Nasal congestion is caused by something that irritates and inflames the tissues of the nose, including infections (such as the flu, cold, or sinusitis), allergies and other irritants (such as smoking), and chronic diseases (such as non-allergic rhinitis). According to guidelines drawn up by the World Health Organization, the best way to treat it is to use a combination of different remedies, medical and non-medical, to relieve symptoms.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Treat yourself with home remedies
Step 1. Use steam
Pour a liter of water into a saucepan, then put it to boil over a high flame. When the steam begins to rise plentifully, remove the pot from the heat and place it on the table (not forgetting to protect it with a trivet). Cover your head and shoulders with a large, clean cotton towel, then bring your face closer to the stream of steam. Close your eyes and stay at least 30 cm away from the water, so as not to risk getting burned. Breathe in through your nose and exhale as you push the air out of your mouth as you count to five each time, then reduce the length of your breaths to just two. Continue for 10 minutes or until the steam flow stops. Try to blow your nose both during and after the treatment.
- Keep children away from the pot while the water is boiling and later from the steam stream. If possible, do this treatment when there are no children in the house.
- You can redo your clothes frequently, even every two hours. When you are away from home, you can take advantage of the steam that comes from a hot cup of tea or soup.
- If you want, you can add a few herbs or a drop or two of an essential oil to the boiling water. Peppermint, thyme, sage, oregano, lavender and tea tree oils have different properties, for example antibacterial, antifungal or antiseptic.
Step 2. Take a hot shower
It is a remedy that uses steam in a very similar way to the above mentioned tools. Hot water from the shower creates a warm, humid environment, which is helpful in clearing blocked airways and relieving pressure in the sinuses. Try blowing your nose spontaneously. Most likely, the heat and steam will have helped moisten and loosen the mucus, making it easier to expel it.
You can get similar benefits by placing a warm compress on your face to open your airways and relieve pressure in your sinuses. Wet a clean towel, then heat it for 2-3 minutes in the microwave. Before touching it, wait a few moments to avoid burning yourself
Step 3. Do nasal irrigations
Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in 250ml of hot water. Fill a bulb syringe, then use the saline solution to flush the nostrils to loosen and liquefy mucus and relieve nasal congestion. Spray the water twice in each nostril.
Use distilled, sterile, or water you've boiled and then cooled. Rinse tools thoroughly after each use and allow them to air dry before using them again
Step 4. Try using the Neti Lota
It is a miniature teapot-like instrument that has become popular and has gained support from the medical community as it is useful for clearing sinuses and nasal passages. The Neti Lota allows warm water to flow through one nostril and out the other. You will simply have to fill it with hot water and then tilt your head to allow the water to enter the right nostril and come out naturally from the left. When done, repeat on the other side.
- It is important to use only distilled, sterile, or water that you have boiled and then cooled. Rinse the Neti Lota thoroughly after each use.
- It appears that in some rare cases the use of the Neti Lota has caused an amoebic infection. You can prevent this by avoiding using water that could be infected.
Step 5. Use a humidifier
Place it in your bedroom to improve the condition of the airways. The humidifier generates steam and moist air, which can help you get rid of nasal congestion.
- When the sinuses are blocked, it is important to try to keep them moist. Many people are convinced that dry air is the solution for a stuffy nose, but it actually further irritates the membranes that line the inside of the nose and sinuses.
- Using a humidifier can be especially helpful during the winter months, as the air in most homes is very dry due to heating.
- Holding a bottle full of boiling water next to your ear can have a similar effect and help drain any fluids caused by inflammation.
Step 6. Drink lots of fluids
Make sure you drink plenty of water (at least 8 8-ounce glasses) to help dilute mucus secretions and prevent them from blocking your airways, thereby relieving pressure in your sinuses as well.
- When mucus is liquid, it tends to leak more easily. Whenever you feel pressure in your sinuses, try to keep your body properly hydrated.
- Drinking a hot herbal tea can also be useful, because it produces an effect similar to that of steam; moreover the heat favors the escape of nasal secretions.
Step 7. Eat something spicy
Hot sauces, chili peppers, horseradish, and other highly spiced foods can stimulate the expulsion of mucus secretions, so they can help relieve pressure in the sinuses. When the mucus is wet and fluid, blowing your nose is much more effective. For this reason, all remedies capable of diluting nasal secretions are to be considered valid.
