Easy Methods of Stopping a Running Nose

Monday July 18, 2022 at 9:56 am

There are perhaps a few things as embarrassing as a running nose. However, this little menace can be easily managed using only home remedies. This article will look into various methods of stopping and dealing with running nose. However, before going into these methods, it is essential to understand how a running nose is caused in the first place.

It is caused by excessive mucus formation in nasal passages, which leads to liquid secretions dripping from the nose making it ”run.” What happens when the human body is responding to an attack by a virus or other germs with the immune system going into overdrive, making one feel tired.

When you breathe in a virus or an allergen like dust or pollen, it irritates the lining of your nasal passages and sinuses. This causes your nose to start making clear mucus that traps the germs or allergens and helps flush these harmful substances out of your nose.

Home Remedies for Helping to Ease a Runny Nose

This article explores home remedies you can use to help ease the symptoms of a runny nose.

By itself, a runny nose doesn’t represent anything severe, and It’s only a cause of concern when there are other symptoms; in this case, one may want to see a physician.

The following methods can help stop runny nose:

1. One should drink plenty of fluids

A runny nose involves a lot of additional fluid loss in the form of excessive mucus formation. Drinking lots of fluids can help prevent resultant dehydration and ensure that mucus glands have enough liquid available to carry out the immunity action. Otherwise, it can grow thick and sticky, and the nose will become congested.

Avoid beverages that dehydrate rather than hydrate. This includes drinks like coffee and beverages containing alcohol. Also, check out our article on how many water bottles should one drink in a day here!

2. Hot teas

Another effective method of stopping runny nose is hot tea – the tea’s heat and steam may end the airways’ congestion. Certain kinds of herbs might be available in the tea, including ginger, mint, nettle, etc. One should prefer non-caffeinated tea and inhale the steam before drinking. It is also beneficial for sore throats – a condition that often accompanies runny noses.

3. Use a humidifier

Humidifiers only work by converting water into its vaporous form to add moisture to dry air otherwise. When one breathes in moist air, some water vapor will enter one’s nose and soothe irritated sinuses by dislodging dried mucus. It is also essential to use humidified according to the instructions by manufacturers.

4. Hot shower

Hot showers work by the same principle as a humidifier. Placing one’sone’s face directly in a stream of hot water shower can help a great deal.

5. Neti pot

One can add a warm saline solution to the pot. Next, one can pour the solution through one nostril and out the other. That will rinse out the sinuses of the nose quite thoroughly. When using a neti pot, it is essential to follow the instructions carefully. Also, one must use sterile and distilled water.

6. Nasal spray

Nasal sprays are another readily available treatment for a runny nose. Readily available over the counter, they can be medicated or more natural saline nasal sprays, and they target nasal congestion.

7. Warm compress

Another home remedy for a runny nose is doing warm compresses several times a day on one’s face to boost the blood circulation around the nose. One can make a warm compress by soaking a clean cloth in hot water, and one may do compresses for 15 to 20 minutes a day.

8. Eating spicy foods

Spicy foods with hot spices like ginger, cayenne pepper, wasabi, etc., can help create a feeling of heat when eaten, dilating the nasal and other passageways. That can help relieve sinus issues. Chilli peppers also have capsaicin in them, which can help with congestion.

Several studies have found that capsaicin is more effective at treating runny noses than the OTC medication budesonide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A lot of people have doubts and questions regarding gold lockers. Some of the most important of these frequently Asked Questions are discussed in detail below:

Question: What is Mucus? What purpose does it serve in the body?

Answer: Mucus is a natural, slippery aqueous secretion that is produced by cells found in mucous glands. These glands cover mucous membranes and are present in food pipes and windpipes, where they act as a kind of natural protection against germs and viruses. Excessive mucus is a barrier against harmful germs and insects, leading to running noses and coughs. In other words, a running nose is a symptom that one’s immune system is working extra hard.

Question: Are there any helpful tips for coping with a runny nose?

Answer: Some other helpful tips that can help with a common cold include the following.

  • One should try to get lots of rest and sleep. A shower before bedtime can help one sleep better.
  • Drink plenty of water and fluids to avoid dehydration.
  • Avoid coffee and other drinks with caffeine.
  • Avoid beverages with alcohol in them.
  • One should use a soft tissue to blow or wipe the excess mucus from one’s nose.
  • One sanitizes or wash hands to avoid the spread of germs.
  • One should also disinfect any other objects that one touches regularly.

None of these remedies are designed to cure or completely eliminate the underlying cause of a runny nose — namely colds, viral infections, or allergies.

Question: What is a stuffy nose? Is it different from a runny nose?

Answer: A stuffy nose occurs when nasal congestion may be caused due to inflammation of the lining of one’s nasal passages. That may make it harder to breathe through your nose. A runny nose can occur with or without a stuffy nose.

Question: Why might one have a running nose?

Answer: One might have a runny nose for several reasons, and the most common sense is a viral infection of the sinuses. Mostly, it’s the common cold, and other common causes include cold weather, allergies, etc.

If the reader has any other questions or doubts, they can feel free to ask these questions.

The Bottom Line

One can quickly wrap up the above discussion by concluding that running a nose through a menace can be managed and stopped by taking the simple measures mentioned above.

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