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Pharmacist Warns Of One Key Mistake People Make That Worsens A Blocked Nose
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Colds and flu: Symptoms and treatmentA blocked nose commonly occurs during the winter months but can usually be treated at home with treatments such as decongestants and antihistamines readily available to buy over-the-counter.
But there's one common mistake people make which can actually worsen the issue.
Decongestants are a type of medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose.
Abbas Kanani, pharmacist from Online Pharmacy Chemist Click, explained: "They work by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which helps to open the airways."
The medicine helps to ease symptoms of conditions such as colds and flu, hay fever and other allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis.
Kanani continued: "Most decongestants should only be used between one and four times a day, but you should check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for advice about how much to take and how often to take it".
They can be very effective and usually kick in within 30 to 60 minutes. But the pharmacist warned people commonly use it or longer than recommended.
He said: "Decongestants nasal sprays and drops should only be used for a short time, usually less than seven days. If you take them for longer, you're more likely to get side effects. This mistake can actually make your stuffiness worse."
Other possible side effects include feeling sleepy, irritation of the lining of your nose, headaches, feeling or being sick, a dry mouth, feeling restless or agitated or a rash, but these symptoms tend to be mild and should go away once you stop taking the medicine.
You should always ask your doctor before taking decongestants if you're already taking medication because, as Kanani said: "Decongestants can increase or decrease the effect of some other medicines.
He added: "Another common mistake is when people lay down when your nose feels blocked up.
"It's best to keep upright or your head elevated. This is because "changes in blood flow force more blood to your nose, increasing the swelling. It helps to increase drainage and decrease congestion."
He recommends using a pillow wedge or stacking several pillows directly underneath your upper torso and head.
Nasal congestion is usually caused by a cold, the flu, and sinus infections. You can treat a blocked nose at home by keeping nasal passages moist. Long showers with warm steam, humidifiers and drinking lots of fluids can all help with this.
If allergies are the cause of your nasal congestion and sinus pressure, controlling them will ease your symptoms. Kanani advised: "Allergic rhinitis is where your nose gets irritated by something you're allergic to, such as pollen, causing sneezing and other symptoms."
Allergy medications that have an antihistamine can help to relieve sniffling and sneezing along with a decongestant for congestion and sinus pressure. Antihistamines block the effects of a substance called histamine in your body.
Kanani explained: "Histamine is normally released when your body detects something harmful, such as an infection. It causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, which helps protect the body."
He suggested if you do take antihistamines "try not to drink alcohol, particularly if it's a type that makes you drowsy, as it can increase the chances of it making you feel sleepy".
You should always check the leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of possible side effects and advice about when to get medical help.
'I'm A Pharmacist - This Is What A Blocked Nose With Green Or Yellow Mucus Means'
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A blocked nose can be accompanied by a number of different symptoms, and these symptoms could be signalling different things wrong with your health.
Something many people have experienced during cold and flu season is a blocked nose with green or yellow mucus.
According to Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist of Chemist Click, this could be signalling sinusitis.
He explained: "Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection.
"A blocked nose and green or yellow mucus are symptoms of the condition, as well as a sinus headache, a reduced sense of smell and pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead."
The mucus produced by your sinuses usually drains into your nose through small channels.
In sinusitis, these channels become blocked because the sinus linings are inflamed.
When it comes to treating sinusitis, Kanani advised: "You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
"Decongestant nasal sprays or drops can help with unblocking your nose and salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose."
A GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist if, for example, you still have sinusitis after three months of treatment, keep getting sinusitis or only have symptoms on one side of your face.
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If your nose is blocked but without mucus it could be nasal polyps, said Kanani. This causes noncancerous growths to form inside nasal passages and sinuses.
He said: "They're not usually serious, but they can keep growing and block your nose if not treated. Nasal polyps can sometimes feel like a cold. But colds tend to clear up within a few days, whereas nasal polyps will not get better unless they're treated."
You should see your GP if you think you may have nasal polyps, you have difficulty breathing, your symptoms are getting worse or you notice changes to your sense of smell.
Nasal congestions with clear watery nasal discharge is often down to rhinitis, said Kanani. It's usually accompanied with an itchy nose, throat, eyes, or ears, and/or sneezing.
He added: "Allergic rhinitis is where your nose gets irritated by something you're allergic to, such as pollen, dust mites, mould or pet hair, causing sneezing and other symptoms. You can often treat allergic rhinitis without seeing a GP."
Having a blocked nose can be uncomfortable, particularly at night. Humidifiers can help with adding moisture to the air, which helps to break up mucus and soothe inflamed nasal passageways.
But Kanani warns if you have asthma, ask a doctor before using a humidifier. Propping your head up on pillows can also encourage mucus to flow out of your nasal passages.
He also advised: "Nasal congestion rarely causes major health problems and is most often caused by the common cold or a sinus infection. Symptoms usually improve right away with proper treatment.
"Generally, you should seek medical advice if your symptoms do not improve after three weeks. A doctor will talk to you about your symptoms to rule out an underlying condition."
Picking The Right Cold Medication By Your Symptoms
Colds are caused by a virus, and there isn't an easy fix to prevent them or make them go away. But over-the-counter (OTC) medications can ease your symptoms.
