Causes and Treatment for Nasal and Sinus Congestion

Nasal or sinus congestion is a very common problem that many people experience. Whenever there is an irritant that enters the nose, the hollow spot between the two sinuses called the ostium will either get really itchy or clogged up. Some of the common causes of sinus congestion are fluffy or powdery substances in the air such as dust balls or pollen.  Sometimes extreme weather can be a factor as well. Whenever it is extremely cold, the sinuses tend to swell up which can cause nose blockage. The same thing happens when it is extremely hot like during the summer. Depending on how bad the condition is, the causes may actually vary. However, the most common causes would still be weather conditions and irritants in the air. So how do you treat this kind of condition? What are some of the nasal congestion remedies that work?

For the sake of staying healthy, let’s take a look at some natural home remedies instead of going straight to medical drugs. Over-the-counter medicines are very helpful because they work right away; however, taking too much would lead to some long term side effects. So to avoid those nasty side effects, why not try some natural alternatives instead?

Inhaling steam is one of the best methods of nasal congestion relief and sinus congestion relief. Steam can actually soften or even melt the mucus that is clogged in the ostium. After inhaling steam for a while, it will become easier to blow out mucus. All you have to do is boil some water, pour the water into a bowl and start inhaling the steam coming from it.

Another effective method for nasal congestion relief is irrigation. Irrigation is the process of spraying salt water up both nostrils so that the mucus can be forced out. Doing this may hurt a bit, but it is very effective. To do this, first you have to mix some salt in distilled water. After that, you can use a spraying device to shoot water up the nose. It is useful to note that these methods also help with sinus congestion relief.

Drinking peppermint tea is one of the most well-known nasal congestion remedies. The reason peppermint tea is very effective is because it contains a high amount of menthol. Menthol is a substance that is able to loosen up thick mucus in a short span of time. Thus, if you have a blocked nose and want to clear it right away, try some peppermint tea.

Apple Cider Vinegar is a drink that has substances known to help thin mucus. Most people drink this warm because warm liquids also have a mucus thinning effect. So if you were to drink some warm Apple Cider Vinegar when you have a blocked nose, expect that blocked nose to clear up in a few seconds.

Having a stuffy nose and blocked sinuses can be really annoying because it affects the way you talk, the way you smell, and also the way you breathe! So if you are prone to these kinds of issues, then try out some of the natural remedies stated above. They are much safer than over-the-counter drugs and are equally effective.

 

#allergy-relief, #nasal-congestion-relief, #sinus-congestion-relief

Natural Treatments for Allergies

Have you ever suddenly realized you had a blocked nose out of nowhere? Have you found yourself with the urge to sneeze really hard? If so, then you probably have allergies. Most people are born with seasonal allergies but others develop them as they grow older. Most are allergic to dust mites while many find pollen to be their arch enemy. So the big question here is how can we tame those allergies?

Most people who have allergies would usually just go to the drugstore and buy an antihistamine or another sort of medicine. However, not many people know that these over-the-counter drugs actually have nasty side effects. So what would be the best alternative? The answer is simply to take natural allergy medicine.

A classic example of a homemade remedy is hot soup.  Have you ever been asked by your mother to drink some hot chicken soup when you had a cold? According to research, hot drinks are able to stimulate the flow of mucus which can help clear up the nose. So a bowl of hot soup is actually one of the best remedies for nasal congestion.

Vitamin C is also known to relieve nasal congestion. If you want something that can prevent bad allergies, then taking vitamin C is the way to go. Many people swear that citrus fruits, which are known to be high in vitamin C, are great seasonal allergy remedies.You can also inhale peppermint oil if you want to get rid of a blocked nose. Peppermint oil is said to be one of the best remedies for nasal congestion because it works really fast.

Even though medical drugs work right away, they’re not exactly good for your long term health. So if you happen to have allergies, then remember that taking natural alternatives to allergy medicines  is better than immediately taking drugs.

 

#allergy-relief, #nasal-congestion-relief, #sinus-congestion-relief