Top Ways to Get Rid of Nasal Congestion

sick cold

Perhaps, every person is familiar with the discomfort that accompanies nasal congestion. With congestion, the nasal mucosa swells, which leads to a narrowing of the nasal passages. In this case, the secretion of mucus can be either excessive or insufficient.

What are the symptoms of nasal congestion?

It all depends on how severe the swelling is. With severe congestion, normal nasal breathing may become completely impossible. Usually there is a mucous discharge from the nose, sometimes with splashes of blood. This is due to the fact that blood vessels become fragile during inflammation and are more susceptible to damage. Hoarseness, nasal voice may also appear due to dryness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and vocal cords resulting from breathing through the mouth. Sometimes there is itching and burning in the nose. Such an uncomfortable condition makes you think about finding a remedy to get rid of congestion.

Causes of nasal congestion

Congestion can be accompanied by a variety of conditions and diseases.

Inflammatory process. If a runny nose is accompanied by malaise, elevated body temperature, the body is likely to have encountered pathogens.

Allergy. Often, congestion occurs due to the increased sensitivity of the immune system to certain allergens: house dust mites, plant pollen, household chemicals, cosmetics, etc.

Constant or regular exposure of the mucous membrane to irritating substances, due to which the production of nasal mucus is disrupted. But the main function of mucus is to moisturize and protect the mucous membrane. As a result, the mucous membrane becomes thinner, chronic congestion, and dryness appears. Very often, such an irritant is vasoconstrictor drugs used too long or too often.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy. Swelling of the nasal mucosa can persist throughout pregnancy and disappears after childbirth.

How to get rid of congestion

The method of treatment depends on the factors that provoked the condition, as well as on the presence of concomitant diseases.

  1. Medications. Vasoconstrictors (nasal decongestant spray and drops) can eliminate swelling and make breathing easier. However, they have limitations in use, for example, in the case of pregnant women, the elderly, and children. As a rule, for such patients, the doctor prescribes preparations based on natural ingredients, for example, based on sea water containing useful trace elements and ions (iodine, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium). Preparations with sea water in the composition can eliminate congestion and avoid side effects that are possible with the use of synthetic drugs. In addition, they are used to prevent respiratory diseases.
  2. Folk remedies. It can be decoctions, water and alcohol tinctures of plants (chamomile, Kalanchoe, St. John’s wort, etc.). The feasibility of using folk remedies should be determined by the doctor, especially if the patient is prone to allergies.
  3. Physiotherapy procedures. This is an auxiliary treatment that can enhance the effect of drugs. Most often, rinsing and warming up the nasal passages using electrophoresis, phonophoresis, and UVI are used.
  4. Any physiotherapy procedure has contraindications, such methods should be prescribed by a doctor. It should be taken into account that the effectiveness of physiotherapy has not been proven in the course of controlled scientific studies, so the appropriateness of such procedures remains in question.

How to relieve nasal congestion with home remedies?

Although Moscow does not experience a shortage of drugs for the common cold, sometimes it is not possible to use them. This is especially true for pregnant women and patients experiencing the described withdrawal syndrome.

You can remove swelling without drugs:

  1. take a hot shower;
  2. massage the wings of the nose or the point between the eyebrows;
  3. do breathing exercises;
  4. rinse the nasal cavity with water or saline solution;
  5. apply a warm compress;
  6. drip aloe juice.

Prevention of nasal congestion

Nasal congestion can be prevented primarily by preventing the most common cause of this symptom – respiratory diseases. To do this, it is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature and humidity at home and at work, moisten the mucous membrane, and regularly ventilate the room. It is necessary to pay attention to wet cleaning, as well as to exclude hypothermia and, if possible, contacts with people who have symptoms of SARS.

The development of dry nasal congestion often leads to the uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictors. Therefore, when a runny nose appears, it is necessary to obtain a doctor’s prescription, do not practice self-medication and strictly follow the instructions for using the drug in order to prevent the development of addiction and a reactive symptom.