Inhalers To Help Congestion Issues
Contents
Stuffy nose is very uncomfortable. You can’t breathe properly, you can’t talk much, and it can be irritating. A blocked nose can also dull your sense of taste and smell. Colds and the flu are common causes. You can know more about flu here. Allergies and colds can also cause an uncomfortable feeling in the nose.
Whatever the cause, you should be able to treat it and breathe a little better.
Fortunately, there are a lot of remedies that can reduce the inflammation of the membrane linings in your nasal passages.
This is because inflamed membranes make more mucus to remove the source of irritation, such as in the case of allergens. To make yourself feel better, here are some treatments that you can try.
Remedies for Nasal Congestion
1. Use Saline Sprays
Saline sprays consist of water and salt, and they help keep your nose from drying out and rinse away mucus.
You can buy saline spray at a drugstore or make your own. MedlinePlus suggests 1 cup (240 milliliters) of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda.
Lean over the sink and gently squirt the saltwater into one nostril, letting it drain before you treat the other.
Never use plain tap water. The FDA advises using distilled or sterile water, or tap water that has been boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and cooled to lukewarm. Wash and dry your neti pot or bulb after each use.
2. Drink a Lot of Fluids
You need to rehydrate to help with the stuffy nose. Drinking plenty of clear fluids, such as water, broth or herbal tea, helps keep mucus thin so it can drain. When the lining of your nose dries out, the mucociliary system which traps and transports allergens and irritants doesn’t work as well. Know more about the mucociliary system in this site: onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
When you are hydrated, mucus stays thinner and moves more easily. It is advised not to drink alcohol or beer while you have blocked sinuses, as these can cause increased congestion and pressure.
3. Breathe Into Steam
Moist air can help loosen mucus. A vaporizer or humidifier adds moisture to the room. Clean it often, as the device’s instructions direct, and keep hot-steam vaporizers away from children to avoid burns.
A warm shower is another easy option. MedlinePlus suggests breathing in steam 2 to 4 times a day, for example by sitting in the bathroom with the shower running, but warns not to inhale hot steam. The moisture thins mucus, which can make it easier to breathe.
4. Use Nasal Inhalers
To make your life easier, you can use Be Moxe Inhalers that will not only help with your congestion. It can also have aromas that can help you relax. Aromatherapy inhalers like this one use essential oil blends, and many people find the scent relaxing. This type of inhaler gives off vapors from lemongrass, lavender, grapefruit, menthol, and camphor.
Menthol and camphor create a cooling feeling that can make breathing feel easier. They don’t treat the swelling that causes congestion, though, so think of them as a comfort measure.
Hold the inhaler near one nostril and breathe in, then repeat on the other side. Follow the label directions, and ask a pediatrician before using essential oil products with young children.
Other Things that You Can Do
- Use a humidifier that cools the air
- Take long warm baths where you can breathe the steam
- Use nasal irrigators or bulb syringes
- Place a warm wet towel on your face
- Sleep with plenty of pillows for propping yourself up
- Avoid swimming in pools for the meantime
Conclusion
If your nasal congestion is getting worse, lasts longer than expected, or comes with a fever or face pain, it’s time to visit your doctor. You can get over the counter medicines or try home remedies that will ease the discomfort that you feel from blocked passages in your nose.
If you have a cold, get plenty of rest and eat healthy food. Home remedies can make you more comfortable while your body fights off the cold.
Sources
- Stuffy or runny nose, adult, MedlinePlus
- Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe?, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
