When the nose is blocked, breathing feels difficult. Whatever the cause - allergies, colds, or flu - difficulty breathing can make you tired and tired quickly.
Many people think that stuffy nose is a result of clots in the nasal passages. But, stuffy nose is actually caused by inflamed sinus blood vessels.
"The nose has a wide network of blood vessels that can open and close," says Scott P. Stringer, MD, professor of ENT at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and chief director of Rhinology and Paranasal Sinus Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. When the nose is irritated, the nervous system is stimulated, causing the blood vessel valve to open. As a result, more blood flows into the nose. This condition causes swelling in the nasal passages and makes it difficult for you to breathe.
In addition to medicines, such as decongestants, there are several other ways to relieve nasal congestion.
Turn off the air conditioner and fan
Warm and moist air is the fastest way to deal with colds and stuffy nose.
Breathing in moist air can relieve inflammation and relieve swelling of blood vessels in the nose, as well as thin the mucus in the sinuses.
Alternatively, you can do a facial sauna. The trick is to lean your face over a bowl of hot water, hang a towel over your head until you make a curtain that traps steam from the bowl, then inhale steam for about 10 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a day until you can breathe with relief.
Drink lots of water
Warm water can help thin mucus in the nasal passages and relieve pain due to nasal congestion. For variety, you can drink ginger tea, mint, or lemon tea and warm honey which contains natural antiseptic and decongestant agents to facilitate breathing.
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil, also found in many ointments and balms, can help thin mucus due to nasal congestion. How to lean your face to the top of a bowl of hot water that has been added with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Hang a towel over your head until it covers the bowl, inhale steam for about 10 minutes.
Eucalyptus oil is scientifically proven as a home alternative that can kill several types of bacteria that cause nasal congestion, such as sinus infections.
Saline spray
Saline spray provides extra moisture needed by stuffy nose. Saline solution will dilute mucus and relieve inflammation of blood vessels in the nose.
Saline sprays are sold freely at pharmacies. Some saline spray products also contain decongestant medicines. But before using this type of saline spray, discuss it first with your doctor. Saline sprays containing decongestants run the risk of having side effects if used with other drugs, can also worsen symptoms of nasal congestion if used for more than three days.
Chewing garlic
Garlic contains antibacterial and antifungal agents that are useful as a cure for various health problems, including stuffy nose due to fever and flu.
Findings from a study in the UK showed that participants who were given garlic supplements for 12 consecutive weeks during the flu season were less likely to have the flu than participants who did not take garlic supplements.
Maybe chewing raw garlic sounds scary to you. To work around this, saute 1-2 cloves of garlic and add pasta or vegetables. Or, you can add a few slices or crush one garlic clove into a bowl of hot water to steam your face for 10 minutes.