Congestion
Congestion
Unplug Your Stuffy Nose
Whether caused by a cold, allergies or pollution, a stuffy nose is no fun. You can't breathe. You can't smell. You can't taste your food. And when you talk, you sound like a three-year-old.
SUFFER NO MORE
Whether you're trapped at home or trying to make it through the workday all stuffy and congested, women doctors offer these tips for relieving a stuffy nose. Try their recommendations, and see how quickly you'll be breathing easy again.
Use a decongestant only. The reality is, the fastest way to unclog your nose is with a decongestant. But what to buy? You can spend hours scanning cough-cold-flu-and-allergy products at your local drugstore trying to decide among decongestant/antihistamine combinations, decongestant/expectorants and myriad other over-the-counter remedies.
One woman doctor's shortcut: Buy a decongestant (such as Afrin nasal spray), not a combination product.
"If getting de-stuffed fast is essential, you can use Afrin nasal spray according to the package directions," says Karin Pacheco, M.D., staff physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver. "But don't use it for more than three days, to prevent a rebound effect of a continually stuffy nose." In other words, your system gets used to it, and when you stop using it, the congestion is worse than before. Besides, there are plenty of nondrug options to try.
When To See A Doctor
"If you're frequently or chronically congested," says Karin Pacheco, M.D., staff physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver, "then you should see a doctor, especially if your congestion is accompanied by itching or sneezing. You probably have an allergy." Other signals that your congestion should be treated by a physician include: * Greenish, yellowish or foul-smelling phleghm * Severe headache or facial pain * Fever * Persistent cough
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Mix yourself a homemade nasal spray. "Rinsing your nose with plain water can dry it out, because plain water is not the kind of fluid that the body normally produces," says Barbara P. Yawn, M.D., associate professor of clinical family medicine and community health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and director of research at the Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota. "Spraying with a compatible saline solution can remove irritants like smoke, pollution, dust or pollen that cause your nose to swell and feel stuffy," says Dr. Yawn. Here's what to do.
"To one cup of lukewarm water, add a half-teaspoon of salt and a pinch of baking soda," says Dr. Pacheco. "Using a child-size bulb syringe, spritz the solution into your nose a few times, then blow your nose."
Pick up a drugstore saline spray. "Another option, of course, is plain saline nasal spray, such as Ocean, available over the counter," says Dr. Yawn. Follow the package directions.
Head for the showers. "If you're squeamish about nasal sprays," says Dr. Yawn, "taking a nice steamy shower will help relieve the congestion."
Add spice to your life. The fastest, no-fuss, no-muss remedy for your stuffy nose may be as close as your spice rack. "If your stomach can tolerate it, hot pepper will put an instant end to your congestion," says Carol Fleischman, M.D., staff physician at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine and at the Center for Women's Health, both in Philadelphia. "I recommend going to the nearest Indian restaurant and ordering a very hot curry dish." Or just sprinkle some red-pepper flakes into whatever you're having for dinner.
