Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Moisturizing the nasal passages
• Method 2 of 3: Taking food supplements and medications
• Method 3 of 3: Using Spices and Flavors
• Tips
• Warnings

A runny nose caused by sinus inflammation and accumulation of mucus in the nasal passages can result from a variety of causes. Fortunately, there are many methods to get rid of nasal congestion quickly and safely.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Moisturizing the nasal passages

1. 1 Breathe in warm, moist air. Breathing in steam helps to clear the nasal passages and make breathing easier. There are various ways to breathe in the vapor safely. Here is one of the simplest:
   • Dampen a clean towel with hot water and squeeze out excess water.
   • Make sure the towel is not too hot.
   • Place a warm, damp towel over your face, covering your nose and mouth, and breathe evenly and deeply.
2. 2 Take a hot shower. Turn on hot water and wait a few minutes for the shower stall to fill with steam. Then run warm water and take a shower. Relax and breathe deeply!
3. 3 Do steam inhalation. Heat distilled water to a near boil and pour it into a heat-resistant and stable container. Place the container of water on a flat surface and make sure that the rising steam is not too hot to breathe. Bend over the water, inhaling deeply the steam. To be effective, place a towel over your head and container of water.
4. 4 Use a humidifier. It is especially useful if you spend a lot of time indoors with dry air. This device will humidify the air and help relieve nasal congestion caused by colds or dry mucous membranes. The humidifier generates steam, thereby increasing the humidity in the air. In addition to water, some moisturizers allow additives such as menthol to evaporate, which can also help relieve nasal congestion.
5. 5 Drink plenty of fluids. This rule should be adhered to constantly, not only with a stuffy nose. This will prevent the mucus from thickening and blocking your nasal passages.
   • Typically, men should drink 13 glasses (3 liters) and women should drink 9 glasses (2.2 liters) per day. Drink even more during illness!
   • Hot drinks are perfect: tea, clear broth, water with lemon and honey. They will replenish the body's fluid supply, and their vapor will make your breathing easier. Do not drink too hot drinks to avoid scalding.
   • Avoid drinks that contain alcohol, caffeine, and a lot of sugar, as these can dehydrate your body.
6. 6 Use a salt spray. Salt water can help reduce discomfort caused by nasal congestion.
   • Make your own salt spray by mixing a teaspoon of salt in two glasses of warm water. Stir the water until the salt is completely dissolved and rinse your nose with it using a nasal syringe.
7. 7 Flush your nose with an irrigator. For rinsing the nose, you can use a pear, syringe, or a special neti-pot vessel. In this case, the nasal cavity is rinsed with sterile saline solution. This rinsing removes thick mucus and allergens that cause nasal congestion from the nasal passages.
   • Make your own saline solution by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in 450 ml of water. You can add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to reduce the burning sensation in the nose.
   • Inject the saline solution into one nostril so that it passes through the nasal cavity and flows out of the other nostril. When doing this, keep your mouth open and do not breathe through your nose.

