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Nasal congestion happens when you catch a cold or suffer from allergies, causing the nasal passages to swell and trap mucus, which makes breathing difficult. This condition not only causes discomfort but also leads to noticeable fatigue. Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve nasal congestion when you're affected by a cold or allergies. The following article explains how to relieve congestion naturally or by using medication.
Steps
Quick Remedies
Blow your nose. The quickest way to clear your nose is to expel the mucus. For this method, it’s recommended to carry a pack of tissues or several handkerchiefs when you go outside for work.
Consume Spicy Foods. Have you ever eaten too much mustard and felt the intense spiciness in your nose? This happens because spicy foods can thin mucus and clear nasal passages, though this effect is only temporary. When dealing with severe congestion, try the following foods:
- Various hot peppers
- Chili or mustard
- Spicy ginger
- Methi seeds
- Onions or garlic
Apply Mint Ointment to Your Nose. A mint-infused ointment can evaporate and temporarily relieve nasal congestion, making it easier to breathe for one or two hours. Simply apply a small amount of the ointment inside your nostrils, and the minty fragrance will provide instant relief.
Keep Your Head Upright. Use pillows to prop your body up higher while you sleep at night, rather than lying flat on the bed. This can help alleviate nasal congestion. While this method won't completely clear your nose, it will help you feel more comfortable and breathe easier.
Massage Your Sinuses. This is a traditional remedy for nasal congestion that doesn't require medication or stimulants. Simply use your fingers to massage your sinuses, which is easy yet effective. Here are three simple steps for sinus massage that can be done at home, work, or even in public:
- Place your index fingers on both sides of your eye sockets, just above your nose and below your eyelashes. Begin massaging the sinuses around your nose in circular motions, moving your fingers outward. Do this for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Place your index fingers just beneath your eyes and continue massaging in circular motions to target the sinuses around your eyes. Perform this step for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Finally, place your thumbs on both sides of your cheekbones and massage them in circular motions. Continue for 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat the process until you feel significant relief from sinus congestion.
Apply a Warm Cloth to Your Face. Soak a clean towel in warm water, wring it out so that it is damp, but not soaking wet. Sit down and place the warm towel on your face for a few minutes. The warmth can help soothe discomfort and open up your nasal passages.
Take a Hot Shower. The steam from hot water will travel through your lungs and into your nasal passages, loosening up mucus and helping relieve nasal congestion.
Natural Remedies
Use Steam to Loosen Mucus. If you have time, in addition to taking a hot shower, try a steam inhalation method to relieve congestion. For centuries, steam inhalation has been a primary treatment for nasal congestion worldwide.
- Fill a pot with three cups of water and bring it to a boil, then remove the pot from the heat.
- Add some chamomile tea to the hot water (optional).
- Once the steam cools enough for you to move your hand over the pot without getting burned, pour the water into a bowl.
- Be cautious of the hot steam when positioning your face over the bowl, cover your head with a towel, and breathe deeply. If you can't inhale through your nose initially, breathe through your mouth instead.
Hydrate Your Body! Drink plenty of water or fruit juice. To quickly relieve nasal congestion, aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water, as it helps boost your immune system and reduce swelling inside your nasal passages.
Use a Humidifier. A humidifier is commonly recommended to treat nasal congestion because dry air can irritate the sinus walls, making the congestion worse. Doctors suggest using a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
- If you don’t own a commercial humidifier or prefer not to buy one, you can create a simple homemade version. Boil an appropriate amount of water in a large pot, turn off the heat, and place the pot in a safe spot in your room. The steam will humidify the air. Repeat this if necessary.
- If using an actual humidifier, it’s best to keep it at a moderate setting. Running it too much will make the room overly humid, creating a tropical rainforest-like environment. All you need is a little moisture in the air.
Prepare Your Own Saltwater Nasal Rinse. Saltwater serves as a natural rinsing solution without the need for medication. Add a spoonful of salt to a cup of water and stir until it dissolves. Then, use a dropper to place a few drops of the solution in one nostril while tilting your head back. Afterward, expel the solution from your nose and repeat the process for the other nostril.
Flush Your Nasal Passages with a Neti Pot. For some people, nasal irrigation is a quick remedy for sinusitis symptoms without the need for medication. The neti pot works by thinning mucus and flushing it out of your nasal passages.
- All neti pots come with usage instructions. Generally, you'll need to mix half a liter of warm (sterile) water with a teaspoon of salt to create the rinse solution. Then pour the solution into the neti pot.
- Tilt your head at a 45-degree angle and insert the spout into one nostril. Begin pumping the saltwater into the upper nostril, allowing it to flow through your nasal passages and exit through the other nostril. If the solution drips into your throat, spit it out. Blow your nose and repeat for the other nostril.
- How often should you perform nasal irrigation? Those with severe sinusitis or allergies often find relief with daily rinsing. Once symptoms improve, it is recommended to rinse your nose three times a week.
Exercise. Although this may not be your first choice, the truth is that physical activity can help your body recover. The easiest way to relieve nasal congestion is by performing twenty deep breaths, remembering to inhale through your nose. Your brain knows when it needs extra air and will signal to reduce swelling inside the nose and thin mucus.
