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Fortunately, there are several home remedies and medications that can be employed to minimize the discomfort that accompanies this health condition.
Understanding the possible causes of congestion is important as you consider the best ways to prevent and treat your symptoms. Allergies, viruses, environmental contaminants, bacterial infection, deviated septum, and nasal polyps are the most likely culprits causing your congestion. Medical News Today recommends seeing a doctor when symptoms last longer than a week or when you experience facial pain or a fever.
Below are the top ways to control nasal congestion.
1. Keep your nasal passages moist.
As counterintuitive as it may sound to focus on keeping your nasal membranes moist when you feel like you're already drowning in mucus, that is exactly what you need to do. The truth is that if you allow your nasal membranes to dry out, it will further irritate the area.
Using a humidifier is a proven way to get some relief by keeping the air you breathe moist to soothe your nose. Taking long showers or a hot bath where you can breathe in the steam is also recommended. Steam opens up your nasal passages so you can breathe better.
Don't forget to drink a lot of liquid. The extra fluid will act as a thinning agent and loosen up the mucus making it easier to breathe.
Saline spray is also touted as a way to keep your nasal passages moist. Unlike some of the medicated nose sprays sold, this liquid is a simple saltwater solution and has no dangerous side effects.
Finally, a Neti pot or nasal irrigator can be used to treat your congestion. It is important to use sterile water that is germ-free. Distilled water works well. Boiled tap water can also be used.
2. Minimize your exposure to known allergens.
Many people suffer from seasonal allergies, especially during the spring and fall months. While a large number of allergy sufferers opt for popular antihistamines as a way to cope, others choose alternative answers for a variety of reasons. By simply minimizing your exposure to allergen triggers, you can often prevent the nasal congestion and red, itchy eyes that millions of people endure three or four months of the year.
It is best to stay indoors as much as possible, particularly avoiding outdoor activities on windy, dry days when the allergens are likely to be at peak levels. Remember, the early morning hours typically register the highest pollen count. If you need to go outside, try to limit it to hours after a steady rain when the air is cleaner.
While it may be almost impossible to stay protected indoors with life's many demands, there are some recommended strategies you can employ to minimize the hours you spend in the great outdoors. One obvious way to avoid airborne irritants is to delegate your yard chores to others.
When forced to be outside, then be sure to immediately remove your clothes as soon as you go back inside. Launder contaminated clothes before wearing them again. A quick shower is also a good idea so that you can wash your hair and skin, removing pollutants that are likely to irritate your allergies.
When pollen counts are high, you should take extra care to keep windows and doors closed. As tempting as it can be to open up your home for some fresh air when the temperatures are moderate during the fall and spring seasons, it is never a good idea if you suffer from seasonal allergies.
Another tip for eliminating indoor allergens is to use your air conditioning. When applicable, be sure to pay special attention to changing your filters regularly. A dehumidifier is also a good idea to improve indoor air quality. HEPA filters are highly recommended for use in the bedroom.
Frequent vacuuming with a HEPA filter will keep pollutants out of your carpet and off hardwood and tile floors. Inarguably, it is impossible not to track in some allergens from outdoors. But regular floor cleaning will limit your exposure.
While a significant proportion of allergens are seasonal, there are also other environmental pollutants that contribute to nasal congestion cases. Many people become congested when exposed to dust, smoke, and other environmental pollutants that irritate nasal passages. Obviously, avoiding any known substances that trigger congestion is advisable.
By checking the air quality ratings in your city on a daily basis, you can limit your time outdoors on the worst days. In most cities, summer has more days with poor air quality. Air pollution from car exhausts can be particularly bad during hot, summer months.
3. Take over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines and decongestants.
Antihistamines can be conveniently purchased in any drug store or grocery retailer. While it is important to carefully consider any prescribed medications you are taking before mixing them with antihistamines, many OTC medications deliver the relief you seek. They typically work fast to make you feel better.
A few of the more popular antihistamine choices are Claritin, Alavert, Zyrtec, and Allegra. These medicines fight allergies that cause nasal congestion. Most of these brands also have generic counterparts with the same ingredients on sale for lower prices.
As the name suggests, decongestants fight congestion. Popular OTC decongestants are Afrin, Sudafed, and Afrinol. Be forewarned, it is important to be careful with nasal sprays. Continued use of a nasal spray can actually aggravate symptoms over time making you feel worse.
As drug stores continuously strive to sell as many medications as possible, not surprisingly, there are combination options that combine antihistamines and decongestants. For example, Claritin-D and Allegra-D are two popular choices sold on most store shelves.
