A nose that stays blocked or keeps getting blocked deserves a closer look, especially when the care you've tried isn't helping. An ear, nose and throat specialist, usually called an ENT, can look for the cause and help you choose the right next step.
Key takeaways
- Persistent congestion or repeated sinus problems are reasons to ask about an ENT appointment.
- Bring the names of sprays and other treatments you've tried, plus a brief description of what changed.
- Saline rinsing can help clear nasal mucus while fitting alongside the treatment your clinician recommends.
When should you see an ENT for a stuffy nose?
Ask about an ENT visit when congestion persists, keeps returning or hasn't improved with treatment. Your primary care clinician can assess you first and arrange a referral when needed. An ENT specializes in ear, nose and throat conditions and can examine nasal problems that need a closer look.
Chronic nasal congestion and sinus pressure are among the reasons to see an ENT. The specialist can discuss nonsurgical care as well as procedures when appropriate; an appointment doesn't automatically mean surgery.
Contact your primary care clinician if sinus symptoms last more than 10 days. Get urgent care for swelling or redness around an eye, vision changes, confusion, a stiff neck or a severe headache with sinus symptoms.
What helps you get more from the appointment?
Tell the clinician when the blockage started, whether it's constant or comes and goes, and what you've already tried. Bring a medication list, including nasal sprays, because the treatment name and how you've used it can help explain why symptoms haven't settled.
For example, “I've used a nose spray” leaves an important detail out. “I've used this prescribed allergy spray each morning for two weeks, and sneezing improved but my nose still feels blocked” gives the clinician a clearer starting point.
Also mention changes in smell, facial pressure, allergies or asthma.
The visit may include looking inside your nose and checking for tenderness. If a closer view is needed, nasal endoscopy uses a thin, flexible lighted tube to examine the area; allergy testing or imaging may be considered depending on what the clinician finds.
Ask, “What's causing the blockage, and which part of my care should change?” That connects the examination to a useful plan for your nose.
Where does nasal rinsing fit into your care?
A saline rinse can loosen and wash out nasal mucus, helping with the mucus-related part of a stuffy nose. It can be part of the plan your clinician recommends while they address the cause of ongoing congestion.
For home rinsing, SinuPulse Elite lets you adjust the pressure to a comfortable flow. Turn the pressure dial to choose the flow as you rinse away mucus and allergens.
Mix saline according to its directions with distilled, sterile or previously boiled and cooled water. Tap water can contain germs that are safe to swallow but can cause infection in your nose; the FDA's nasal-rinsing guidance also covers following device directions and washing and drying the equipment between uses.
If nasal rinsing is part of your plan for recurring mucus and congestion, explore the SinuPulse Elite nasal irrigation system for the rinse you do at home alongside your clinician's care.