Take an Aromatherapy Bath. Certain essential oils can help break down mucus, clearing the sinuses. When taking a bath, add about ten drops of eucalyptus, rosemary, or green tea essential oils to the warm water. Then, relax in the bath until your nasal passages clear and breathing becomes easier.
Get Some Rest. It might sound like an exaggeration, but it’s essential to take a day off from work or school to get some deep sleep. Sleep allows your body to heal naturally and boost your immune system against the flu. If you have trouble sleeping due to congestion, consider using nasal drops, nasal strips, or breathing through your mouth (use lip balm if you prefer mouth breathing to prevent dry lips).
Relaxation. When you're stressed, your immune system weakens, and the more stress you experience, the harder it becomes for your sinuses to clear.
Medication Solutions
Use Over-the-Counter Nasal Decongestants. You can purchase nasal decongestants at local pharmacies, and there are various types available:
- Spray medications containing naphazoline (Rhinex), oxymetazoline (Coldi-B), or phenylephrine (Polydexa, Sinex, Rhinall).
- Oral medications containing phenylephrine (Panadol, Sudafed PE, Sudogest PE) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Sudogest).
- Be cautious not to use nasal sprays for more than three days, as prolonged use can worsen congestion. Also, avoid taking these medications for more than seven days without consulting a doctor. Always follow the instructions provided for over-the-counter medications.
Use Antihistamines. Antihistamine medications and other allergy treatments can help reduce nasal congestion. Choose an antihistamine that also contains a decongestant to address a runny nose, sneezing with mucus, or sinus pressure. Consider trying natural antihistamines such as:
- Nettle. Some doctors recommend freeze-dried nettle as it has the ability to reduce the amount of histamine your body produces.
- Horsetail. This herb has long been used in Europe to treat skin conditions. Its leaves can be crushed to make a poultice or turned into capsules for oral use.
- Basil. Another natural source of antihistamine is basil. Add a few sprigs of basil to boiling water and inhale the steam. The antihistamine properties of basil will help reduce the histamine your body produces, alleviating nasal congestion.
What to Do When Seeing a Doctor
Be prepared to answer some basic questions. There are many reasons for nasal congestion, and it cannot be treated unless you answer honestly. Doctors typically ask the following questions:
- How long have you been experiencing nasal congestion? If it lasts more than seven days, you should visit a doctor immediately.
- What is the color of the mucus?
- Are there any other symptoms such as pain, fever, cough, etc.?
- Do you have any allergies?
- Do you smoke?
Initially, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics and other medications. Nasal congestion is often a symptom of a cold or other infections. As a result, the doctor typically prescribes medication to combat the infection.
- Be sure to inform the doctor about any other medications you are currently taking.
Prepare for a nasal endoscopy, where a camera will be inserted into your nose for diagnosis. This procedure may sound intimidating, but local anesthesia will ensure you feel no pain, and the process is relatively smooth. The doctor will insert a small camera into the nasal cavity to check for swelling, a deviated septum, or infection. If your nasal congestion persists after medication, you should prepare yourself for an endoscopy.
- Another alternative to endoscopy is an X-ray, though it is expensive and not always practical, but in severe cases, it may be necessary.
Consider the extreme heat therapy method for chronic nasal congestion. This procedure lasts just 15 minutes and aims to heat the sinus cavities to relieve congestion. The doctor will apply local anesthesia, and within an hour, the treated area will be numb.
- They insert two heated needles into each nostril, but most patients do not feel pain.
- You may need to wait 1-2 weeks for the congestion to clear.
- If the treatment doesn't work on the first try, you might need to repeat it in subsequent weeks.
- This treatment is usually performed by an ENT specialist in their clinic, so there's no need for a hospital visit.
You should understand that surgery is only recommended for severe cases. If you have a severe infection or nasal obstruction, you may need endoscopic sinus surgery. A small camera will be inserted through your nostrils to guide the surgeon, and infected areas will be cleared or opened to remove blockages in the sinuses.
- Patients who undergo endoscopic sinus surgery do not need to stay overnight in the hospital and can go home the same day.
- You'll only experience minor discomfort, and most patients recover completely within a week or less.
- Additional treatments may be necessary, but the success rate of this surgery is quite high.
Consider laser turbinate surgery (LTS), a minimally invasive procedure with quicker results. The turbinates are internal structures that contribute to nasal congestion. The CO2 or KTP laser technology causes the turbinates to shrink within 20 minutes. After surgery, no bandages are required, and you can return to work the same day.
- A slight nasal congestion may persist for up to a week before fully resolving.
- A mild local anesthesia will be applied, but no injection is needed.
- A downside of the LTS method is its high cost, which means not all clinics offer this technology.
Advice
- Avoid consuming dairy products or chocolate, as both can lead to increased mucus production.
- Steer clear of water treated with chlorine. For example, chlorine in swimming pool water can irritate the mucous membranes and worsen nasal congestion.
- If you suffer from a sinus headache, you may take pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil.
- You can use nasal strips if convenient; most pharmacies sell strips for nasal congestion.
Warning
- Avoid applying vaporizing ointments to your nose if they cause pain when exposed to wind, as these can cause sharp, needle-like sensations.
