Blocked Nose Cure
How do I cure my blocked nose?
Many factors cause a blocked nose and to cure your blocked nose you will need to eliminate the causative factor. Depending on the cause you may need to
- wait and rest
- use a nasal spray
- take an antihistamine tablet
- take a corticosteroid tablet
- undergo surgery
Wait, rest, use nasal spray
Viruses cause common colds. While the person has the common cold, the nose gets plugged with mucous. If you have the common cold, then there is nothing you can do except for wait for the cold to subside. Since viruses cause common colds, antibiotics are of no use. Viruses are immune to antibiotics. A blocked nose, which results from the common cold, becomes unblocked after seven days when the cold subsides.
During the meantime you could use a nasal spray to open up your blocked nose. The following five types of nasal sprays are available
- Saline Nasal Spray
- Corticosteroid Nasal Spray
- Decongestant Nasal Spray
- Antihistamine Nasal Spray
- Cromolyn Sodium Nasal Spray (1)
Saline Nasal Spray
Saline sprays contain water to which salt has been added. When you spray the salty water into your nose, your nose may become unblocked. Researchers do not know how salty water helps to open up a blocked nose, but up to 15% of people who use saline nasal sprays claim that their blocked nose opens up (2).
Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays
A corticosteroid nasal spray contains a drug which researchers label as a steroid. Corticosteroid nasal sprays are the most effective type of nasal sprays in respect to opening up a blocked nose. The best part is that they do not cause too many side effects either (3).
Antihistamine Nasal Sprays
These sprays contain drugs which researchers categorize as anti-histamines. Mast cells, a special type of cell in the human body, release a chemical known as histamine. Histamine causes airways to constrict, vessels to dilate, and blood vessels to dilate (4). As a result, a person experiences undesirable consequences such as inflamed mucous membranes, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, etc.
Mast cells release histamine when a person inhales an allergen (i.e pollen, dust, cat feathers). The person, then begins to sneeze and gets a blocked nose. When a person sprays his/her nose with an antihistamine spray, the antihistamine in the spray prevents mast cells from releasing histamine. This protects the person from the undesirable effects of histamine and unblocks the nose.
However, antihistamine sprays are not as effective as corticosteroids. Corticosteroid sprays are more efficient when it comes to unblocking a blocked nose.
Take Antihistamine tablet
If you do not like spraying drugs up your nose but still want to open your unblocked nose, you could take an antihistamine tablet. The antihistamine tablet produces the same effect as the antihistamine nasal spray. It prevents mast cells from releasing histamine. People who take an antihistamine tablet, report that their nose opens up after 24 hours and they feel “fresh.”
Take a Corticosteroid Tablet
Recall that we mentioned that corticosteroids work better than antihistamines when it comes to unblocking a congested nose. Another solution to your blocked nose is that you could take a corticosteroid tablet. Unfortunately, the downside of this solution is that corticosteroid tablets can cause many side effects. Hence, you would have to check with your doctor if it is safe for you to take a corticosteroid tablet.
Undergo surgery
If you constantly experience a blocked nose, you might have a deviated nasal septum. The nasal septum seperates your nose into two halves. You can feel the septum, which is composed of cartilage, if you insert your thumb in one nostril and your index finger in the other nostril and then pinch your thumb and index finger. Your will pinch your nasal septum. If you decide to use this technique, just remember to wash your fingers afterwards.
A deviated septum causes a blocked nose. If you have a deviated septum, you will experience a blocked nose even when you do not have the common cold. To unblock your blocked nose, in such a case, you will need to undergo surgery. Surgery will straighten your deviated septum and you will no longer experience a blocked nose.
Source(s):
- Nasal Spray, Xclear Inc., 2007, retrieved 7 March 2008.
- Beal J, Saline nasal spray recommended for chronic rhinosinusitis, Medical News Today, 2007, retrieved 7 March 2008.
- Nasal Spray, Xclear Inc., 2007, retrieved 7 March 2008.
- Histamine, Davidson College, 2000, retrieved 7 March 2008.