4. Relieve nasal pressure with a wet washcloth or compress.
The soothing warmth of a compress can loosen up congestion and provide some relief. Simply place a compress across the bridge of your nose. Be careful not to make it too hot. An added tip that is recommended by some is to slice ginger and put it in the water before soaking the cloth compress.
5. Inhale steam treatments with healing herbs and natural ingredients.
Eucalyptus oil has been recognized for centuries as a health aid. The oil comes from the eucalyptus tree's leaves. This simple and natural treatment involves breathing in the steam from boiling water with a few drops of eucalyptus oil added in for healing purposes.
Garlic cloves are also applauded for medicinal uses. Touted as both an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal aid, garlic is considered to be a perfect food additive. The good news is that you can eat or boil garlic cloves for congestion relief.
5. Self-administer acupressure techniques for relief.
Healthline recommends acupressure as a treatment you can do for yourself at home. This simple procedure only takes a few minutes. There are several pressure points to locate for treatment.
Use both hands and position your index fingers on either side of the bridge of your nose, at the top. Then, push your fingers from that position up to the hollow spots that separate your eyebrows and nose, applying light pressure and resting your fingertips in place. You can also rub that area for a few minutes. This pressure point is called the third eye and relieves a stuffy nose and sinus pain.
Next move to the pressure point locations below your cheekbones. The best way to locate this spot is to position your index fingers at the outer corner of your eyes. Then, slide your fingertips down until they are located right under your cheekbones. Apply pressure for relief from swollen sinuses.
An additional pressure point that can be used for sinus relief is known as the gallbladder 20. This spot is located in the depression area that connects your neck muscles to your head. Applying pressure to these pressure points is used for treating a sinus headache and other cold symptoms like watery eyes.
The best way to locate these strategic spots is to clasp your hands behind your head, sliding your thumbs down to the base of your skull, just behind your ears. Apply pressure for relief.
While this is not an exhaustive list of pressure points, the above-listed pressure points are easy to locate. For some people, applying acupressure techniques can provide relief from nasal congestion discomfort immediately. Others find that it takes a few days before they get results.
Pregnant women should consult with their doctor before trying acupressure on their own. Specific pressure points can lead to labor.
6. Drink apple cider vinegar.
The many benefits of apple cider vinegar have been widely circulated. Fortunately, nasal congestion is not immune to the health benefits that this popular vinegar offers people suffering from congestion. The high PH levels can help loosen mucus, easing the discomfort and pain associated with congestion.
Additionally, the vitamins present in apple cider vinegar are B1, A, B2, and E. These beneficial vitamins combined with magnesium and potassium are also believed to play a role in treating allergy symptoms.
Apple cider vinegar can be sipped throughout the day. Add one tablespoon of this tart elixir to 8 ounces of water to cut the strength. You can also add honey for a sweeter taste.
Nasal Congestion and the Flu
As nasal congestion can be a common symptom of the flu, here is some additional information about Influenza treatments:
Fluzone Quadrivalent is a flu vaccine that protects against four different strains of the influenza virus—two strains of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and two strains of influenza B. This quadrivalent formulation provides broader protection compared to trivalent vaccines, which only target three strains. Fluzone Quadrivalent is typically recommended for annual flu vaccination to help prevent seasonal influenza in individuals six months and older. It is administered via injection, and like other flu vaccines, it works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus, providing protection if exposed. Fluzone can help reduce the severity of the flu and prevent complications, especially in high-risk groups like the elderly, young children, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
The Moderna flu shot is an upcoming or experimental influenza vaccine being developed by Moderna, a company best known for its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna is leveraging its mRNA technology to develop a flu vaccine, which works by instructing cells to produce proteins that trigger an immune response, similar to how their COVID-19 vaccine works. This mRNA flu vaccine aims to target multiple strains of the flu virus and potentially offer more effective or faster protection than traditional flu vaccines. While traditional flu vaccines use inactivated or weakened viruses, mRNA vaccines can be updated more quickly to match circulating strains.
Summary
The uncomfortable symptoms of nasal congestion disrupt lives all too frequently during flu and allergy seasons. Rarely dangerous, these symptoms definitely take a toll on your quality of life. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive methods for treating nasal congestion so that you can get some relief when you need it most.
Suffering is optional. There are medications that are readily available for fast relief. For people who prefer not to take medications, there are other practical solutions that are both preventative and treatment-oriented. Hot compresses, acupressure, steam treatments, and the avoidance of allergens and other triggers of nasal congestion all provide excellent solutions for people who want to avoid or manage nasal congestion symptoms.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.
