What is nasal congestion and 6 ways to relieve a stuffy nose?

Nasal congestion is nothing more than a specific symptom, well-located in the nose, but it can significantly impair our daily activities.

Difficulty breathing causes fatigue, in addition to worsening the burning sensation in the nostrils and other discomforts that usually come with colds and flu. allergies.

But in this article, you'll see how to avoid this discomfort and 6 ways to alleviate it. Happy reading.

What is nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion is typically caused by swelling of the nasal mucosa. This edema results from an inflammatory process in the blood vessels, which impairs blood circulation, leads to fluid accumulation, and causes swelling in the area.

For many people, a stuffy nose is temporary. For others, it can be a symptom of a respiratory illness.

The main causes of this discomfort are colds, allergies, and the flu.

However, stress, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, among others, are risk factors that also contribute to the onset of this problem.

How to prevent a stuffy nose?

First of all, it's wise to take care of your immune system—including during other seasons, not just autumn and winter.

Try to maintain a balanced diet, sleep well, and drink plenty of water. Especially if you live in a highly polluted area, hydration will play an even more important role in humidifying your nose, which works 24 hours a day to clean and humidify the air you breathe.

Secondly, take care of the environments where you spend the most time. Keep your house well-ventilated, avoiding blankets and stuffed animals, and apply the same precautions to your workplace.

What can I do to relieve nasal congestion?

Untreated nasal congestion can lead to:

• Mouth breathing, to compensate for the deficit in breathing;
• Bad breath, because mouth breathing dries out the mouth and promotes the proliferation of bacteria;
• Fatigue occurs because the lungs are not being properly ventilated.

Therefore, if you experience a stuffy nose, try following these recommendations:

Perform daily nasal washes.

Make one Washing in each nostril with the help of a syringe and 0.9% saline solution. In adults, the required volume is usually 10 to 20 mL. In children, 5 mL is sufficient.

Ideally, you should push the liquid until it comes out the other nostril and vice versa. But if you can't complete the technique, that's okay. Even if the saline solution runs out of the same nostril or you swallow it, the nasal mucosa will be cleaned and you will feel a considerable improvement.

Apply warm compresses to the nose.

Soak a cloth or towel in warm water and place it over your nose for approximately 15 minutes. The compress relieves discomfort and can be used up to 3 times a day.

Give preference to foods that combat the symptom.

Grains and seeds contain substances called flavonoids, which are emollients, meaning they soften mucous membranes. So add foods like chia and flaxseed to your diet to make your nose more permeable and improve your breathing.

Garlic and onions are also strategic foods for nasal congestion, as they contain allicin, which helps to thin mucus and reduce inflammation.

Consume hot drinks

In addition to providing warmth in cold weather, the steam from hot drinks can soothe airways and reduce mucus. Prioritize healthier beverages, such as teas.

Avoid self-medication.

Garlic and onions are also strategic foods for nasal congestion, as they contain allicin, which helps to thin mucus and reduce inflammation. rebound effect and chemical rhinitis — worsening nasal congestion. Furthermore, they can lead to complications such as heart disease, glaucoma, and septal perforation.

Find a doctor

If these relief measures don't resolve the issue, the best solution is to seek medical attention.

Furthermore, nasal congestion rarely occurs in isolation. If you have a fever and body aches, for example, it's a likely sign of an illness that should be diagnosed and treated.

Almost everyone knows what nasal congestion is like in practice. But the important thing is to prevent this symptom with... good habits life and self-care with safe and effective relief measures.

If you suffer from nasal congestion, make an appointment Contact one of our professionals and resolve this problem once and for all.