If you are a sushi lover, use wasabi. It will help you temporarily relieve the pressure in your sinuses and clear your nose
Step 8. Try acupressure or manual massage
Apply light pressure on the forehead (frontal sinuses), under the eyes (maxillary sinuses) and on the nose bridge using the index and middle fingers. Make slow, circular movements. Continue for several minutes, then blow your nose right away.
Using a balsamic oil during the massage, such as rosemary or peppermint, can help clear the airways. Just be careful not to let it come into contact with your eyes
Step 9. Exercise
It is a natural decongestant. Increasing your heart rate just enough to start sweating can help you pass nasal secretions. If you feel like you can do some aerobic exercise, for example, try going for a jog or bike ride of at least 15 minutes - you will most likely get significant relief.
You can also opt for a more moderate intensity, for example by walking at a brisk pace
Step 10. Keep your head up
Sleep with a couple of pillows under your head to keep it elevated. It is a position that allows you to breathe better and prevents the pressure in the sinuses from increasing.
Method 2 of 2: Medication Cure
Step 1. Use a decongestant nasal spray
Sprays that contain corticosteroids to be taken intranasally, such as those containing triamcinolone (for example Nasacort) or fluticasone (for example Flixonase), are also available without a prescription and work by reducing nasal inflammation. As an added benefit, they do not cause the unwanted side effects frequently associated with the use of oral antihistamines and decongestants, including dry mouth and drowsiness. Unfortunately, however, the full therapeutic effect of these nasal sprays is only achieved after a few days of treatment, so you won't have immediate symptom relief.
- Strictly follow the dosage instructions given in the package leaflet or, better still, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
- There are also some decongestant sprays that require a prescription, for example those based on mometasone furoate (such as Nasonex).
- Possible unwanted side effects include indigestion, nausea, and headache.
- The most recent guidelines suggest using intranasal corticosteroids as the first remedy for nasal congestion.
Step 2. Treat yourself with oral antihistamines
Some people find them useful, especially when the nasal infection has been going on for a long time, because they help relieve symptoms of congestion. Oral antihistamines include diphenhydramine (such as Benadryl), cetirizine (such as Zirtec), and loratadine (such as Clarityn). Be careful, because some first generation (oldest) oral antihistamines can cause serious respiratory side effects, such as further drying the nasal mucous membranes, thickening mucus, or inducing severe sleepiness.
- Take 25 mg of Benadryl every 8 hours to combat nasal congestion. This drug can be difficult to tolerate due to side effects, such as sleepiness and mental confusion.
- Take 10 mg of Zirtec once a day. This drug can also be given to children over 6 years of age in a dose of 5-10 mg per day, based on body weight. See the instructions in the package insert and remember that it can make you sleepy.
- Take 10 mg of Clarityn once a day. Second generation oral antihistamines, like this one, do not have many of the side effects typical of first generation drugs or have them in a reduced way; they are also less likely to cause drowsiness.
- There are also antiallergic nasal sprays that require a medical prescription, for example those based on the active ingredients azelastine (such as Antiallergic Rinazina) or olopatadine hydrochloride.
Step 3. Treat yourself with decongestants
Using a decongestant drug, with or without a prescription, can help relieve pressure in the sinuses by clearing the airways. Various types of decongestants are sold in pharmacies, for example in the form of nasal sprays or oral tablets. Check with your doctor before using any of these products and strictly follow the instructions contained in the package insert.
- Spray nasal decongestants should never be used for more than three consecutive days. Prolonged use could cause so-called "rebound or medicated rhinitis", a condition of permanent congestion. Generally, oral decongestants can instead be taken for up to two weeks without the need for medical supervision.
- Oral decongestants can hardly cause "rebound rhinitis", but in some cases they can cause palpitations or an increase in blood pressure.
- Avoid nasal sprays that contain zinc, as in some rare cases they have resulted in permanent loss of smell.
Warnings
- If nasal congestion has lasted for more than 10 days despite the indicated treatments, consult your doctor. It could be a symptom of another condition, such as an allergy.
- See your doctor if you notice a change in the color or consistency of your nasal discharge or if you have a mild fever or headache. These symptoms could indicate that it is an infection that requires the use of antibiotics.
