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Allergic rhinitis, otherwise known in lay terms as hay fever is a common problem that affects many.
It would be helpful for you to see your doctor so he/she can rule out other causes of congestion (e.g., nasal polyps, sinusitis or other infectious causes, etc.). Several OTC antihistamines such as Claritin are available. Claritin and Zyrtec are essentially non-sedating. Others like Benadryl or Chlorpheneramine cause drowsiness.
You can use saline nasal sprays all you want. The ones such as Afrin constrict the blood vessels in the tissue lining of your nose and can afford you some quick and effective relief. However, if you use these continually for very long, the metabolic waste products that accumulate in the nose tissue cannot be absorbed effectively, and you can develop rebound congestion from what we call rhinitis medicamentosa. Your doctor can also prescribe intranasal corticosteroids, which are safe and effective when used as recommended.
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