How to quickly cure a runny nose

1. Drink hot tea

Or any other drink. The main thing is that it is hot, but not scalding. Heat and steam increase blood circulation in the nasopharynx. The result - the runny nose recedes, it becomes easier to breathe The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu. …

2. Just drink as much liquid as possible

Considering the point above, it is better to be warm - then the effect will increase. But if you only have cool drinks at hand or just water from a cooler, they will do too. The point is as follows.

When there is not enough water in the body, the nose also becomes unhealthy. The mucus (the very snot) inside the nostrils dries up, becomes thicker, its layer thickens - and this leads to nasal congestion. In addition, viruses and bacteria feel at ease in such a thick pillow of snot, that is, the disease can drag on or develop into something much more unpleasant than a cold. For example, sinusitis.

Adding liquids will make the mucus more fluid and thinner. If you had nasal congestion, it will go away, and snot of a normal flowing consistency will allow the body to quickly flush viruses from the nasopharynx and get rid of a runny nose and colds in general.

3. Take inhalation

Inhalation of hot steam dramatically reduces the Effects of steam inhalation on nasal patency and nasal symptoms in patients with the common cold cold symptoms, including a runny nose, and shortens the time of illness.

The authoritative medical resource Healthline recommends How to Stop a Runny Nose at Home to inhale as follows:

Heat clean water in a saucepan. It is not necessary to bring it to a boil - it is enough for steam to form above the liquid.
Place a pot of water on a table or other comfortable horizontal surface and hold your face over it for 20-30 minutes, pulling back if the steam gets too hot.
Take a deep breath through your nose. Exhale through your nose. Try to exhale forcefully to clear the mucus.

A few drops of decongestant essential oil can be added to the water for inhalation. Eucalyptus, peppermint, sage, rosemary, pine, tea tree, thyme - choose according to your taste.

4. Take a hot shower

A good option if you need quick relief. Like inhalation or hot tea, showers effectively stop nasal leakage and relieve the feeling of stuffiness.

5. Make a warm nasal compress

Apply Stuffy or runny nose - adult to the nose soaked in hot (but not scalding!) Water for 2-3 minutes 3-4 times a day.

6. Flush your nose with saline

You can buy ready-made salt spray at the pharmacy, or you can prepare it yourself. The recipe is simple: Add ½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of baking soda to a glass (240 ml) of warm water. Rinse your nose with this solution 3-4 times a day until the unpleasant symptoms disappear completely.

7. Use vasoconstrictor nasal sprays or drops

They eliminate puffiness and slow down the formation of new snot. The result is almost instantaneous: the nose breathes again and does not drip from it. This magical effect lasts, as a rule, for several hours, then the procedure has to be repeated. Unless, of course, the body during this time has dealt with the main cause that caused the snot.

It is important to remember: such funds should not be used for more than 3 days.

Otherwise, unpleasant side effects are possible: from simple addiction to a specific remedy (then the vessels will simply stop reacting to it) to thinning of the nasal mucosa, the development of medication rhinitis and other nasty things.

8. And see a doctor

A runny nose is not an independent disease, but just a symptom. To get rid of it completely, it is necessary to overcome the disease, whose "side effect" it is. This is most effectively done under the guidance of a professional physician - a therapist or a narrower specialist (ENT, allergist).

Important note: there are types of rhinitis that require immediate medical attention. See a therapist or at least call for a consultation if:

Your runny nose is accompanied by swelling of the forehead, any side of the nose or cheeks, eyes, or is associated with blurred vision.
In addition to a runny nose, you have a severe sore throat or you notice white or yellow spots on the tonsils and other parts of the nasopharynx.
The snot has a pronounced unpleasant odor.
A runny nose appeared against the background of a cough that lasts more than 10 days, and the snot is yellow-green or gray.
A runny nose appeared immediately after a head injury.
The runny nose is accompanied by fever.

This combination of symptoms suggests that you may have a more serious illness than normal rhinitis. We can talk about angina, sinusitis, serious hormonal disorders, brain contusion, bacterial lesions, including meningitis, and so on. And in this case, it is better to play it safe.