Method 2 of 3: Taking food supplements and medications

1. 1 Take zinc. This trace mineral interferes with the proliferation of viruses that cause the common cold, promoting a speedy recovery.
   • Start taking zinc at the first symptoms of a cold.
   • Take zinc lozenge. Do not chew or swallow them, but suck until they are completely dissolved in your mouth.
   • When purchasing a zinc supplement, make sure it contains zinc gluconate or zinc acetate.
   • Take 13.3-23 milligrams of zinc over two hours until symptoms resolve. At the same time, make sure that for several days the daily dose of zinc does not exceed 40 milligrams.
   • Excess zinc combined with low copper content can lead to a weakened immune system.When taking zinc supplements, be sure to get enough copper into your body.
2. 2 Take vitamin C. Zinc and vitamin C are more effective when taken together. Recent studies have shown that vitamin C alone has little effect on the duration and severity of the common cold. However, with high physical exertion, this vitamin increases resistance to colds.
   • The human body is not able to fully assimilate a single dose of vitamin C if it exceeds 500 milligrams. It is enough to take 1,000 milligrams of this vitamin throughout the day.
   • Take no more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day.
   • Do not take vitamin C supplements if you have kidney problems.
3. 3 Take an over-the-counter decongestant. It can help reduce swelling of the mucous membrane by relieving nasal congestion. Popular decongestants include phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, and pseudoephedrine. They are available in a variety of forms, including sprays and tablets. Always follow the directions given in the instructions for use.
   • Be careful when using decongestant nasal sprays. They should not be used for more than three days in a row, otherwise symptoms may recur with even greater intensity after stopping them.
   • Limit the use of decongestants during pregnancy. In past studies, the use of phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine during the first trimester has been associated with rare birth defects. More recent research has shown that decongestants can be safely taken for a short time during pregnancy. Only take medications that are not contraindicated during pregnancy, after consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
   • Do not take decongestants while breastfeeding.
   • Do not use decongestants if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants.
   • Talk to your doctor before taking decongestants if you have:
     • Diabetes
     • High blood pressure (hypertension)
     • Hyperthyroidism
     • Enlarged prostate gland
     • Liver disease (eg, cirrhosis of the liver)
     • Kidney disease
     • Heart disease (or poor circulation)
     • Glaucoma
4. 4 Take antihistamines. If your nasal congestion is caused by irritation from an allergic reaction, antihistamines can help.
   • Be careful as antihistamines can make you drowsy. Do not drive a car while taking antihistamines that you are not familiar with.
   • Do not take antihistamines while breastfeeding. Although antihistamines are safe during pregnancy, they can reduce the amount of breast milk and cause irritation in the infant.

Method 3 of 3: Using Spices and Flavors

1. 1 Eat something spicy. Spicy food helps to thin the mucus accumulated in the nose. Sometimes, just sniffing a spicy dish is enough! Try the following:
   • Hot, especially chili peppers
   • Ginger
   • Garlic
   • Horseradish
2. 2 Steam inhalations with essential oils. In many cultures, various herbal remedies have been added to water vapor to relieve nasal congestion. The plant-derived essential oils available at the pharmacy are great for adding to a humidifier or steam bath.
   • Three drops of essential oil are enough for a liter (4 cups) of water. For the steam inhalation described above, add the essential oil to the water immediately after removing it from the stove. Don't overdo it: essential oils have a very strong scent. There are many essential oils to choose from, and many have similar effects.Try essential oils from the following plants:
     • Peppermint. This type of mint contains a large amount of menthol, which is good for congestion.
     • Eucalyptus
     • Rosemary
     • Lavender
     • Tea tree
3. 3 Drink peppermint tea! In doing so, you breathe in the cleansing steam, enjoy the soothing scent and replenish the body's fluid supply. Brew the tea by steeping a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves in a glass of boiling water for 10 minutes. As you wait for the tea to cool, breathe in its vapor - the menthol it contains will help clear your nose.

Tips

• Some products contain both antihistamines and decongestants at the same time. These medications help relieve a runny nose and sneeze, as well as mucus and sinus pressure.
• Do not use chlorinated water, as it irritates the nasal mucosa, making the runny nose worse.
• Raise your head while sleeping by placing two pillows under it. This will make it easier to clear your sinuses and reduce nasal congestion.
• Do not smoke and try not to inhale tobacco smoke. Smoking, including passive smoking, increases nasal congestion and makes it difficult to treat.

Warnings

• Special measures are required to ease the breathing of a child with a cold. The techniques outlined in this article are intended for adults. Talk to your pediatrician about how to treat your child's nasal congestion.
• Usually, nasal congestion is only a temporary nuisance, but in some cases it can indicate a more serious medical condition. See your doctor if:
  • A stuffy nose is accompanied by severe headache or neck pain.
  • Symptoms last more than 10 days.
  • You have a high fever, especially if it hasn't subsided for more than three days.
  • Persistent bloody or greenish nasal discharge, pain and heat in the sinuses.
  • Severe cough or sore throat.
• Don't be tempted by the spicy wasabi sauce. Despite its pungency, this sauce can make nasal congestion worse.