[My Flight Surgeon]

Since your symptoms get better when you go back to New Jersey, it sounds like allergies to something in the DC area. The best thing you can do is treat this with medications that treat the source of the problem. I would first try NasalCrom. It is an over-the-counter nasal spray that stabalized cells in your nasal mucosa which release histamine when you are exposed to allergens. This is more effective than Afrin and not habit forming. It will take several days to see effect. You can probably purchase a generic form of this also.

The second thing to consider is using generic Claritin. Here in Phoenix the generic form of Claritin (loratidine) at Costco is $11.56 for 300 tablets.

If these two things don't solve the problem, then you will need to see a phsyician to get some steroid nasal spray such as Flonase.

Also avoid smoking environments (probably why it is worse in DC).

You may notice this clear up after there is a hard freeze in the fall. If so, it is due to something pollenating in the area.

Good luck. This makes folks miserable.