The Basics

• The term "congestion" is most commonly associated with symptoms including a stuffy or runny nose and a general feeling of fogginess or haziness in a person's brain. Many things can cause congestion, including becoming infected with the various types of viruses that cause the common cold, as well as contracting the influenza virus that causes the flu. What actually happens in the body during periods of congestion is that the skin tissues that make up the lining of the interior of the nose become swollen. This happens because the blood vessels that are attached to these tissues become inflamed.
  
  

Causes

• In addition to the common cold and the influenza virus, a number of things can cause a person to experience congestion. If a person is allergic to something like pollen or certain types of food, this can cause congestion. A sinus infection will also cause a person to become congested. While congested, if a person overuses nasal medications like drops and sprays, this can not only make congestion worse, but also cause congestion to happen if these medications are being taken preemptively.
  
  

Sleep Apnea

• In addition to simply making a person feel sick, congestion can also lead to a disruption in sleep. Chronic congestion can cause snoring, which can also lead to a person developing sleep apnea, a condition where a person experiences shortness of breath or general pauses in the breathing process while trying to sleep.
  
  

Treatments

• There are a number of things that can safely and quickly combat congestion. Using nasal medication in recommended doses can cause symptoms to subside. Using a humidifier to increase the level of humidity in a room can also clear symptoms right up. Drinking hot, healthy fluids like tea and chicken broth can also help congestion.