How Congestion Medications Work Nasal congestion is primarily caused by swollen blood vessels in the nasal turbinates — not excess mucus. When these spongy structures become engorged with blood due to infection, allergies, or irritants, they expand and narrow the airway. Different medications target this process through different mechanisms: some constrict the blood vessels directly,…
What Is a Nasal Decongestant? A nasal decongestant is a medication that shrinks swollen blood vessels and tissues in the nasal passages, opening the airway and making it easier to breathe. When you have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection, the turbinates inside your nose become engorged with blood, narrowing the nasal passage. Decongestants…
Understanding Nasal Congestion Nasal congestion occurs when the blood vessels and tissues inside the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed, restricting airflow. While most people assume congestion means too much mucus, the primary culprit is vascular engorgement of the turbinates — spongy structures along the inner nasal walls that regulate airflow and humidity. Effective treatment…
When a sinus infection strikes, the first question most people ask is: what medicine should I take? The answer depends on whether your infection is viral or bacterial, how long it has lasted, and how severe your symptoms are. Reaching for the wrong treatment can delay recovery, waste money, and — in the case of…
Standing in the nasal spray aisle of a pharmacy can be overwhelming. Decongestant sprays, saline sprays, steroid sprays, antihistamine sprays — each promises fast relief, but they work in fundamentally different ways and carry very different risks. Choosing the wrong type can leave you with rebound congestion that is worse than what you started with….
