Waking up with a stuffy nose? Why does this happen? And simple hacks to prevent it.
At one time or another, most of us have woken up in the morning, ready to start our day only to feel like we have a clogged or stuffy nose. A 2021 survey showed that approximately 1 in 4 Americans deal with nasal congestion on a daily basis. Usually it’s the same nostril that’s the repeat offender.
That sensation typically triggers repeated attempts to clear the obstruction – either by sniffling really hard or blowing one’s nose – that are frustratingly unsuccessful and end with a resignation that it’s time to get out of bed.
Interestingly, once we are vertical, that feeling of stuffiness seems to self-resolve.
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Why you may wake up feeling like your nose is clogged
There are many common causes of a clogged nose. Here are some of the most common:
- Upper respiratory infection; common cold or chronic sinusitis, which affects approximately 12% of Americans
- Allergies; seasonal or from pet dander
- Environmental; pollution or mold
- Anatomical; a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or enlarged adenoids
- Hormonal changes such as pregnancy or puberty
- Pain medications like ibuprofen and aspirin or common blood pressure medications like beta-blockers can cause non-allergic rhinitis
- Acid reflux; increased acidic stomach juice can regurgitate to the throat or nose when we lie horizontal
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Mucus is a common cause of a nasal congestion, but it’s our first-line of defense
The first line of defense we have against invaders like viruses or allergens are hair-like structures called cilia that line the nasal passage, trap particles and then move them out of the nose. When that is not enough, immune cells generate mucus to trap the particles and then are secreted out via a “runny nose.”
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Michael Daignault, MD, is a board-certified ER doctor in Los Angeles. He studied Global Health at Georgetown University and has a Medical Degree from Ben-Gurion University. He completed his residency training in emergency medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in the South Bronx. He is also a former United States Peace Corps Volunteer. Find him on Instagram @dr.daignault and Twitter @MichaelDaignau3.