nasal polyps look like?

    Nasal polyps are noncancerous soft growths of tissue in your nasal cavity. Those growths typically appear grape-shaped and gray on a CT scan. Nasal polyps might break down the bone inside of your sinuses over time.

  • 2. What is inflammation of the nose?

    Sinusitis causes inflammation of your nose. Microbes—usually bacteria or viruses—cause inflammation of the mucus membranes that line your nasal cavity, resulting in irritation and swelling. Inflammation of your nose might increase your risk of nasal polyps.

  • 3. Can a broken nose cause ear problems?

    Yes, you might notice ear problems if you have a broken nose. The eustachian tube connects your ear to your nose and throat. That structure helps drain your ears and sinuses.

    Swelling that results from a broken nose might prevent the eustachian tube from draining built-up fluid as usual. As a result, you may develop ear pain or feel pressure.

How To Handle Common Nose or Sinus Problems (2024)

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