Wednesday, September 24, 2008

MedicineNet Daily News

Daily Health and Medical News from MedicineNet.com

Nasal decongestants are helpful medicine for the common cold and for allergic rhinitis with congestion. Patients with heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, or, in men, difficulty in urination caused by an enlarged prostate, should not use nasal decongestants. All nasal decongestants are contraindicated in pregnancy without a physician's recommendation.

Nasal congestion is the obstruction of the nasal passages frequently due to membranes lining the nose becoming distended from swollen blood vessels. It has numerous causes and can vary from a mild irritation to a life-threatening situation. Hearing and speech development can both be affected by nasal congestion. A degree of discomfort, including mild facial and head pain, is often experienced with a blocked nose.

Decongestants are defined as any medicine used to ease inflammation of the nasal mucosa associated with such conditions as the common cold and hay fever. They shrink the mucus membranes lining the nasal cavity by constricting the muscles of blood vessel walls when administered in sprays and drops or in devices for inhalation, thus reducing blood flow to the swollen areas.

Even worse, when you stop taking the medication the problem comes back, often with a vengeance. Symptoms often get worse when nasal decongestants are used for a long time and then discontinued, because the symptoms become dependent on the medication. For this reason, make sure use nasal decongestants exactly as directed.

Several of the over-the-counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines you can use to ease congestion and dry up excess mucus are very good at what they claim...sometimes they are too good! They cause a very dry mouth, which worsens bad breath.

  • Allergic reaction to pollen or grass
  • Common cold or flu
  • Hay fever
  • Sinusitis or sinus infection
  • A lot of women experience nasal congestion during pregnancy because of the increased amount of blood flowing through the body

Avoidance measures are the foundation of allergy treatment, but they are not always enough to deal with all of the symptoms. Antihistamines with or without decongestants can help when the symptoms of nasal allergies are mild or intermittent. The combination of an antihistamine and a topical nasal steroid spray will more often than not give good reprieve with negligible side effects.

Common causes of nasal congestion are:

Once the swollen membranes in the nose are shrunk, you will find it easier to breathe. Decongestants can be taken orally or by nasal drops or spray. Nasal decongestants should not be used for more than five days in a row without your doctor's consent, and then only when accompanied by a nasal steroid.



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