Respiratory system is a system that helps the body to gain oxygen in the air and eliminate the carbon dioxide as the waste gases. This system also helps the cells in the body to gain oxygen that plays an important role in the cells vitality. This system is often associated with lungs and the airways. Here is where people tend to forget that the nose is also part of the respiratory system. The nose allows air to enter the body and filters the foreign debris from entering the body. When the inside of the nose swells, it not only leads to breathing problems but also interferes with the smell sensation. This is why people will use certain medications such as Nasonex 50 mg to help them breathe better.
There can be numerous causes that could lead to swelling inside the nose. Common causes include inflammation of the sinus tissue within the sinus cavities leading to sinusitis, inflammation from allergies such as in allergic rhinitis and growth inside the nose known as nasal polyp. Internal swelling of the nose can lead to people experiencing breathing difficulty, stuffy nose, runny nose, decreased smell sensation and mucus on the back of the throat known as postnasal drip. These symptoms can be a great nuisance and when left untreated not only lead to more pain but also possible infections.
Knowing that internal swelling of the nose can be a great trouble, you may be wondering if you can do anything about it. You can actually try to reduce the swelling by yourself by taking these measures:
- Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as decongestant, antihistamine and pain relievers. These medicines can easily be obtained without prescriptions. You may ask your doctor about steroid nasal sprays if the swelling often occur especially in cases of allergy.
- Use medicated ointment that contains menthol or camphor on the chest or upper lip to help clear the nasal congestion.
- Use a humidifier or vaporizer to moisture the air in the surrounding. Moisture air helps to clear a stuffy nose.
- Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids, especially plain water. This helps to dilute the mucus that causes a stuffy nose.
- Place a warm and wet towel on the face to help clear the airways passage.
- Elevate your head at night by using a couple of pillows to help drain the mucus from the nose.
- You may want to try using nasal irrigators such as neti pots or syringes to help loose the thick mucus blocking the nose.
- Avoid being in extreme temperatures such as hot days or cold temperatures as this may compromise the blood circulation leading to a more congested nose.
- Avoid food high in caffeine and salt as this may worsen the swelling due to the effect of the constricted blood vessels reducing blood supply.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol as these substances not only worsen the swelling but also are not good for your health due to oxidative stress damaging the body system.
The best thing to do is to get medical advice by visiting a doctor whenever you spot yourself with symptoms of swelling inside the nose. By getting proper diagnosis and early check-up, you can get the right treatment based on the cause leading to the symptom. You may try the above measures to help reduce swelling by yourself but you should be contacting a doctor if the swelling does not go away within 7 days or the symptoms become severe. Never take antibiotics without a prescription from a doctor even though you may think it is caused by infection. Avoid self-treat with traditional remedies without discussing with your healthcare provider.
One of the drugs used to treat swelling inside the nose is Nasonex 50 mg. Nasonex contains mometasone which belongs to the drug class corticosteroid. Corticosteroid in general works to reduce inflammation in the body by blocking the release of the substance in the body from triggering the inflammation process. In this context of Nasonex, the corticosteroid works by reducing inflammation along the nasal passage that results in the swelling inside of the nose. It also helps to reduce its other associated symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing and itching.Nasonex can be used as young as children the age of 2. This medication should be used as directed by the healthcare provider. Dose may be one or twice a day depending on the symptoms evaluated by your doctor. Avoid spraying directly to the middle wall of the nose and avoid contact with eyes or mouth. You should not be spraying Nasonex on an injured or damaged nose. Do shake the container well before using it to ensure you are getting the right dose with the right application. You should be using Nasonex daily on a regular basis and at the same time of the day. You should be able to feel improvement of symptoms within the first two days of using it but it is possible it may take up to 2 weeks for the medicine to fully have effect. You should not use Nasonex for more than one month unless directed by your doctor. Side effects such as nose/throat dryness, nosebleed and phlegm stain with blood may occur. Should these side effects persist or get worse, do let your doctor know.
