If the nose is stuffy without a runny nose, there may be several reasons for this: an allergic reaction, a respiratory infection, neoplasms in the nasal cavity, trauma, etc. "Dry congestion" is a pathological symptom that signals a disturbance in the work of the respiratory system. If your nose does not breathe well for 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to seek help from an otolaryngologist.
Chronic inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa can lead to its degeneration or the development of more serious pathologies. The article will consider the most likely causes of difficulty in nasal breathing, as well as the pathology that accompanies the symptom.
Forms of congestion
The causes of nasal congestion without a runny nose may lie in inflammation of the tissues of the nasopharynx or stagnation of mucus inside the nasal cavity. Inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract can be caused by infectious agents (microbes, fungal spores, viruses), allergens, or trauma. Subsequent tissue edema entails a narrowing of the inner diameter of the airways. The accumulation of muconasal secretions in the respiratory tract leads to clogging of the nasal passages and, accordingly, difficulty in breathing.
In otolaryngology, there are several forms of nasal congestion without a runny nose, namely:
- morning - a feeling of congestion is exacerbated exclusively in the morning hours immediately after waking up, which is most often associated with stagnation of mucus in the respiratory tract;
- night - it becomes difficult to breathe only when a person takes a horizontal position;
- chronic - the nose is constantly clogged, so patients try to eliminate the manifestations of the disease with vasoconstrictor drops;
- periodic - difficulty in nasal breathing is not always observed, but only in some limited periods of time.
Nasal congestion without snot can be a manifestation of a serious illness, therefore, if a symptom occurs, it is recommended to undergo a rhinoscopic examination by an ENT doctor.
Exogenous causes
Difficulty nasal breathing is most often associated with the negative effects of exogenous factors. Drying out of the mucous membranes leads to irritation, which subsequently leads to inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages. If you have a stuffy nose without a runny nose, it is very important to identify and eliminate the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon in time. Delayed and inadequate treatment of inflammation is fraught with infectious diseases and benign tumors in the nasopharynx.
Air pollution
Unfavorable environmental conditions are one of the key causes of nasal breathing disorders. The nasopharynx plays the role of a filter in the body that cleans the air from harmful impurities, infectious agents, allergens, etc. An increase in the amount of irritating substances in the atmosphere inevitably leads to an increase in the load on the respiratory system. As a result, swelling occurs in the soft tissues of the nasal cavity, making it difficult to breathe through the nose.
According to statistics, over the past 50 years, the concentration of harmful substances in the environment has increased by 35%. Exhaust gases and emissions from industrial enterprises create an excessive load on the mucous membranes of the ENT organs. According to allergists, this is what caused the sensitization of the human body and an increase in the number of patients suffering from hay fever, contact dermatitis and other types of allergic diseases.
If the nose is stuffy without rhinitis for 10-14 days, most likely the reason lies in a sluggish inflammation of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses.
Injuries to the nasopharyngeal mucosa
A clogged nose without snot can be the result of mechanical injury, as well as thermal or chemical burns. Damage to the mucous membrane leads to inflammation of the ciliated epithelium, which is covered with the inner surface of the airways. Violation of the integrity of the tissues in the nasal cavity can be caused
- steam inhalation;
- volatile chemicals;
fumes from household chemicals;- injuries to the nose.
fumes from household chemicals;Severe congestion is the key reason for disruption of gas exchange in tissues and the development of non-infectious pathologies.
In cases where the nose does not breathe, but there is no rhinitis, anti-edematous and wound-healing drugs should be used. If the injury was caused by a mild burn, the ENT doctor will recommend flushing the nasal cavity with antiseptic and isotonic solutions.
Dehydration
A lack of fluid in the mucous membranes leads to a violation of the secretory function of the glands secreting muconasal secretions. Insufficient hydration of the nasopharynx is fraught with irritation of the mucous membrane and its swelling. If the nose is stuffy, but there is no snot, there may be several reasons for this:
- violation of the drinking regime;
- insufficient air humidification;
- abuse of carbonated drinks;
- inhalation of dusty air.
Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of impaired water-salt metabolism in the body and dehydration of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
If the snot does not flow, this does not mean that there is no inflammation in the airways. Stagnation of mucus in the nasal cavity occurs due to obstruction of the airways. In adults, "dry congestion" is most often associated with work in hazardous work. Typically, the problem occurs in people working in the cement and textile industries, in chalk quarries and factories for the production of paints and varnishes.
Infectious diseases
Why is the nose not breathing, but no snot? Malfunctions in the upper respiratory tract in most cases are associated with an infectious lesion of the nasopharynx. Rhinitis with a cold appears only 3 days after infection of the ENT organs. Viruses and bacteria that penetrate the nasal cavity provoke inflammation and swelling of the tissues, which becomes the reason for nasal congestion.
Sinusitis
If inflammation occurs in one or several paranasal sinuses (sinuses) at once, they talk about the development of sinusitis. The mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses practically does not contain the glands of external secretion, therefore, even with an infectious inflammation of the tissues, mucus is almost not formed in them. If the sinuses are affected by an infection, the following symptoms will indicate the development of pathology:
- discomfort in the bridge of the nose and brows;
- nasal voice;
- fast fatiguability;
- constant sneezing;
- increased body temperature.
