No one likes crowds. But it’s especially frustrating when one nostril is completely clear and the other is blocked. This can happen when you’re sick or suffer from allergies, but sometimes, you might find yourself waking up with blocked nostrils after a night’s rest, seemingly for no reason. Sometimes you wake up after a good night and your right or left nostril is blocked. Whatever the cause, dealing with clogged nostrils is never fun. So why is one nostril blocked? Well, this can happen for a number of reasons, from your sleeping position to your nasal cycle.
The good news is that clogged nostrils can usually be resolved. In fact, you can often address the root cause of the problem and start breathing easier with some simple lifestyle interventions. To learn more about this topic, PS spoke with Anthony Cornetta, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist at NYU Langone. Read on to learn more about why your nose is always blocked on one side and what you can do to fix it.
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Anthony Cornetta, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist at NYU Langone.
Why is one nostril always blocked?
Some potential and common causes of blockage in one nostril include:
- Your normal nasal cycle: According to Dr. Cornetta, the body naturally goes through a process called “nasal circulation,” in which congestion alternates between the two nostrils. Which side is more congested switches every 30 minutes to six hours, and people often don’t even realize it’s happening because the more congested side isn’t completely blocked, according to the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. . But if your nasal cycle coincides with other issues, such as allergies, you may experience more significant nasal congestion. “Inferior turbinate [a small structure in the nose that cleans and humidifies the air you breathe] When the turbinates become blocked, it can cause restricted airflow. ) To combat the problem, he recommends using nasal steroids or a nasal antihistamine spray, but if the problem persists and affects your quality of life, it’s time to see a doctor.
- Sleeping on your side: For many of us, sleeping on our side is a comfortable position, but if you suffer from blocked nostrils, you may want to consider changing your sleeping pattern. “Sleeping on your side will definitely cause nasal congestion,” Dr. Cornetta told PS. He explains that it’s not uncommon for pillows to get stuffier with their nostrils pointed downward because gravity causes mucus to flow to that side. To combat this problem, Dr. Cornetta recommends sleeping with your head slightly elevated, resting on a pillow. The Cleveland Clinic also recommends switching to sleeping on your back to see if this helps relieve general congestion.
- Deviated nasal septum: “The septum is the middle part of the nose that separates the left and right nasal cavities,” Dr. Cornetta explains. “Septal curvature is when the septum is curved or deformed.” When the thin wall that separates the nostrils shifts to a particular side, the nostrils become different in size. Breathing through the smaller side is more difficult and can create the feeling of a chronically blocked nose on one side. “It’s very common, and very few people have a perfectly straight septum,” Dr. Cornetta said. “A deviated septum is not necessarily related to trauma. It often occurs during the growth and development of the bones in our face. Correcting a deviated septum requires surgery.” If you are concerned about your deviated septum, talk to your physician.
- Nasal polyps: Nasal polyps can grow in the nose and block breathing, although Dr. Cornetta says this is rare and often accompanied by other symptoms, such as forehead pressure and loss of taste or smell. “They usually stem from allergies, but not always,” he points out. If you experience these symptoms, it is recommended that you see your doctor immediately. Once you are diagnosed with nasal polyps, your doctor may prescribe nasal sprays, oral medications, or in some cases, steroid injections or surgery depending on the severity.
- Drinking: Have you ever woken up from a night of drinking and found that one nostril was blocked or you had general congestion? There are two physiological reasons that may occur. First, according to GoHealth Urgent Care, wine, beer and spirits often contain histamine, a compound that causes allergic reactions such as sneezing and nasal congestion. Another reason, GoHealth reports, is that “some people have lower levels of the enzymes needed to break down alcohol in their bodies,” which can cause mild allergic reactions when alcohol byproducts don’t break down quickly enough.
What to do if your nostrils are blocked?
When it comes to clogged nostrils, you usually don’t have to worry about a more serious underlying condition. “Nasal congestion is a very common problem,” Dr. Cornetta said. Still, it can affect a person’s daily life and often sleep. Fortunately, “there are many over-the-counter nasal and oral medications that people can try,” Dr. Cornetta says. Using a humidifier, drinking water and clear fluids to clear mucus, and changing your sleeping position can also help.
Other times, such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps, a doctor can help evaluate the condition and recommend appropriate treatment, whether it’s prescription drugs, steroid injections, or surgery. Dr. Cornetta says you should seek medical attention any time a blocked nose is seriously affecting your quality of life.
