A runny nose is caused by the overproduction of mucus in your nasal passages. As a result, you may experience watery secretions that occasionally leak down the back of your throat in addition to your nose. Nasal congestion, commonly referred to as a stuffy nose, can occur in addition to a runny nose. It becomes more difficult to breathe through your nose due to nasal congestion, which is brought on by inflammation of the nasal tube lining.

Read on to learn a few tips to get rid of a runny and stuffy nose.

1. Drinking a Hot Beverage

A well-known, conventional treatment for a cold is a hot beverage. Actually, this at-home remedy has some scientific support. Drinking hot liquids helps to lessen the signs of a cold, according to a 2009 study published in Rhinology. Although the study also noticed a bodily response, it speculated that the effect might be primarily psychological.

2. Inhaling Hot Steam

Hot steam inhalation can be done in a variety of methods, but the fundamental concept is the same in each. Leaning over a pot of hot water that has or has not been infused with herbs or essential oils, the individual inhales the steam. Inhaling steam that had different chemicals helped alleviate cold symptoms, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences. According to the study, inhalations caused symptoms to subside more quickly and effectively than they would without.

3. Getting Lots of Sleep

Speaking of sleep, it's important to get enough of it while you're feeling under the weather so your body can recover. Your body produces new immune system cells while sleeping. During sleep, cytokines—proteins crucial for battling inflammation and infection—are generated and released. This implies that getting enough sleep can help maintain a strong immune system. You'll also get a much-needed break from blowing your nose when you're sleeping.

4. Eating a Spicy Meal

Capsaicin, a compound found in hot foods, helps ease a runny nose that is not brought on by allergies. The chemical that makes chili peppers hot is capsaicin. Although consuming spicy food may make your runny nose worse, the heat will make it better.

5. Having a Hot Shower

Need some relief right away? Take a steamy shower. A runny and congested nose can be relieved by the heated vapors from a shower, just like with humidifiers and facial steam. For optimum benefits, place your face and sinuses immediately in the shower's steam and spray.

When Should I Contact a Doctor to Treat a Runny Nose?

Most of the time, a runny nose will go away on its own. A healthcare provider should be called, nonetheless, if the following becomes true:

●    The symptoms have persisted for more than ten days with no improvement.

●    There are severe or unusual symptoms.

●    If your child's nasal drainage is only coming from one side and is green, red, or foul-smelling, or if you have any other cause to think they might have something caught in their nose.

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam to make sure the runny nose isn't a sign of something more serious.

Try the remedies above if you or a loved one has a runny or stuffy nose, or in case it becomes serious, visit the ENT Medical and Surgical Group team. We offer cutting-edge treatments for patients in New Haven, North Haven, Westbrook, and Branford, Connecticut. Contact us to learn more.