Nasal congestion: cause and treatment | De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen

Everyone has a blocked nose from time to time. But what if the congestion persists? On this page you can read more about the causes and treatment.

De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen ENT care Throat & voice Coughing Lump in the throat Swallowing difficulties Tonsillitis Voice complaints Nose & sinuses Nasal polyps Nasal congestion Loss of smell Sinusitis Ears & hearing Ear infection Earache Earwax Hearing loss Tinnitus Focus areas Allergy Sleep & snoring The practice For referrers Contact Request a referral NL EN DE Home / Nose & sinuses / Nasal congestion Nose Nasal congestion: cause and treatment Everyone has a blocked nose from time to time. But what if the congestion persists? On this page you can read more about the causes and treatment. Request a referral Treatment On this page The complaint in short Causes and diagnosis Treatment Your care pathway The complaint in short What is nasal congestion? Everyone has a blocked nose from time to time. It is a very annoying symptom, and a very common one. With a blocked nose, you cannot breathe in enough air through the nose. This causes a stuffy feeling and can give a sense of shortness of breath. You may feel pressure on the nose or the sinuses. A blocked nose is closely related to loss of smell and snoring. Causes and diagnosis What causes nasal congestion? A blocked nose can have many causes. Fortunately, these causes are almost always harmless. In addition, nasal congestion can also lead to other ENT-related conditions. An ENT doctor can identify the cause well and help you limit further symptoms. Possible causes of nasal congestion Allergy Common cold Sinusitis Nasal polyps Deviated nasal septum How is nasal congestion diagnosed? First, the ENT doctor will ask you a number of questions. The doctor will also examine the inside and outside of your nose carefully. Based on this, a cause can often already be established. Sometimes further investigation is needed, such as an allergy test, a smell test, or a CT scan. Treatment Treatment tailored to the cause The best treatment for your blocked nose depends on the cause. That's why, with chronic nasal congestion, it's important to have yourself examined by an ENT doctor. For allergy Antihistamines When an allergy is present, treatment may consist of prescribing antihistamines. For swollen mucosa Nasal rinse or nasal spray If the nasal mucosa is swollen, or if there's a lot of mucus in the nose, a nasal rinse or a prescribed nasal spray often works well. For inflammation or polyps Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or surgery For an infection or nasal polyps, treatment may include antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. In some cases, surgery is needed. What you can expect Your care pathway Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your nasal symptoms. The ENT doctor asks specifically about your symptoms to get a clear picture of your problem. We carefully examine the inside and outside of your nose to identify the cause of the congestion. We discuss the best treatment, tailored to the cause, and keep monitoring the effect with you. Who treats you One consistent ENT doctor throughout your care You are guided personally, from first consultation through treatment. dr. Anne-Martine de Heer ENT doctor BIG 19066557501 Make an appointment Had a blocked nose for a while? For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation. Get in touch Other nasal complaints How to arrange a referral Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen Personal, specialist care in Nijmegen and the surrounding area. Feedback & complaints Privacy notice © 2026 De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen · KvK 68663137 · AGB 22221372
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Home / Nose & sinuses / Nasal congestion
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Nasal congestion: cause and treatment

Everyone has a blocked nose from time to time. But what if the congestion persists? On this page you can read more about the causes and treatment.

Request a referral Treatment
The complaint in short

What is nasal congestion?

Everyone has a blocked nose from time to time. It is a very annoying symptom, and a very common one.

With a blocked nose, you cannot breathe in enough air through the nose. This causes a stuffy feeling and can give a sense of shortness of breath. You may feel pressure on the nose or the sinuses. A blocked nose is closely related to loss of smell and snoring.

Causes and diagnosis

What causes nasal congestion?

A blocked nose can have many causes. Fortunately, these causes are almost always harmless. In addition, nasal congestion can also lead to other ENT-related conditions. An ENT doctor can identify the cause well and help you limit further symptoms.

Possible causes of nasal congestion

  • Allergy
  • Common cold
  • Sinusitis
  • Nasal polyps
  • Deviated nasal septum

How is nasal congestion diagnosed?

First, the ENT doctor will ask you a number of questions. The doctor will also examine the inside and outside of your nose carefully. Based on this, a cause can often already be established. Sometimes further investigation is needed, such as an allergy test, a smell test, or a CT scan.

Treatment

Treatment tailored to the cause

The best treatment for your blocked nose depends on the cause. That's why, with chronic nasal congestion, it's important to have yourself examined by an ENT doctor.

For allergy

Antihistamines

When an allergy is present, treatment may consist of prescribing antihistamines.

For swollen mucosa

Nasal rinse or nasal spray

If the nasal mucosa is swollen, or if there's a lot of mucus in the nose, a nasal rinse or a prescribed nasal spray often works well.

For inflammation or polyps

Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or surgery

For an infection or nasal polyps, treatment may include antibiotics or anti-inflammatories. In some cases, surgery is needed.

What you can expect

Your care pathway

Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your nasal symptoms. The ENT doctor asks specifically about your symptoms to get a clear picture of your problem. We carefully examine the inside and outside of your nose to identify the cause of the congestion. We discuss the best treatment, tailored to the cause, and keep monitoring the effect with you.
Who treats you

One consistent ENT doctor throughout your care

You are guided personally, from first consultation through treatment.

dr. Anne-Martine de HeerENT doctor
BIG 19066557501
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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Make an appointment

Had a blocked nose for a while?

For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation.

Get in touch Other nasal complaints
How to arrange a referral
    Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation