Why Do Allergies Cause Nasal Congestion?
The nasal airway and tissues in the sinuses, being the airborne allergen’s first point of contact, are also one of the first to respond. The nose and sinuses become irritated and inflamed as the antibodies do battle with the allergen, causing congestion and other symptoms. Nasal congestion is also known as “allergic rhinitis” in medical terminology. Another common name for nasal congestion that results from allergies is “hay fever,” thus named because of symptoms that developed during hay season. If you suffer from nasal congestion, you may feel other effects of hay fever as well, including itchy, watery eyes and blocked ears. When Does Nasal Congestion Occur? If the allergy is the result of pollen, nasal congestion will frequently occur during the spring, summer and fall, when trees, grasses and weeds, respectively, are producing the most pollen. One of the worst allergens is ragweed, which blooms from late summer until frost. But you can also be allergic to substances in your househo
