My nose has been blocked from 2 years straight and I get this heavy sneezing every morning right after I wake up. But when I freshen up or take a bath the sneezing part goes away for the day. However, one side of the nose still remains blocked. What could be the problem?

There are two main causes for a blocked nose:

1. The most common is inflammation in the tissues of your nasal passages. This can be triggered by a variety of factors – from infection (such as the cold) to allergies.
2. In some cases, the problem could arise because of a structural obstruction such as a nasal polyp or an abnormality in the way your nasal bones have developed in your face. The best person to advise you about this is an ENT surgeon.

From the information you have given me, I would suggest that you should, in the first instance, eliminate the possibility of an air-borne allergy – medically, this is known as allergic rhinitis.

To do this, I would suggest that you reduce or eliminate cow’s milk and dairy produce (such as cheese or yoghurt) from your diet. In addition, you may benefit from using an anti-allergy medicine. At the same time, if your blocked nose is causing you bother, I would suggest the use of a herbal nasal decongestant.

I hope that this information is helpful to you and please let me know if you require further help.

Best wishes