The Worst Outbreaks in U.S. History
How To Clear A Stuffy Nose Fast—And Get Back To Breathing Normally
Blowing your nose to oblivion without dislodging any of the snot clogging it is the physiological equivalent of screaming into the void: Sheer force won't change the reality of what you're dealing with.
In the blocked-nose situation, at least, you've got other options. There are easy, effective ways to help you inhale normally, even when you swear the tissue box is straight-up mocking you. Here are the best methods out there for helping you unclog that schnoz, put the mouth-breathing lifestyle behind you, and find relief.
First, let's look at why you might be so hellishly congested in the first place.Getting a cold here and there is a (wack) fact of life, and it often comes with nasal congestion. Kevin Hur, MD, assistant professor of clinical otolaryngology at Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, tells SELF that if your blocked nose doesn't clear up within two weeks (by which time a cold should have left you alone), you should visit an otolaryngologist, a.K.A. An ear, nose, and throat specialist (or ENT). An ENT can use a small camera called an endoscope to see if there's a physical blockage behind what's going on, like nasal polyps or a deviated septum, or diagnose and treat another underlying issue causing your inner nostrils to swell and muck things up with snot.
If you know you don't have a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection, there are other culprits that could be behind why your nose feels like it's filled with cement: allergies, smoke exposure, and environmental pollution are all possible causes behind being miserably clogged. Certain lifestyle tweaks might help cut down on how often your nostrils are blocked or how severely that messes with your day. If you have allergies, try limiting your exposure to potential triggers (including everyone's least favorite springtime assailant, pollen) to begin with. "Simple methods, like using HEPA filters in your home, keeping your windows closed, vacuuming carpets and rugs often, and keeping pets out of your bedroom" can make a world of difference, Taylor Carle, MD, an otolaryngologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group in California, tells SELF. Antihistamines and other OTC decongestants might help too.
Whatever you're dealing with, there are a few solid means of finding relief in the here and now, other than (or in addition to!) making lifestyle tweaks or popping meds. Here's how to get unstuffed.
How to unclog your nose and breathe normally again1. Steam things up.
Yet another excuse to enjoy an extra-long and toasty shower: Taking big breaths of steamy or misty air can thin and loosen even the most stubborn gunk. "When you use a humidifier or steam, you're diluting the mucus in your nose that's stuck. It allows your body to open itself," says Dr. Hur.
There are a few easy ways to try this out. Steaming up your bathroom with hot running water can help turn your nose into a running faucet. Aim to stay in the bath or shower with the door closed for 10 to 15 minutes to break up your boogers. But you don't even need to jump in the shower to find relief from teeny-tiny droplets of water. If you want an even simpler option, deeply inhaling the steam rising off of a hot cup of water or tea for a few minutes can provide a little relief too—and it comes with the benefit of being a solution you're probably able to try at work or school.
Allergy Relief: Antihistamines Vs. Decongestants
The two most common types of allergy medications are antihistamines and decongestants. Antihistamines and decongestants don't cure your allergies, but they'll give you much-needed relief for a runny or congested nose. They're available both as a prescription and over the counter (OTC) in several forms:
Histamine is a chemical your immune system makes. It does a few things, such as regulating your sleep cycle. But it also helps send signals between cells, which is part of why you have allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are medicines that block histamine from binding to your cells, which can make your symptoms better.
Antihistamines come in several forms, such as pills, liquids, nasal sprays, or eye drops. Pills target itching, sneezing, and runny nose. Nasal sprays work on congestion, an itchy or runny nose, and postnasal drip.
Antihistamines can ease your symptoms, but they work best when you take them before you feel a reaction. They can build up in your blood to protect against allergens and block the release of histamines. Ask your doctor if you should start taking allergy medicine a couple of weeks before you usually have symptoms.
Some common antihistamines you can get OTC as pills or liquids are:
Antihistamine eye drops
These can help ease itchy eyes and problems with your nose. You can try:
Antihistamines are classified as first- or second-generation. First-generation antihistamines can easily cross over from your bloodstream to your brain, so they can make you feel very sleepy. On the other hand, second-generation antihistamines don't tend to cross over into your brain as easily, so they don't make you feel as sleepy.
Examples of first-generation antihistamines include:
Examples of second-generation antihistamines include:
Decongestants work by reducing the swelling in the blood vessels in your nose. This relieves your blocked and stuffy nose and helps open your airways.
Decongestants are available in various forms, such as nasal sprays, eye drops, tablets, capsules, liquids, and powders.
