17 Common Signs And Symptoms Of Influenza

2. Nasal Congestion

More often than not, when a person gets a runny nose, they end up with nasal congestion as well or what it referred to as a stuffy nose. As explained earlier, nasal congestion is partially due to the immune system’s response to keeping the influenza virus out of the chest and lungs. Congestion happens because the membranes and blood vessels inside the nose become inflamed and swell up, making it difficult to breathe, even causing issues with hearing and speech since a person’s sinuses are connected to the same membranes as the nasal passageways. Patients can take medication to help alleviate nasal congestion, but most of these OTCs won’t treat the actual virus.