Having a cold is incredibly annoying. When you’ve caught a virus, it’s often just a matter of waiting until you get better. But what is actually the mysterious cause of one stuffy nostril after a night’s sleep?
Nose Cycle
Chances are you’ve never heard of the nasal cycle. ENT doctor Anthony Cornetto explains that your body naturally undergoes a cycle in which congestion alternates between your two nostrils. Which side is most congested alternates every 30 minutes to six hours. Often people don’t even notice this because the congestion on one side is usually not complete. If your nasal cycle coincides with other problems, such as allergies, you may experience more noticeable congestion. This is because the lower turbinate, a small structure in the nose that cleanses and moisturizes inhaled air, allows only limited airflow through when you are blocked.
In addition, the turbinate may be more swollen on one side than the other due to allergies. So your nasal cycle and allergies may be a reason why you wake up with one blocked nostril. If allergies are the cause, Cornetto recommends nasal spray with antihistamines. But if the problem persists and interferes with your quality of life, it’s time to see a doctor.
Sleeping posture
Your sleeping position can also be the cause of that one stuffy nostril. Do you like to sleep on your side? It is not unusual for the side where you bury your face in the pillow to become more congested, as gravity causes mucus to move to that side. To remedy this, try sleeping with your head slightly higher, such as by using a firm pillow for support. If you want to get serious about it, you can also try sleeping on your back to see if that helps.
Anatomy
Besides your posture and nasal cycle, your anatomy can also throw a spanner in the works. People with a deviated nasal septum can sometimes have a harder time breathing. This is because a crooked or misshapen septum causes your nostrils to differ in size. Breathing through the smaller side is more difficult and can make one side of your nose feel chronically blocked. Almost no one has a perfectly straight septum, but people in whom the deviation is large may experience this problem. By the way, a deviated nasal septum does not have to be the result of trauma or accident; it often occurs during the growth and development of our face. Correcting a deviated septum requires surgery.
Nasal polyps
Nasal polyps can obstruct breathing. However, this is rare and is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as pressure on the forehead and loss of taste or smell. Nasal polyps can result from allergies, but this is not always the case. If you suffer from nasal polyps, nasal sprays, oral medication or, in some cases, surgery may be prescribed.
Alcohol
Finally, alcohol can be the causative agent of a blocked nostril. Wine, beer and spirits often contain histamine, a substance that can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing and a stuffy nose. In addition, some people have lower levels of the enzymes the body needs to break down alcohol. When the byproducts of alcohol are not broken down quickly enough, it can cause a mild allergic reaction.
Fix
Now that we know where the stuffy nostril can come from, it’s time to discuss remedies. While you usually don’t have to worry about a more serious underlying condition, a stuffy nostril can be very annoying. There are many remedies available without a prescription that you can try, such as nasal sprays. Drink lots of water or tea to clear mucus. And as described earlier, changing your sleeping position can also help.