Whether it's due to a cold or seasonal allergies having a stuffy nose is a tremendous nuisance. It's both inconvenient and embarrassing having to constantly clean the mucous and nasal drainage from your stuffy nose while at work. The nighttime symptoms tend to be even worse with the annoying sinus congestion and stuffiness effecting your quality of sleep. While the cause of the stuffy nose does determine which treatments might be most helpful there fortunately are some universal steps that can be taken to get rid of a stuffy nose.

Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding substances that might dehydrate you such as caffeine or alcohol. Doing so will keep the mucous in your stuffy nose thin and allow you to expel it more easily.

Maximize the humidity in your home. If you don't have a humidifier then taking a hot shower several times a day can still thin nasal congestion and help get rid of a stuffy nose.

Try an OTC oral decongestant to help constrict the swollen blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. The stuffy nose is primarily due to this nasal membrane edema.

Take an oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine if your stuffy nose is due to either seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis. If these older antihistamines are too sedating consider a second generation product such as cetirizine or loratadine.

Keep your nasal passages and sinuses moist by using an OTC saline spray liberally. Use of a neti pot for saline irrigation of the sinuses is more controversial.

Avoid nasal decongestant sprays such as Afrin. They work great at initially getting rid of a stuffy nose; however, using them more than 3 days leads to worsening rebound nasal congestion and chronic sinus stuffiness.

*  If your stuffy nose is accompanied by more serious symptoms such as ear or facial pain, fever or dizziness consult your doctor.
*  A persistent stuffy nose should be evaluated by a doctor. There are a variety of prescription products that can be therapeutic.