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Try tonight
- Saline nasal rinse before bed.
- Raise the head end of the bed or use an extra pillow.
- Warm steam (plain water, carefully) before sleep.
Your bedroom
- AC filters cleaned in the last month.
- Pillow covers and bedsheets washed weekly in hot water.
- No pets sleeping on the bed.
Habits to check
- I have used a decongestant spray for more than 3 to 5 days.
- I rely on menthol inhalers to feel open.
- I drink alcohol close to bedtime.
Signs worth an ENT check
- One side of my nose is always blocked.
- I wake with a dry mouth or snore most nights.
- Reduced smell, nosebleeds, or the problem has lasted months.
What your ticks may mean
Saline, a raised head end and a clean bedroom help many people. Decongestant sprays used every night can make the nose swell back worse (rebound). Long-standing or one-sided blockage often has a structural cause, such as a bent septum or swollen turbinates, that an ENT can examine.
See a doctor promptly if
Blockage on one side comes with bleeding, facial swelling or numbness, or a child has smelly discharge from one nostril (something may be stuck).