If you are wondering how to clear nasal congestion, then this detailed guide has got you covered. We’ll take a detailed look at various options available to clear away nose congestion in adults and babies alike. We’ll also share information on how to clear nasal congestion naturally at the comfort of your home and highlight some of the best medicine to clear a congested nose.
How to Clear Nasal Congestion Fast
Nasal congestion is normally very annoying. While most people believe it is the result of excess mucus, it is in reality caused by inflammation of the blood vessels in the mucous membrane lining the nasal passages due to an underlying condition such as allergy, common cold, flu, or sinus infection among others. Whatever the cause of it, here is how to clear nasal congestion fast so you can breathe well again.
Use a humidifier
Breathing dry air often dries the nasal passages and makes them inflamed and swollen leading to a congested nose. You can reverse this by making the air around your house moisture-laden. A humidifier does a great job at this by converting water into moisture which is the released into the air.
Take a hot shower
If you have ever gone to the shower with a congested nose and felt as though you had had some relief walking out of the bathroom, it is because hot showers indeed offer relief for nose congestion, albeit momentarily. The steam thins out the mucus inside the nasal passages and makes it drain out.
Drink plenty of fluids
Staying hydrated is another great way to heal nasal congestion fast. Proper hydration encourages thinning out of the mucus inside the nasal passages. Drink all manner of warm and cold liquids such as tea, water, juice, broth, etc but stay away from coffee and cola. If you are experiencing a sore throat as well, you may want to limit yourself to warm liquids such as tea and soup.
Use a saline spray
Saline sprays also do a great job at getting your nasal passages hydrated. This helps to clear the mucus stuffed inside your nose and to decrease the inflammation on the blood vessels. Saline sprays are typically sold over the counter but you can prepare your own saline rinse at home by mixing warm water and salt.
Some OTC saline nasal sprays also contain decongestant medications. Such saline sprays should not be used for more than 3 days as this can lead to counterproductive results; worsened nose l congestion. You should also not use such nasal sprays without consulting with your pharmacist or doctor if you are using other medications as they may cause severe side-effects.
More ways to clear a congested nose fast:
- Use a Neti pot to drain your clogged nasal passages
- Warm compress: Soak a towel in hot water, squeeze out excess water, and place it on your forehead till it cools off.
- Try using over-the-counter nasal decongestant nasal sprays such as Afrin and Sinex or pills such as Sudafed or sudogest. Use decongestants for a maximum of 3 days
- Antihistamines: Use antihistamines if you suspect your congestion is due to allergic reactions e.g. hay fever
How to Clear Nasal Congestion Naturally or At Home
Wondering how to clear nasal congestion naturally at home? Here are some natural home remedies that you can use to get rid of nose congestion.
Eucalyptus oil
Boil two cups of water in a tea pot and pour it in a huge bowl. Now add 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus oil and then tent your head over the bowl with a towel as you inhale the rising vapors. Inhale the vapor for 10 to 15 minutes, trying to breathe through your nose only. The hot vapor will thin the mucus in the nasal passages and clear congestion.
Tea tree oil
If eucalyptus oil doesn’t clear your congested nose, consider repeating the above procedure but this time use tea tree oil. Oil of oregano is also a great natural remedy for nasal congestion.
Ginger root + Fruity wine
This is an easy natural home remedy for nose congestion that works amazing well yet tastes good.
Directions: Add a small piece of ginger root in a pot before pouring in a glass of wine. Boil the mixture together for around 10 minutes. Remove the ginger root and allow the remaining solution to cool down. Once cool, drink every drop and get relieved.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is another great way to heal nasal congestion at home naturally. The menthol in peppermint offers temporary relief for nose congestion symptoms.
Chicken soup
Hot chicken soup has also been shown to clear away a congested nose. It reduces the amount of mucus in the nasal passages and reduces the inflammation and swelling that culminates in congested nose.
If nose congestion is accompanied by difficulty in breathing, you should consult with your doctor right away.
Best Medicine to Clear Nasal Congestion
Antihistamines and decongestants are some of the most popular, indeed the best medicine to clear nasal congestion. Pain relievers may also be administered to relieve the pain associated with nasal congestion.
Decongestants are very commonly used to relieve congestion. They constrict the blood vessels in the lining of the nasal passages and cut down on the swelling that causes a congested nose.
They are typically sold as nasal sprays such as oxymetazoline and phenylephrine. They can also be purchased over the counter as pills such as phenylephrine and Pseudoephedrine.
Antihistamines are used to clear nose congestion whose underlying cause is allergic reaction to allergens such as pollen, mould, pet dander etc. you can buy antihistamines over the counter at your local drugstore.
You should follow the directions of use for any antihistamines carefully. You should also be aware that certain antihistamine medications may cause drowsiness. Some allergy medications comprise of both antihistamines and decongestants.
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen may also be used to reduce the pain associated with a congested nose.
How to Clear Baby Nasal Congestion
How to clear baby nasal congestion will essentially differ from the options for adults and older children for various reasons. First, babies don’t yet know how to blow their nose. Thus you need to aid them in the removal of the mucus present in the nasal passages. To do this, you need to use a bulb syringe.
The best way to clear your baby’s nose congestion is to use a saline nasal drop. Saline nasal drops helps to loosen and flush out thick nasal discharge and to moisturize the nasal passages, thus relieving a congested or stuffy nose. You can either buy a saline nasal drop at your local drugstore or prepare your own by mixing ½ teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of previously boiled warm water.
Another way to help clear baby nasal congestion is to keep the baby in upright position as he/she sleeps. You can for example let the bay sleep upright in your car seat. You should also consider sliding an extra pillow beneath the mattress of your baby’s crib or propping the crib legs up with a small block of wood.
Laying the baby on your laps or chest also helps in draining out excess mucus.
Running a humidifier in your bedroom is also a great way to clear baby nose congestion. This is because dry nasal passages are often the cause of congestion and running a humidifier in the house restores moisture in the air.
Although nasal decongestants are a popular option for treatment of congestion, they should never be used to clear nasal congestion in babies.
