Introduction to Stuffy Nose
A stuffy or congested nose is caused due to the swelling of nasal tissue lining and is characterized by inflammation of blood vessels.
A stuffy nose can also be associated with nasal discharge or runny nose. The presence of too much mucus leads to a stuffy nose making it difficult to eat or breathe.
Moreover, if excess mucus runs down the back of your throat which is also known as postnasal drip, may cause cough or sore throat. But the presence of a few home treatments which can make you comfortable instantly are as follows:
Try Saline (Saltwater) spray
This can be readily available at the store. All you have to do is hydrating your nostril with a nasal spray which can help in thinning of mucus in your nasal passages.
It’s safe to repeat this as often as needed. This reduces the inflammation of blood vessels and helps empty fluids from your nose which can further relieve your stuffy head.
Alternatively, you can rinse the inside of your nose with a nasal irrigation kit or saline solution for nasal hygiene. A neti pot resembles a mini teapot or can make a saline solution on your own by mixing 1 cup of warm bottled, distilled water, a pinch of baking soda, and half a teaspoon of salt. In order to obtain a better outcome, this wash should be used 1 to 2 times a day.
Vaporize
Place a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in your room to add moisture to the air which helps clear stuffy nose. A humidifier offers instant and an easy way to decrease sinus pain and relieve a stuffy nose by converting water to moisture that slowly fills the air, which in turn increases the humidity in a room.
Breathing in this moist air can relieve inflammation of tissues and blood vessels in the nose and sinuses. They are also known to thin the mucus in the sinuses which can ease out the congestion and make breathing normally. However, remember to clean the machine regularly to avoid mold growth inside it.
Prevent Dehydration
Keep hydrating yourself with the help of water, juices, etc. when your nose is stuffed up. They help in thinning of mucus in nasal passages which push the mucus out of your nose and resultant reduces the pressure in your sinuses. Thus decrease in pressure can aid in less inflammation and irritation.
Take Steam
Steam in the form of a hot shower or sipping a hot cup of tea can aid in loosening out of the mucus from your nose which helps in reducing inflammation.
In order to attain instant relief, try to take steam by pouring boiling water of the right temperature into a large bowl. You can cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl.
Allow the steam to build up and inhale deeply in the steam. Make sure not to burn your face because of hot steam. This can be repeated three to four times a day for better results. The method can ease your breathing by removing congestion.
Warm compress
A warm compress can relieve a congested nose by opening the nasal passages from the outside. For making a warm compress, soak a towel in warm water, then squeeze the water out of the towel.
Fold it and place it over your nose and forehead. The warmth from this compress can reduce inflammation in the nostrils. This can be repeated as often as required to get desired results.
Peppermint
Peppermint and its main active ingredient, menthol, act as natural decongestants by thinning of the mucus and can relieve congestion.
Thus, it is a usual component of several chest rubs and cough drops. Drinking a peppermint tea up to five times a day can also offer much-needed relief in the stuffy nose.
Decongestants
Over-the-counter decongestants can reduce the swollen vessels in the nose and ease breathing. It can also provide relief from pain related to irritation in the nasal passages.
These can be available either as nasal spray or pills. The main ingredient in these decongestants is phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine.
However, be cautious as too much use of nasal spray like more than 4 or 5 days in a row can make your nose even stuffier.
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Antihistamines
Antihistamine or allergy drugs can be effective if the stuffy nose is caused due to an allergic reaction. This can reduce the swelling in your nasal passages, aiding in relieving of a stuffy nose.
The employed management approach includes combination therapy containing both an antihistamine and a decongestant that can improve 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. It should also be noted that antihistamines might make you drowsy.
If you aren’t sure how an antihistamine will affect you, don’t take the medicine when you need to be active or productive.
