Having a cold and nasal congestion are common symptoms that many people experience frequently, to the point that some believe it will just go away on its own without needing treatment. However, did you know that allowing yourself to have chronic nasal congestion for a long time not only diminishes your quality of life but can also negatively affect other systems in the body?
Nasal Congestion Symptoms Affecting… the Respiratory Tract
Because the nose is the main organ for breathing, it is certain that when “nasal congestion” occurs, or when there is an obstruction making breathing difficult, one common solution is to breathe through the mouth instead. Mouth breathing causes air to pass into the lower respiratory tract, where the air is cooler and less humid. This makes the lower respiratory system work harder, increasing the chances of inflammation or irritation, especially in patients with asthma or rhinitis or allergies.
Nasal Congestion Symptoms Affecting… (Blood Vessels) the Heart
You may notice that when we have nasal congestion, “snoring” often follows. This may be caused by the patient trying to breathe in, creating pressure in the upper airway, causing the soft tissues in the throat to collapse more, narrowing the pharyngeal airway. It may also be caused by mouth breathing, where the tongue muscles relax, narrowing the pharyngeal airway as well. This snoring can result in insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, causing the body to produce certain substances such as steroid hormones, which can lead to high blood pressure or accelerate coronary artery deterioration.
Nasal Congestion Symptoms Affecting… (Blood Vessels) the Brain
As mentioned, nasal congestion makes breathing difficult. Insufficient oxygen during sleep affects sleep quality, causing daytime drowsiness and fatigue, forgetfulness, restless sleep, snoring, and possibly sleep apnea. It also increases the risk of ischemic stroke.
Nasal Congestion Symptoms Affecting… the Auditory Nerve
The middle ear and the nasopharynx are connected by a tube called the Eustachian tube. When we have a cold, the mucous membranes, including those in this tube, swell and become blocked, preventing air pressure in the middle ear from equalizing with the outside atmosphere. Patients may feel ear pain, ear fullness, and it may lead to infections spreading, such as otitis media or ear abscess.
Nasal Congestion Symptoms Affecting… Tear Duct Blockage
When we cry and have a runny nose, it is because the tear ducts drain tears into the nose. When we have a cold and nasal congestion, the swollen nasal mucosa prevents tears from draining properly, causing tears to overflow and increasing eye discharge. More importantly, if the tear ducts remain blocked for a long time, it can lead to infection in the tear sac, resulting in “dacryocystitis.”
See, letting chronic nasal congestion persist is not good. Therefore, when you have a cold, you should seek treatment promptly. It would be even better if we take care of our health to stay strong, as this not only prevents colds but also reduces the risk of other diseases in the future.
