Out of all symptoms of the common cold, nasal congestion (also referred to as plugged nose or blocked nose) is a hallmark symptom of the disease that has been reported to be the most bothersome for the majority of people. 1 This symptom is not caused directly by the virus, but by the local inflammatory response to the viral infection. 10 Nasal congestion tends to peak on the second and third days of the illness,11,12 and contributes to sleep disruption 9 which results in daytime somnolence and mood changes. 13