Millions of Americans get a cold every year, with most people getting 2 or 3 colds annually. What we refer to as "the common cold" is usually one of 200 strains of rhinoviruses.
Since most cold medications treat more than one symptom, it can be helpful to identify your most severe symptom and make your choice based on lessening that symptom.
One important thing to remember: Try not to take two medications that contain the same active ingredients. If you double up, you may get too much of the drug in your system. This can lead to more side effects or other serious health problems.
Always read labels carefully for expiration dates and side effects.
When symptoms of congestion hit your sinuses, you can feel cranial pressure and "stuffed up" in your nasal passages. This sinus headache is typically the main symptom people associate with a "head cold."
To treat a sinus headache, decide if you'd like to treat the pain from your sinus blockage or the actual blockage itself.
Ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce your pain. A decongestant like pseudoephedrine (found in Sudafed) can to help relieve your congestion but has been known to produce a side effect of restlessness or nervousness.
A runny nose is how the body reacts to the inflammation and irritation that a cold virus is causing in the nasal passages.
If you take a decongestant for a runny nose, your symptoms may get better if you have congestion. But, a decongestant may cause undesirable effects as well, such as raising your blood pressure or making your nose and throat feel too dry.
That's why diphenhydramine (also known as Benadryl) might be better for drying up a runny nose if you do not feel too congested. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, which means it reduces your body's natural reaction to irritants and pathogens, which may help if your runny nose is because your body is releasing histamines. Benadryl also might make you drowsy, which is why it's best to take this medication at bedtime.
A stuffy nose can leave you feeling like you're struggling to take in fresh air. It can also linger in your sinuses even after other symptoms fade.
To relieve a stuffy nose, try a decongestant with the active ingredient pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). It helps at the level of the small blood vessels in your nasal passageways to reduce the swelling and dry up the mucus that your body produces, allowing you to breathe a little easier.
Phenylephrine is another decongestant available for stuffy nose.
However, it's not advisable to take either of these two decongestants more than four times a day.
Fever and aches are triggered by inflammation in your body. Treating the inflammation can bring down your pain levels and soothe discomfort.
Fever and aches can be eased by taking ibuprofen. Ibuprofen (Advil) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), as is naproxen. Although not an NSAID, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is another pain reliever that can help ease fever and aches.
If your coughing is making your throat sore, look for a medication that contains dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan helps control your brain's signal to your body that you need to cough. This can decrease your coughing symptoms enough to promote healing of a sore throat, but it doesn't treat the cause of your coughing.
Some medications that contain dextromethorphan also contain an ingredient called guaifenesin. This ingredient is an expectorant, which thins out mucus and helps your cough to be "productive," meaning that you're coughing out mucus that could be aggravating your throat and chest.
Antihistamines may help repress coughing and also make you feel sleepy.
Drugs that contain the antihistamines doxylamine or diphenhydramine might help you sleep easier when you have a cold.
Toddlers and infants have different safety concerns when it comes to choosing a medication. Generally, you should consult with your child's pediatrician before giving them cold medication.
Your child's weight, development, age, and symptom severity help to determine the medication and dosage.
If your child is younger than 6 months, stick to the recommended dose of acetaminophen (children's Tylenol) for pain relief.
Child-safe OTC versions of ibuprofen, antihistamines, and cough suppressants are available for children age 2 and older.
Overuse of cough and cold medicine in children can have serious side effects. When in doubt, contact your child's doctor for advice.
Decongestants can be dangerous for people who have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends avoiding the following active ingredients if you are living with high blood pressure:
Instead, take an expectorant, such as guaifenesin, and look for OTC drugs that are manufactured for people with high blood pressure in mind.
The AHA also recommends avoiding NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, if you're living with high blood pressure, as these can also have negative effects when taken too often.
Follow dosing instructions carefully and speak with a doctor if you're unsure about how cold medications might interfere with your blood pressure treatment.
In addition to OTC medications to ease symptoms, there are certain home remedies that may also help.
Get plenty of restRest is one of the most important things you can give your body when you're dealing with a cold, as adequate sleep can have a positive effect on your immune system.
Hydrate your bodyStaying hydrated with water or herbal tea can help thin out mucus, combat congestion, and generally help soothe your symptoms.
Inhale steam from a shower or bowl of hot waterInhaling steam can gently loosen congestion and help you breathe more easily.
Use a humidifierUsing a humidifier in the room where you sleep can help keep nasal passages clearer.
Zinc supplementsAlthough more studies need to be done on proper dosage, zinc supplements have been shown to help your immune system and may be able to shorten the duration of your cold.
HoneyHoney can be soothing for your throat and may help decrease coughing.
GarlicGarlic has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that may support immune function.
Antibiotics don't work to treat the common cold. Antibiotics only work to treat bacterial infections, and colds are typically caused by a virus.
If you develop a secondary infection caused by bacteria, you'll need to speak with a doctor about different treatment options.
Just because it's referred to as "the common cold" doesn't mean its symptoms are easy to deal with.
When choosing a cold medication, try to choose one based on the symptoms that are impacting you the most, and consider the time of day you're taking them.
Remember to always read dosing guidelines, and don't double up on medications that contain the same active ingredient.
A cold can usually take 7 to 10 days to resolve. If you're still feeling sick after that, or if your symptoms start to worsen, see a doctor.
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