If you’re suffering from nasal congestion, chances are you are looking for how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast. No one likes the feeling of nasal congestion, especially when it keeps you from feeling healthy and well. You cannot breathe, and there is rarely any relief when trying to blow your nose. Many people believe a stuffy nose is the result of too much mucus in the nasal passages, but in reality, it is the result of inflamed and irritated blood vessels in the tissue of your nasal passages. When looking for how to relieve a stuffy nose fast, it can be easy to turn to decongestants and antihistamines, but these can actually dry out your nasal passages more, creating more irritation.
Below you will find natural remedies to relieve a stuffy nose fast that target the root of the issue and create moisture in your nasal passages to reduce swelling and irritation that causes congestion. Try one of these methods today, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you can find relief from nasal congestion.
Learn the Root Cause to Identify How to Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose Fast
The first step for how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast is to identify the root cause. Your stuffy nose could be the result of dozens of things from a cold or the flu to a sinus infection, pregnancy, seasonal allergies or even your new body wash. But if you are so congested it is difficult even to breathe, then you have a problem. Nasal congestion is the result of inflamed blood vessels in the tissue that lines your nasal passages. Once you find what causes congestion, there is probably a simple remedy.
Use a Humidifier
One of the most tried and true ways to get rid of a stuffy nose fast is by using a humidifier. As the water in the humidifier converts to moisture and fills the room, it increases the humidity in the room. Breathing in this humid air soothes all of the irritated tissue of your nasal passage. It can also aid in relieving the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. In addition, humidifiers thin the mucus in your sinuses which allows the fluids in your nose to drain. The best part is that this remedy happens with very little effort on your part, just plug in the humidifier in your bedroom and let it work while you sleep.
And stuffy noses are not the only thing a humidifier is good for, they can help relieve chapped lips and give you better skin!
Take a Hot Shower
In the same way that a humidifier helps with how to get rid of a stuffy nose, a nice hot shower can do th same. The hot shower steam works to thin out the mucus in your nose and reduce inflammation of your nasal passages. As an added bonus, a hot shower can be incredibly relaxing and can soothe any aching muscles that are the result of a common head cold.
But if a shower is too much effort, you can get the same effect using your bathroom sink. Simply turn on the hottest water in the sink, letting it run to adjust the temperature. Then, drape a towel over your head and put your head over the sink, creating your own mini steam room. Let the steam build as you take deep breathes. Just be sure not to burn your face in the hot water and steam.
Hydrate
I am pretty sure every health problem can be alleviated by staying hydrated, and how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast is one of them. Nearly every liquid can help you stay hydrated when you’re sick. So grab a bottle of water, a sports drink or some juice. Warm tea and soup can help as well, especially if you’re fighting a sore throat as well as nasal congestion. Being adequately hydrated helps thin out the mucus in your nasal passages. This pushes fluids out of your nose and relieves any intense sinus pressure, inflammation and irritation.
Try a Saline Spray
If you feel like drinking fluids are not hydrating enough, then try a nasal saline spray. Saline spray is merely a saltwater solution that can help increase the moisture in your nostrils. If you’ve been searching for how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast, this may just be the trick because it helps thin the mucus in your nasal passage, allowing fluid to drain from your sinuses.
There are many saline sprays available over-the-counter. Be cautious when trying them though, because many also contain decongestant medication. While this seems like an added bonus, it can actually worsen your congestion if used for more than a few days. So choose wisely, and try a simple saline solution first to see if you can get results quickly.
Use Acupressure
By placing pressure on the specific point of the body, we can actually stimulate the flow of fluid and clear our sinuses. You can get your nose breathing clearly again by trying a few different methods of acupressure. Acupressure, which is simply acupuncture without the needles can be a highly effective and completely natural form of healing.
The first method to get rid of a stuffy nose fast is pretty straightforward. Just push your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth while simultaneously pressing a finger between your eyebrows. Hold pressure against these points in 20-second bursts, and you will start to feel relief from sinus pressure. If that does not seem to work for you, you can try alternating the application of tension between the roof of your mouth and between your eyebrows.
If you are looking for how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast but can feel the pressure climbing higher into your sinuses, you may want to try another pressure point. By moving across the eyebrows, you may be able to clear both the nose and upper sinuses. Place your fingers at the center of your eyebrows and lean forward. You want to be resting your heading on your fingers with your elbows on a flat surface. When you begin to feel the pressure shift, move to the middle of each eyebrow. When you feel the pressure shift once more, move your fingers to the outer corners of each brow. This steady pressure will cause the congestion in the center of your head to disappear.
Inhale Essential Oils
I’m also sure that essential oils can solve a multitude of problems, and how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast is definitely one of them. Inhale the aroma of a eucalyptus oil and warm water mixture for about ten to twenty minutes. Peppermint oil can also be used. Both of these essential oils are known to relieve sinus pressure and congestion when diffused and breathed in as well.
Drain Your Sinuses
While it is not a desirable task, using a neti pot can be the best solution for how to get rid of a stuffy nose fast. The neti pot is designed to flush mucus and fluids out of your nasal passages safely. They are pretty simple to use. Begin by filling your neti pot with distilled or sterile water as opposed to water from the tap. Just stand with your head over a sink. Place the spout of the neti pot in one nostril. Tilt until water enters your nasal passage and wait as eventually, it will come out through your other nostril and into the sink. Continue for about one minute, then switch to the other nostril and repeat the process. While this can be unpleasant, it has quick results and can give your nasal congestion relief fast.
Use a Warm Compress
As we know from the acupressure technique, it is possible to open your nasal passages from the outside. A warm compress can relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. To make a warm compress, soak a towel in very warm water. Ring the water from the towel, fold and place it over your nose and forehead. The heat and light pressure can work wonders to clear a stuffy nose. You can add fresh ginger to the water that you soak your compress in to provide added benefits. Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory that works wonders for a stuffy nose.
Conclusion
Relieving nasal congestion doesn’t need to involve lots of pills and syrups with hard to pronounce ingredients, it can be as simple as caring for your body, and trying some of these proven methods of relief. Suffering from a stuffy nose and looking for a fix? Try one of the ways above and let us know how they work in the comments!
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