It can be extremely annoying to have a stuffy nose. You make funny unbearable noises and this fearful feeling of a dripping nose never leaves you. But when you reach the bathroom trying to blow it off and breathe freely, all you get is disappointment and even more frustration.
Many people mistakenly believe a stuffy nose to be the result of the accumulation of excess mucus that clogs the nasal passages.
However, the nasal passage is clogged by inflamed blood vessels of the sinuses. The irritated vessels are initially triggered by cold, seasonal flu, sinus infection, or allergies.
Easy Remedies to Relieve Stuffy Nose
Irrespective of the cause of your stuffy nose, the following simple remedies can help relieve the discomfort so that you can feel better and breathe freely again:
Using a humidifier
Humidifiers can provide quick relief by reducing sinus pain and relieving the stuffy nose. Humidifier machines convert water into moisture that increases the humidity in the room by slowly filling the air.
Breathing in the moist air helps in soothing irritated tissues and relaxing swollen blood vessels in the sinuses and inside the nose.
Humidifiers also help in thinning the mucus in the sinuses. As a result, you can easily blow out the fluids off your nose and return to normal breathing. Placing a humidifier in the room can help ease the inflammation that causes congestion inside your nose.
Taking a warm shower
A hot shower can serve as an instant remedy whenever you feel that you cannot breathe with a stuffy nose. The steam from a warm shower helps in reducing the inflammation by thinning the mucus inside your nose. Spending some time underneath a hot shower can help temporarily resume your breathing back to normal.
Alternately, you can fill the sink with hot water and breathe in the steam to get similar effects. Place a towel to cover your head when you lean over the sink. Take in deep breaths. Always check the temperature of the water before taking the steam to avoid burning your face accidentally.
Staying Hydrated
It is advisable to stay hydrated when you have a stuffy nose. You can take any liquids including water, juices, or sports drinks to stay hydrated.
Intake of fluids helps in thinning the mucus and pushing it out of your nose there decreasing the pressure on the sinuses, reducing inflammation, and relieving irritation. Warm tea and soups can help ease the discomfort when you have a sore throat with a stuffy nose.
Using a Saline Spray
You can spray nasal saline inside your nostrils to increase the moisture in your nose. It helps decrease the inflammation and empty the fluids by thinning the mucus inside the nasal passages. Some saline sprays may contain decongestant medication for instant relief.
Draining your sinuses
You can flush out the fluids from your clogged nostrils by using a neti pot, a container specifically designed to flush the fluids and mucus out of your nose.
Using a warm compress
It can help open the nasal passages and unclog a stuffy nose. You can make a warm compress by soaking a towel or washcloth in warm water. Squeeze the water so that the towel is damp but not draining.
Fold the wet towel and place it over your nose. The warmth of the compress helps relieve the inflammation and provides comfort.
Using Decongestants
You can take decongestant medication to ease the pain and reduce the swelling linked to an irritated nasal passage.
Decongestants are available in the form of nasal sprays and pills. Decongestant nasal sprays contain phenylephrine (Sinex) and oxymetazoline (Afrin) as primary components.
Decongestant pills contain pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Sudogest). Remember not to use a decongestant more than three days without consulting a doctor.
Antihistamines or Allergy Medication
These medications help reduce the swelling and unclog your stuffy nose. Medicines containing both a decongestant and an antihistamine can effectively relieve sinus pressure and reduce swelling due to allergic reactions.
You can clear out your clogged nose with a few at-home remedies. Some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs may provide instant relief. Consult a physician if the condition is combined with fever or doesn’t improve with medication for over three days.
