Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose Quickly

Nasal congestion can happen for any number of reasons, but it’s a nuisance whether it’s a temporary or chronic problem. A stuffy nose can be caused by a cold or infection, allergies, or something else like how your sinuses or nose are shaped. Fortunately, there are many medications available to help relieve your stuffy nose, and you may have luck using natural remedies, as well.

Steps

Trying Immediate Solutions

1. Blow your nose one nostril at a time. Hold one nostril closed with your thumb while you exhale gently through the other nostril, then switch. This prevents pressure buildup in your sinuses and clears mucus better than blowing your nose the “normal” way.
   • Be sure to wash your hands after blowing your nose.
2. Cleanse your nostrils with a saline solution. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of room temperature distilled water, mixing it thoroughly until the salt dissolves. Tilt your head back, and use a new rubber ear syringe to squirt the salt water into one nostril. The solution will run down your throat and then you can spit it out. It’s okay if you swallow some of it. Repeat the process on the other nostril.
   • You can also purchase saline solution in a drug store.
3. Use a neti pot. The neti pot thins mucus and flushes it out of your nasal passage. Follow the instructions that come with your specific neti pot. In general, follow these guidelines for use:
   • Make an irrigating solution of 16 ounces lukewarm (and sterile) water, along with 1 teaspoon of salt. Fill your neti pot with the saline solution.
   • Stand over your sink or in the shower. Tilt your head sideways so that your forehead and chin are about level and bring the tip of the neti pot to the uppermost nostril. The saline solution will go into one nostril, travel through your nasal cavity, and come out of the other nostril. If the solution drips into your mouth, just spit it out. Blow your nose and repeat the process on the other side.
   • If you suffer from severe sinus problems or allergies, you can try irrigating daily. Once symptoms improve, use it three times per week.
   • Make sure your neti pot is always clean before you use it.
   • Always use distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water in your neti pot.
4. Do an at-home steam treatment. Hop into the shower for about 10 to 20 minutes, using the warmest water you can stand. Breathe in and out deeply, filling your lungs and nasal passages with steam. Alternately, place your head over a steaming pot of water and drape a towel over the back of your head to capture the steam.
   • Add several drops of eucalyptus oil to the hot water. Eucalyptus may have soothing properties that help open up a clogged nose.
   • Some people find adding some chamomile tea to the water to be soothing.
5. Use a humidifier. Humidifiers help put moisture into the air, which helps to flush your nostrils. Warm-mist and cool-mist humidifiers are equally effective, but always use a cool-mist humidifier for children to prevent burns. Be sure to keep your humidifier clean.
   • If you don't have a humidifier, bring some water to boil, place the pot on a heat-safe trivet, and let it rest in a room you'll be in. The warm steam will increase the moisture content in the room.
6. Put a warm compress on your nose and forehead. Create a warm compress by soaking a clean towel in hot water, then squeezing the excess water out and folding the towel in half. Make the water as hot as you can comfortably stand it, but not so hot that it will burn you.

Taking Medications

1. Purchase an over-the-counter decongestant. Decongestants improve symptoms quickly, though they don't actually treat your cold. You can get decongestants as pills, tablets, or nasal sprays.
   • Do not take decongestants without talking to your doctor if you have high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, difficulty urinating, or glaucoma.
   • Limit your use of nasal sprays to 3 days. Nasal spray decongestants like naphazoline (Privine), oxymetazoline (Afrin), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall) can worsen congestion if over-used (a phenomenon called "rebound congestion”).
2. Take antihistamines for allergies. Your stuffy nose may be due to allergies if you have itchy, watery eyes along with a stuffy nose. Try an over-the-counter antihistamine like Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, or Benadryl. Combination antihistamines and decongestants are also available and can be quite effective.
   • Antihistamines can make you sleepy, so don’t take them if you have to drive or work unless you know how they affect you.
3. Use prescribed, inhaled corticosteroids for severe congestion. Steroids are powerful decongestants that your doctor can prescribe for you if you have severe or difficult-to-treat congestion. These medications are usually inhaled because taking them orally can cause unpleasant side effects. Discuss this option with your healthcare provider.
   • Talk to your doctor right away if you’re using these medications and you get changes in your vision, nasal bleeding, crusting, or pain.
4. Call your pharmacist or doctor for suggestions. Even when using over-the-counter medications, it’s best to consult a trained professional for suggestions on which medication is right for you and your symptoms. If you can be seen immediately, visit your doctor for a check-up and to confirm what’s going on. Or, speak to the pharmacist at your drug store – tell them about any medical conditions or allergies you have, and they will suggest the safest and most helpful medicine for you.

Making Lifestyle Changes

1. Sleep with your head elevated. Congestion can shift to one part of the nasal passage when you lie down on your side, worsening the stuffiness. Prop your head up with a couple of pillows if you're lying down, and try to sleep on your back, if possible.
2. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Stay hydrated to help thin the mucus in your nose. Drink lots of water, juice, sports drinks, or tea throughout the day – at least 8 glasses daily.
   • A good stuffy nose reliever is hot water, lemon, and honey – and drinking warm beverages can also help soothe a sore throat accompanying your stuffy nose.
3. Consider avoiding dairy while you’re congested. Certain people may experience more congestion when they drink milk. Although it’s not a must and there is no evidence to support the belief that milk causes congestion, you can try avoiding milk, cheese, and other dairy products while you have a stuffy nose.
4. Minimize your exposure to allergens. Often, stuffy noses are caused by seasonal allergies or allergic reactions to pet dander, dust, and mold. If you don’t want to take allergy medication all the time, try to keep your home and car as clean as possible. Vacuum regularly and change your bedding several times per week – especially your pillow cases.
   • Reduce your exposure to pollen by checking the pollen count online and avoiding outdoors activities on high-pollen days, wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes and a head scarf to keep pollen out of your hair, showering at the end of the day, keeping your car and home windows closed, mowing your grass short, and grooming your pets regularly.
   • Limit your exposure to perfumes and tobacco smoke.

Tips

• Talk to your doctor if you have stuffiness that persists over 10 days, or if you want to start taking a new medication and you have any health issues.
• Try putting a wheat pack or a heat pack on your nose and/or throat.

Warnings

• Using mentholated products like Vick’s vapor rub may make you feel like your sinuses are clearing, but really they do not improve nasal congestion. They’re also unsafe to use in children under 2 years old, due to the risk of poisoning.
• Seek medical care immediately if you experience a stiff neck, vision changes, confusion, a fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher, swelling in your forehead, a severe headaches that won’t go away, or swelling, redness, or pain around your eyes.

Related Articles

• Clear a Stuffy Nose
• Make Yourself Sneeze
• Release Sinus Pressure
• Get Rid of Sinus Congestion

Sources and Citations

See also

• Treat Nasal Infection Naturally
• Clear a Stuffy Nose
• Make Yourself Sneeze
• Get Rid of a Runny Nose
• Stop a Sneeze
• Clean Your Nostrils
• Prevent Nose Bleeds
• Clear Nasal Congestion
• Drain Sinuses
• Massage Your Sinuses

Read more ...

What links here

• Release Sinus Pressure
• Get Rid of Sinus Congestion