Why is my nose ALWAYS congested?!?

Question

Why is my nose ALWAYS congested?!?

Answer 1

The most common cause of nasal congestion is a viral infection and it usually goes away within a week. If yours is more persistent, you might have some environmental allergies.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

It might be that you have allergies and the pollen gets to you.

Answer 3

You may have allergies, a sinus infection (they can last months or years if not treated) or deviated septum.

Answer 4

Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.[1]

Mild allergies like hay fever are highly prevalent in the human population and cause symptoms such as allergic conjunctivitis, itchiness, and runny nose. Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. In some people, severe allergies to environmental or dietary allergens or to medication may result in life-threatening anaphylactic reactions and potentially death.

A variety of tests now exist to diagnose allergic conditions; these include testing the skin for responses to known allergens or analyzing the blood for the presence and levels of allergen-specific IgE. Treatments for allergies include allergen avoidance, use of anti-histamines, steroids or other oral medications, immunotherapy to desensitize the response to allergen, and targeted therapy.

Contents [hide]

1 Classification and history

2 Signs and symptoms

3 Cause

3.1 Genetic basis

3.2 Environmental factors

4 Pathophysiology

4.1 Acute response

4.2 Late-phase response

5 Diagnosis

5.1 Skin testing

5.2 Blood testing

6 Treatment

6.1 Pharmacotherapy

6.2 Immunotherapy

6.3 Unproven or ineffective treatments

7 Epidemiology

8 Medical specialty

9 See also

10 References

11 External links



[edit] Classification and history

The concept "allergy" was originally introduced in 1906 by the Viennese pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet, after he noted that some of his patients were hypersensitive to normally innocuous entities such as dust, pollen, or certain foods.[2] Pirquet called this phenomenon "allergy" from the Greek words allos meaning "other" and ergon meaning "work".[3] Historically, all forms of hypersensitivity were classified as allergies, and all were thought to be caused by an improper activation of the immune system. Later, it became clear that several different disease mechanisms were implicated, with the common link to a disordered activation of the immune system. In 1963, a new classification scheme was designed by Philip Gell and Robin Coombs that described four types of hypersensitivity reactions, known as Type I to Type IV hypersensitivity.[4] With this new classification, the word "allergy" was restricted to only type I hypersensitivities (also called immediate hypersensitivity), which are characterized as rapidly developing reactions.

A major breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms of allergy was the discovery of the antibody class labeled immunoglobulin E (IgE) - Kimishige Ishizaka and co-workers were the first to isolate and describe IgE in the 1960s.[5]

[edit] Signs and symptoms

Common symptoms of allergy Affected organ Symptom

Nose swelling of the nasal mucosa (allergic rhinitis)

Sinuses allergic sinusitis

Eyes redness and itching of the conjunctiva (allergic conjunctivitis)

Airways Sneezing, coughing, bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma, in severe cases the airway constricts due to swelling known as angioedema

Ears feeling of fullness, possibly pain, and impaired hearing due to the lack of eustachian tube drainage.

Skin rashes, such as eczema and hives (urticaria)

Gastrointestinal tract abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, Diarrhea

Many allergens, such as dust or pollen, are airborne particles. In these cases, symptoms arise in areas in contact with air, such as eyes, nose and lungs. For instance, allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, causes irritation of the nose, sneezing, and itching and redness of the eyes.[6] Inhaled allergens can also lead to asthmatic symptoms, caused by narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction) and increased production of mucus in the lungs, shortness of breath (dyspnea), coughing and wheezing.[7]

Aside from these ambient allergens, allergic reactions can result from foods, insect stings, and reactions to medications like aspirin and antibiotics such as penicillin. Symptoms of food allergy include abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, itchy skin, and swelling of the skin during hives. Food allergies rarely cause respiratory (asthmatic) reactions, or rhinitis.[8] Insect stings, antibiotics, and certain medicines produce a systemic allergic response that is also called anaphylaxis; multiple organ systems can be affected, including the digestive system, the respiratory system, and the circulatory system.[9][1