Stuffy Nose, Here Are 4 Tips To Overcome It Without Drugs

Illustration (Paul Bradbury/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Erratic extreme weather often causes the body to become unfit. An unfit body becomes susceptible to disease, one of which is a cold and a stuffy nose. Nasal congestion occurs due to tissue in the nose that is disturbed.

Apart from being caused by allergies, nasal congestion is also caused by dirty air which causes inflammation of the nasal passages. When there is inflammation, the nose will produce mucus to remove everything that interferes with breathing. This mucus causes the nose to become blocked.

Various medications can be taken to treat nasal congestion. However, there are also natural ways to deal with nasal congestion that you can do at home. Here are some natural ways to deal with a stuffy nose.

Inhaling Water Vapor

The natural way to deal with a stuffy nose can be done very simply by using steam from hot water. Water vapor can help thin the mucus in the nose and help expel it. By inhaling hot steam, a blocked nose will be relieved instantly. You only need to prepare a basin, hot water and a towel. First, pour hot water into the basin.

Then, position your head over the basin and cover the head with a towel. Inhale slowly the steam coming out of the hot water in a basin. You can do this 3-4 times a day for maximum results.

In addition to inhaling hot steam from the basin, a natural way to deal with nasal congestion can be done by taking a warm bath. A warm bath can make the body warmer overall and help the process of thinning mucus in the nose.

Drink lots of water

Stuffy nose can cause the body to easily become dehydrated. Therefore, it is very important to make sure the body is hydrated by drinking lots of water. Drinking water can also help thin mucus, encourage fluid to escape from the nose, and reduce pressure in the sinuses.

When the pressure in the sinuses decreases, there will be less inflammation and irritation in the nasal passages. Water with warm temperatures is highly recommended because it can help reduce the thickness of mucus. Thus, mucus will come out so you can breathe more easily.

Consumption of Herbal Tea

Herbal teas such as peppermint tea with the main content of menthol can replace the role of natural decongestant drugs. Brewed with warm water and consumed slowly can relieve blocked nasal passages and reduce inflammation in the nose.

Herbal teas can be consumed as much as one to five cups in a day for more effective results. Apart from being a natural way to deal with nasal congestion, herbal teas can also keep the immune system from being susceptible to disease.

Adjusting Sleeping Position

Breathing with a stuffy nose when sleeping is certainly very uncomfortable and will interfere with sleep quality. You can treat nasal congestion while sleeping by adjusting your sleeping position. Nasal congestion during sleep can be overcome by stacking pillows to a higher head position. This position can help reduce pressure on the head and cause obstruction of the nasal passages.

The sleeping position that you need to avoid when you have a stuffy nose is on your back. Mucus that accumulates in the nose will be static in the respiratory tract and interfere with the process of getting in and out of air. Sleeping in a supine position will increase the flow of blood vessels in the nose, causing the nose to become more congested.