Why is only one side of my nose blocked?

“Increased blood flow causes congestion in one nostril for about 3 to 6 hours before switching to the other side. There is also increased congestion when one is lying down, which can be especially noticeable when the head is turned to one side,” Jennifer Shu reports for CNN.

Why does my cold only affect one nostril?

A constant airflow can dry out the nostrils, which damages their lining, so giving one nostril a rest helps prevent this from happening. When we have a cold, the blood vessels in the nose dilate as part of the body’s immune response, and the nose also produces more mucus.

What causes one side of the nose to be blocked?

A deviated septum is where the wall (septum) that divides the nasal passages is shifted towards one side. As a result one nasal passage is smaller than the other. This deviation may be present from birth or arises with some injury to the nose during the course of life.

Is there any way to unblock a blocked nose?

However, some people may suffer with chronic nasal problems where a blocked nose is persistent. Apart from medical treatment and even surgery, there are some simple ways to unblock the nose that may work in certain cases. Why does the nose get blocked? A blocked nose may also be referred to as nasal congestion or a stuffy nose.

Why does one side of my nose feel harder than the other?

Most people notice that one side of their nose seems harder to breathe from than the other. It’s often observed on the side that is opposite of the bend. Additionally, one of your nostrils can be blocked off from a severe deviation, which causes the breathing to shift to the other side.

Why does my nose hurt when I have a cold?

The common cold is an upper respiratory viral infection that affects most people on a regular basis. There are a number of other viruses that may also cause acute rhinitis (nose inflammation). Bacteria are another common pathogen to cause rhinitis and in some uncommon cases, even fungi can cause nasal infections.