A doctor has shared the “most important” step to take when dealing with a blocked nose. Dr. Sophie Newton shared the advice on her patient information YouTube channel @DrSophieGP.
She offered the insights in a video titled: “Blocked nose? Sinusitis? Clear it fast.” In her post, the expert recommended getting plenty of rest, drinking enough fluids, avoiding allergens, stopping smoking, and using painkillers if necessary. After covering the “basics”, she shared six steps that could help you if you’ve got a stuffy nose.
Dr Newton said: “Number one. Cleanse those sinuses. Now, I think this is the most important thing, which is I’m putting it as my number one, and this is to clean out your sinuses.” The expert explained that you might wish to buy a saline solution from your local pharmacy. However, she offered an alternative.
“I think it’s more effective to make your own nasal douche. You’ve probably got everything you need already at home in your kitchen,” Dr Newton shared. “Get a pint of cool boiled water. Now, it is important that you boil it beforehand because if you just use regular tap water without boiling it that can have bacteria in it that can then cause bacterial sinusitis and make things much worse.”
She continued: “Add into that a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda, or you might call it baking soda, mix that together. Then you can either just get clean hands and hold it in your hands and sniff it right up your nose, or you can get a syringe.”
Dr Newton explained: “Whichever way you want to do it, you’re getting loads of irrigation. So you’re washing out all the sinuses, clearing out all the gunk and the debris, and getting it all back out. So make sure you’re learning over a sink when you do it, and that should hopefully make you feel decongested and feel like your airways have opened up.”
Second, the GP said to “tame the inflammation” with a steroid nasal spray you can buy over the counter. “If you do it after you’ve done the nasal douching, then you know that medication is getting exactly where it needs to be in the sinuses.”
Third, you could try decongestants. However, Dr Newton said: “I don’t usually recommend these, and that’s because if you use them for more than a week, they can actually make your symptoms worse, and you get something called rebound congestion when you stop.”
Fourth, the GP said some people may benefit from antibiotics if they have sinusitis. Dr Newton explained: “If you have had symptoms going on longer than 10 days despite doing the nasal douching, despite using the nasal steroid spray, then do go and get checked out in case you’re one of the few people who does need antibiotics, but for the vast majority of people, antibiotics won’t help your symptoms.”
For her fifth point, Dr Newton pointed out that antihistamines might also be helpful if your blocked nose is linked to allergies. Finally, the expert explained that people might like to try a warm compress or eucalyptus oil to help with symptoms. Dr Newton added: “Some people do try stream inhalation but this isn’t recommended anymore actually,” referencing the risks posed by boiling water.