What to do if you have a cold and stuffy nose
The cold is a common respiratory disease, and a blocked nose is one of its main symptoms, which seriously affects life and work. In response to this problem, we have compiled a series of practical solutions based on the hot topics and content on the Internet in the past 10 days to help you quickly relieve your nasal congestion problem.
1. Common causes of cold and nasal congestion
Nasal congestion during a cold is usually caused by:
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Swelling of nasal mucosa | Viral or bacterial infection causes congestion and edema of nasal mucosa |
| increased secretions | Inflammatory stimulation increases mucus secretion and blocks the nasal cavity |
| sinus inflammation | May be complicated by sinusitis and aggravate symptoms of nasal congestion |
2. Methods to quickly relieve nasal congestion
| method | Operating Instructions | Effect duration |
|---|---|---|
| hot steam inhalation | Fume your nose with hot water steam for 10-15 minutes, and add peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil | 2-4 hours |
| saline rinse | Use a neti pot or spray to clean your nasal passages | 3-5 hours |
| acupressure | Press Yingxiang point (on both sides of the nose) and Yintang point (between the eyebrows) | 1-2 hours |
| Elevated sleeping position | Elevate your pillow by 15-20 degrees when sleeping | Effective all night |
3. Comparison of drug treatment options
| drug type | Representative medicine | Mechanism of action | Things to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decongestant | pseudoephedrine | constrict nasal blood vessels | Not suitable for continuous use for more than 3 days |
| antihistamines | Loratadine | Reduce allergic reactions | May cause drowsiness |
| Nasal hormones | budesonide spray | Anti-inflammation and swelling | Need to be used regularly |
| Chinese patent medicine | Tongqiao rhinitis tablets | Xuantong nasal orifice | Requires identification and use |
4. Dietary conditioning suggestions
A proper diet can help relieve symptoms of nasal congestion:
| Recommended food | Efficacy | Food recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Ginger brown sugar water | Sweating relieves the surface and warms the nasal passages | 1-2 cups a day, drink while hot |
| Green onion porridge | Xinwenjiebiao | Take for breakfast, use for 3 days |
| honey lemonade | Moisturizing and reducing inflammation | 2-3 times a day, brew with warm water |
| spicy food | Stimulate mucosal contraction | Eat in moderation and avoid overdose |
5. Lifestyle tips to prevent nasal congestion
Prevention is better than cure. Pay attention to the following things daily to reduce the occurrence of nasal congestion:
| Precautions | Specific practices | Effect evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain air humidity | Use a humidifier to maintain 50%-60% humidity | Significantly reduces the frequency of nasal congestion |
| wash hands frequently | Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds | Reduce the risk of colds by 60% |
| Proper exercise | 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week | Enhance immunity |
| Get vaccinated | Get annual flu vaccine | Prevent certain types of colds |
6. When Do You Need Medical Treatment?
You should seek medical treatment promptly if the following situations occur:
| Symptoms | Possible reasons | Suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Nasal congestion lasting more than 10 days | May develop sinusitis | Need antibiotic treatment |
| Accompanied by high fever (>39℃) | Bacterial infection possible | Routine blood tests required |
| Purulent nasal discharge with blood | Severe mucosal damage | Requires professional inspection |
| difficulty breathing | lower respiratory tract infection | emergency treatment |
Through the above systematic solutions, I believe it can help you effectively deal with the problem of cold and nasal congestion. Remember, you can try home care first when symptoms are mild. If symptoms persist or worsen, be sure to seek medical treatment in time.
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