Inflammation in the paranasal sinuses is most often caused by pathogenic bacteria, therefore, local and systemic antibiotics are used to treat pathology.
When there is no runny nose, and the nose is stuffy for 2-3 weeks, this indicates a sluggish inflammation of the respiratory tract. If pathological processes in the airways are not stopped in time, this can subsequently lead to the development of meningitis, paratonsillar abscess or sepsis.
Nasopharyngitis
Chronic nasal congestion without a runny nose often accompanies the development of bacterial nasopharyngitis. Sluggish inflammation can be associated with:
- frequent hypothermia;
- deformities of the nasal septum;
- smoking;
- inhalation of polluted air.
In an adult, the chronic form of nasopharyngitis can develop against the background of inadequate treatment of rhinorrhea and bacterial rhinitis. With the development of the disease, patients may complain of headaches, sore throat, dryness in the nasal cavity, etc. A stuffy nose is a consequence of insufficient hydration of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. The symptom appears in the case of the development of an atrophic form of the disease, which is characterized by thinning of the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity and periodic nosebleeds.
Postnasal flow syndrome
Postnasal leakage syndrome is a respiratory disease with muconasal secretion draining down the back of the throat. The disease develops as a complication of acute rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, flu, etc. In the daytime, patients reflexively swallow mucus flowing down the respiratory tract, so they do not feel that the nose is clogged. But during sleep, it is difficult for them to breathe due to the accumulation of viscous secretions in the nasal passages, which prevents air from entering the respiratory tract.
Why is a stuffy nose, but no runny nose? The development of postnasal syndrome can be provoked by:
- allergic sinusitis;
- deformation of the nasal septum;
- adenoid vegetation;
- medicinal rhinitis;
- rhinitis of pregnant women.
For a long time, patients may not realize that inflammation has occurred in the nasal cavity. You can suspect the development of the disease by the following concomitant manifestations:
- dry cough in the morning;
- burning sensation in the nasal cavity;
- nasal congestion, but no runny nose;
- decreased sense of smell;
- periodic headaches.
Postnasal syndrome can cause the development of atrophic rhinitis, frontal sinusitis or sinusitis.
Other reasons
It should be understood that obstructed nasal breathing is accompanied not only by infectious diseases. If muconasal secretion does not flow from the nasal canals, and the nose is blocked at the same time, the likelihood of developing benign tumors and allergic reactions in the respiratory tract should be considered. Ignoring pathologies can cause deterioration in health and the occurrence of side pathologies.
Nasopharyngeal neoplasms
In 15% of cases, when the nose is stuffy, but there is no snot, benign tumors are found in patients. Chronic tissue inflammation, allergic or atrophic rhinitis can provoke their appearance. If nasal breathing is difficult, but there is no runny nose, this may indicate the formation of tumors in the nasal cavity such as:
- papilloma - a benign tumor that looks like cauliflower, but only pink;
- fibroma - a neoplasm consisting of connective tissue;
- chondroma - a cartilaginous tumor that is prone to malignancy;
- angina is a tumor that forms from the blood and lymph vessels.
Overgrown tumors create excessive pressure on the surrounding tissues and blood vessels, therefore, untimely removal of neoplasms can cause complications.
Hay fever
Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) is one of the most common causes of impaired nasal breathing.
If irritating agents (allergens) enter the nose, it can provoke an allergic reaction and swelling of the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract.
Allergies can be recognized by the following manifestations:
- lacrimation;
- sneezing;
- itching in the nasopharynx;
- dry cough.
Quite often, hay fever is accompanied by rhinitis, however, with severe swelling of the nasal canals, mucus accumulates in the nasal cavity and is not evacuated through the airways. An allergic reaction can be caused by food, medicine, house dust, wind pollen, wool, etc. To eliminate the feeling of congestion, antihistamines and vasoconstrictor sprays are used. Barrier drugs that prevent the penetration of allergens deep into the tissues of the nasopharynx help prevent the re-development of allergic rhinitis.
Conclusion
When the nose does not breathe for a long time, but there is no snot, this may indicate a sluggish inflammation of tissue structures in the nasal cavity. Violation of nasal breathing is most often associated with the development of respiratory diseases (sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, adenoiditis), hay fever or drug abuse (vasoconstrictor drops, corticosteroids).
When the concomitant manifestations of the disease are absent, but the nose does not breathe at the same time, benign tumors are often found in patients. It should be understood that many of them are prone to malignancy, therefore, untimely treatment of the disease can lead to formidable complications. Exogenous factors - dry air, exhaust gases, emissions from industrial enterprises, etc. also negatively affect the condition of the nasal mucosa.
To prevent complications, you need to seek help from an ENT doctor at the first manifestations of the disease. After conducting a rhinoscopic examination, the doctor will be able to diagnose the disease, draw up a suitable treatment regimen and thereby restore the patency of the nasal passages and the secretory activity of the glands in the nasal mucosa.