Decongestants aren't recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, or hyperthyroidism.
Examples of common decongestants you can get OTC as tablets or capsules include:
Some medications combine decongestants with other medicines, such as pain relievers and/or antihistamines.
Examples of these include:
Decongestant nasal sprays
These work faster than tablets or capsules. Examples include:
Don't use nasal sprays for more than a few days in a row because they can worsen your swelling and stuffiness. This is called a "rebound reaction." You get temporary relief, but your symptoms come back worse than before. So, if you use nasal decongestant sprays, limit it to a maximum of 3 days.
Corticosteriods (or steroids) are a powerful way to fight stuffiness, as they get to the root of the problem by directly reducing your swelling. They can be especially helpful, for instance, if you have seasonal allergies and you know you're going to be stuffy until the season changes.
These also come in several forms, including sprays, inhalers, eye drops, pills, liquids, and creams.
Steroid nasal sprays
Nasal steroids are a type of nose spray and are often the first drugs recommended for allergies.
They lessen your whole allergic inflammatory process. Plus they target all your allergy symptoms, not just congestion.
You can get these OTC:
If you decide to use one, be patient. You don't get the full effect for several days or even a week. But if you use it daily, it can be very effective. You can also use steroids together with antihistamines or decongestants to get extra relief. Or, use an antihistamine or decongestant for short-term relief while you wait for your steroids to work.
Allergy shots (allergen immunotherapy)
You may want to consider them if you have allergy congestion all year and medication doesn't help much. It gets your body used to the things that trigger your hay fever so you won't have an allergic reaction.
Allergy shots can be very effective, but they don't work quickly. You get a series of injections over several years. Each one has a small dose of the stuff that causes your allergies.
Some allergists are turning to another form of immunotherapy, called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), which doesn't use injections. You may be able to take a pill that dissolves after you put it under your tongue. Examples are Grastek, Oralair, and Ragwitek. You need to take the first one at a doctor's office, but after that, you can use them at home.
Mast cell stabilizers
Mast cells are a type of immune system cell. They release chemicals that can cause your allergy symptoms. Mast cell stabilizers keep these cells from releasing their chemicals. Your doctor may prescribe these for you when antihistamines don't work for you or if you have intolerable side effects. You usually need to use these for a few days before they take full effect.
They come as nasal sprays, such as cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom), and eye drops, such as:
Leukotriene inhibitors
Leukotrienes are other chemicals that your immune system releases, causing symptoms. Leukotriene inhibitors block these chemicals from binding to your cells. This eases congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Only one type is available for hay fever: montelukast (Singulair).
Emergency epinephrine shots
These are used for people with anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Your doctor can prescribe it for you. If you have serious allergies, you should keep at least two of these with you at all times. They come as auto-injecting syringes.
Some of these drugs need a prescription. Others don't. First, try an OTC brand. But check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you have the right medication for your symptoms. If you don't get relief, ask for something stronger.
Check drug labels for more information about side effects.
Antihistamines side effects
You shouldn't drive when you take antihistamines , especially first-generation antihistamines, as they can make you drowsy. These include brompheniramine (Nasahist B), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Dayhist, Tavist), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Second-generation antihistamines usually don't make you drowsy. Examples include desloratadine (Clarinex), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Alavert, Claritin).
Decongestants side effects
Decongestants can also cause side effects, such as:
You shouldn't take decongestants if you have certain health issues, including high blood pressure or heart problems. If you have prostate problems that make it hard to pee, these drugs can make the problem worse.
Antihistamines and decongestants are the two most commonly used types of allergy medications. They don't cure your allergies, but they can make your symptoms go away for a while. You can even combine them (or buy a combination medication) if you don't get relief from one or the other.
Pravastatin - Uses, Side Effects, And More
Who should not use pravastatin?Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take pravastatin.
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific pravastatin products they stock.
Liver Problems. Pravastatin should not be taken if your liver is not working as well as it should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if it is working well enough to take this medicine.
What should I know about pravastatin before using it?Do not take pravastatin unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share pravastatin with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep pravastatin out of the reach of children.
People aged 65 years and older can be at a greater risk for some side effects of pravastatin, including muscle pain, weakness, and injury. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using pravastatin?Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if pravastatin is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Pravastatin may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking pravastatin, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section below for more details.
Pregnancy. Pravastatin may cause harm to an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take pravastatin while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Breastfeeding. Do not take pravastatin while you are breastfeeding. Pravastatin can pass into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
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