When that stuffy, clogged, or blocked nose won't seem to go away, you might find yourself looking for anything that tells you how to relieve sinus pressure and get back to normal life. Everyone gets colds from time to time, but when they linger there may be something more than a common cold going on. Having to deal with tissues, mouth breathing, bad breath, and blowing your nose when nothing comes out is never fun - and it’s not normal. Luckily there are nasal congestion home remedies as well as medical options available.
Why do I have nasal congestion?
The causes of nasal congestion or a “stuffy nose” is when membranes in the nasal passages in your face become irritated and/or inflamed. This inflammation blocks your nasal passages, giving you that “stuffed up” feeling. When your passage gets irritated, your body makes extra mucus that may build up and cause a blockage. When you find yourself breathing through your mouth, this is the cause. It's commonly caused by colds, sinus infections, allergies, and some more serious conditions. There are several options to help relieve your symptoms. Many sufferers choose to use home remedies for nasal congestion or visit an ENT.
Learn more about nasal congestion causes
Home Remedies for Nasal Congestion:
When you are unable to visit an ENT to get to the root of your condition, you may want to turn to nasal congestion home remedies. These are several effective options for how to relieve nasal congestion.
- Drinking lots of fluids - When you have a blocked or stuffy nose, fluids can help move mucus out and relieve some pressure. Some good liquids are of course water, Gatorade, Powerade, and juice. Fluids help flush infection out of the body.
- Buy a humidifier - Humidifiers are great at breaking up the mucus in your nasal passages and providing some relief for irritated and swollen sinuses. Placing a humidifier in a smaller room will allow moisture to fill the room quickly, providing you with some quick relief.
- Use a neti pot - When done correctly, a neti pot can be an effective tool when trying to get rid of stuffed up nasal passages. It can easily move distilled water through your sinuses by pouring water into one nostril and having it flow out the other nostril.
- Take a hot shower - Just like a humidifier, a warm shower can put moisture in the air and relieve some painful irritation that nasal congestion brings. It will help break up the mucus causing your blockage. Although this is an option, relief may only last for a little while.
- Take a decongestant - Nasal congestion spray and pill decongestants can be found without the need of a prescription. Talk to a doctor first about what decongestant may be best for you, and make sure that you aren’t taking a decongestant for over three days.
When Home Remedies for Nasal Congestion Fail:
If these home remedies for nasal congestion are continuing to not work, there may be something more serious going on. When symptoms continue, it might not just be a common cold and you should visit an ENT to get to the root of the problem and learn how to clear sinus pain once and for all. Many of these home remedies for nasal congestion simply mask the symptoms you have, they don’t solve them. For real relief that lasts, visit Pittsburgh Sinus Centers.
Tired of suffering? Schedule a consultation and find a nasal congestion treatment that works!