Every few days or so, I wake up with a stuffy nose in the morning. It's always on one nostril only (therefore I could still breath alright through my nose). Most of the time it's mild, but sometimes it's completely blocked (i.e. little or no air would let through if I block the other nostril). However, my nose would usually clear up few minutes after I get up. Is this normal?
This also seems to happen only during early hours of the morning around 8-9 o'clock; if I wake up in the middle of the night, my nose is usually clear. My family told me this is normal as it's the same thing for them, but I'm not entirely convinced.
I'm particularly concerned about whether this would affect my ability to think and concentrate during the day, as my profession requires lots of mental activity.
I've been diagnosed with rhinitis and mild sinusitis before. However, I didn't opt to take antibiotic or have surgery. Instead, I just drank more water, eat more fresh fruit and take my sleep seriously. Nowadays, I can say my symptoms are noticeably improved. That is, my nose are generally clear throughout the day. From time to time my nose gets stuffy, but those days are few and far between.
What I've also noticed is that my mood seems to have a lot to do with it. Namely, if I'm in a happy and talkative mood, my nose clears up instantly. I don't know whether mood is a cause or an effect. Is there a scientific explanation for this?
Thanks