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How to Clear a Stuffy Nose
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A stuffy nose can be caused by mucus or inflamed blood vessels in your sinuses. It often develops when you’re sick. Other than taking medications, several home remedies can help unclog your nose.
A stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, can be frustrating and often affect your day-to-day life.
Many people think a stuffy nose is the result of too much mucus in the nasal passages. However, a clogged nose is usually the result of inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. A cold, the flu, allergies, or a sinus infection can all inflame these blood vessels.
Regardless of the reason for your stuffed-up nose, there are easy ways to relieve it.
A humidifier can be a quick and easy way to reduce sinus pain and help relieve nasal congestion.
The machine converts water to moisture that slowly fills the air, increasing the humidity in a room.
Breathing in this moist air can soothe irritated tissues and swollen blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. Some people claim that heated, humidified air can also help congested mucus drain better. However, reviews have shown that there’s no current evidence to support this.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of nasal congestion, you may still benefit from placing humidifiers around your house or office.
Have you ever had a stuffy nose and found that you could breathe so much better after a hot shower? There may be a good reason for that.
Steam from a shower may help to thin out the mucus in your nose and reduce inflammation. Taking a hot shower can help your breathing return to normal, at least for a little while.
You can get the same effect by breathing in steam from hot water in a sink. Here’s how:
- Turn on the hot water in your bathroom sink.
- Once the temperature is right, place a towel over your head and put your head over the sink.
- Allow the steam to build, and take in deep breaths.
- Be careful not to burn your face on the hot water or steam.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids if you suspect you have a cold or are experiencing flu symptoms.
Maintaining optimum hydration levels can help thin the mucus in your nasal passages, pushing the fluids out of your nose and decreasing the pressure in your sinuses. Less pressure means less inflammation and irritation.
If you’re also experiencing a sore throat, warm liquids like tea may be able to help ease the discomfort in your throat, too.
Take hydration one step further with saline, a saltwater solution. Using a nasal saline spray can increase the moisture in your nostrils.
Some saline sprays also include decongestant medication. Talk with your doctor before you begin using saline sprays with decongestants.
It’s not the most glamorous task, but you can clean out your clogged nostrils with a neti pot. A neti pot is a container designed to flush mucus and fluids out of your nasal passages.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using distilled or sterile water instead of tap water.
Here’s how to use a neti pot:
- Stand with your head over a sink.
- Place the spout of the neti pot in one nostril.
- Tilt the neti pot until water enters your nasal passage.
- Once the water flows into your nostril, it will come out through your other nostril and empty into the sink.
- Do this for about 1 minute, and then switch sides.
A warm compress may help alleviate some symptoms of nasal congestion by opening the nasal passages from the outside.
To make a warm compress, first, soak a towel in warm water. Next, squeeze the water out of the towel, then fold it and place it over your nose and forehead.
The warmth can provide comfort from any pain and help relieve the inflammation in the nostrils. Repeat this as often as necessary.
A congested nose can be uncomfortable, but some other over-the-counter (OTC) medications may clear out your nasal passages and bring relief.
Make sure to speak with a pharmacist when choosing a decongestant, antihistamine, or allergy medication. The pharmacist can also answer any questions you may have about a particular medication.
Call your doctor if your stuffy nose doesn’t improve after taking medication for more than 3 days, or if you have a fever as well.
Decongestants
A decongestant medication can help reduce swelling and ease pain associated with irritated nasal passages. Many decongestants are available without a doctor’s prescription.
They come in two forms: nasal spray and pill. Common decongestant nasal sprays include oxymetazoline (Afrin) and phenylephrine (Sinex). Common decongestant pills include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Sudogest).
Be cautious when using decongestants. You shouldn’t take a decongestant for more than 3 days without a doctor’s supervision. After 3 days, a nasal decongestant may actually make your congestion and stuffiness worse.
Antihistamines or allergy medication
You may want to take an antihistamine or allergy medication if your nasal congestion results from an allergic reaction. Both types of medications can reduce the swelling in your nasal passages, helping to unclog your sinuses.
Combining drugs containing both an antihistamine and a decongestant can relieve the sinus pressure and swelling caused by allergic reactions.
Follow the instructions for these medications carefully. If you don’t, you may make your condition worse. You should also note that antihistamines might make you drowsy. If you aren’t sure how an antihistamine will affect you, don’t take this medication when you need to be active or productive.
How To Unblock Your Nose Instantly; 10 Simple Hacks
Well, hello there, is your nose blocked like certain sites you tried to visit last night?
Reader: How did you know that- I mean no I don’t visit any- I mean YES MY NOSE IS BLOCKED.
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m sure practically everybody has experienced the hateful feeling of enduring a blocked nose, especially when you need to eat or sleep. While there are medicines to cure this affliction, it’s not always a good idea to always rely on medicines. Instead, try these simple tips below to clear your nose!
Roof of mouth
Now, this is how to unblock your nose instantly. All you have to do is push your tongue against the roof of your mouth while pressing your finger on the spot between your eyebrows. Your sinuses will start to drain after about 20 seconds because by doing so you are rocking the vomer bone which will clear the congestion.
Holding your breath
Firstly, you need to tilt your head back, take a deep breath and plug your nose. Make sure to hold your breath for as long as possible during this process. This causes your brain into thinking that you cannot get sufficient oxygen from your mouth and will unblock the nose. If this doesn’t work, try blowing your nose instead which may just be the solution for you.
Ice cube
Similar to applying pressure on the roof of your mouth, this method uses an ice cube on the roof of your mouth instead. As this causes the blood vessels to contract in the nasal cavity, the ice provides faster relief than just applying plain old pressure on the roof of your mouth.
Fresh Ginger
Add a teaspoon of ginger that is freshly grated into a cup of warm water. Ginger provides fast relief from a stuffed nose and if the taste is slightly unpalatable, you can add some lemon and honey as well which also helps in clearing your nose.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another nifty trick to clear a blocked nose is by boiling some vinegar. When the vinegar has steam wafting out, inhale the steam to get quick relief for your long-suffering nose.
Using onion
We already know that onions bring tears to our eyes but did you know that it is also good for clearing your congested nose? Peel off the outer layer and cut it into small pieces to release its distinct smell. Breathe in the smells for at least 4-5 minutes. This should help to open your nostrils.
Mint
Mint is also beneficial to help clear up your nasal passages. If possible, get some mint leaves and chew them well. If no mint leaves are available, look for chewing gum that has real mint inside for the best results.
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Eucalyptus oil
Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a clean handkerchief for easy inhalation. Breathe in the aroma every once in a while to clear up your nasal congestion. If you experience a blocked nose when you sleep, you can also add some of the oil on your pillow to keep your sinuses clear.
Garlic
Garlic is widely known as being one of the best remedies for a stuffy, blocked nose. It is helpful to include garlic in your daily diet so that you can benefit from its amazing antibacterial and antifungal properties. For instant relief, you can take a few cloves of garlic, slice it up and boil it with water. Once there is steam, you can start to inhale it.
Saline spray
Walk into any pharmacy and you will be able to purchase nasal saline spray easily. The saline solution dilutes the mucus in your nasal passages which in turn means the blood vessels’ inflammation is decreased. The saline also flushes out the liquids in your nose.
Here is a video for more tips on how to unblock your sinuses.
Featured image: Jihan Nafiaa Zahri / shutterstock.com
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