What is Nasal Congestion?

Congestion can be defined as the blockage of the nasal passages, most often due to inflammation of blood vessels in the mucous membranes. The inflammation of the blood vessels can be attributed to many different factors, however the reason people tend to get a ‘blocked nose’ is because of this inflammation. The swelling of the mucous membranes causes blockage because the vessels swell to the point where the passage becomes occluded.

Most people prefer to breathe through their nose so the symptom associated with congestion (blocked nose) can be very annoying when trying to go about your day to day activities or trying to get to sleep. Nasal congestion can interfere with hearing and speech. In more significant cases, nasal congestion will interfere with sleep, causing you to snore and in rare instances develop acute sleep apnea. Congestion can also cause some mild facial and head pain.

Some common causes associated with nasal congestion include

The common cold or influenza
Rebound nasal congestion, brought on by extended use of topical nasal decongestants (like Otrivine).
Deviated septum
Allergies such as hay fever (allergic reaction to certain types of pollen)
Side effects of medication
Nasal polyps

If your congestion persists for longer than one week after using any topical decongestant, please speak to your doctor for further investigation.

What is Otrivine Nasal Spray?

Otrivine nasal spray helps relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion. It contains the active ingredient xylometazoline hydrochloride. Xylometazoline is known as a ‘sympathomimetic’, meaning it behaves similar to the hormone adrenaline. When applied topically (locally sprayed into nostril) it causes the swollen mucus membranes as a result of blood vessel inflammation to shrink, allowing the passage to be cleared and making breathing easier. Otrivine also in turn helps reduce nasal secretions, meaning you won’t suffer from both a runny and blocked nose. Otrivine is suitable for those over the age of 12 years.

Adrenaline can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Since xylometazoline (Otrivine) behaves like adrenaline it should not be used if you suffer from any heart or circulatory conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. If you are suffering from congestion, it is best to consult your pharmacist or doctor for a suitable alternative. Nasal sprays like sterimar, which are composed of essentially salt water or steroid nasal sprays such as beconase have been shown to be a suitable alternative for those who do suffer from circulatory conditions.