what to do about sore throat and severe runny nose
Runny noses are annoying and tin can affect your mood and daily life — the huge mess of used tissues, the inability to gustation your food, it may sometimes fifty-fifty block your ears. In severe cases, you may even have difficulty breathing. Then, how do yous go near reducing the physical discomforts brought by a runny olfactory organ? How to cure a runny nose so that you lot can be your best self?
Before we swoop into cures and remedies, we need to wait at the cause of your leaky snout. Agreement the underlying issues can assistance y'all address the problem.
What causes a runny nose?
At that place are 4 mutual causes of runny noses. Nosotros take a look at each of them and observe out how they bear upon you.
1. The common cold
The common common cold, also known every bit an upper respiratory infection (URI), is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits. Though the proper name 'mutual cold' might propose that you get information technology from exposure to cold weather condition, this isn't entirely truthful. There are over two hundred different viruses that cause upper respiratory infections.
The common cold can spread through air (e.g. inhaling the respiratory aerosol from coughing or sneezing) and shut personal contact (e.m. touching the nose or rima oris by hand or other object exposed to the virus). This is why information technology tin easily infect entire households and offices in a short menstruation of time. A crowded and bars space is the perfect surround for the spread of the common common cold.
COVID-19 is some other virus that spreads quickly through droplets, but not all sniffles equate to COVID-19. If y'all've respiratory symptoms and are concerned about the risks, MyDoc'south COVID-19 clinic is hither to provide timely triage assessments.
2. Allergies
Allergies are another common cause for runny noses. This happens when you lot come into contact with allergens or irritants that trigger an allergic reaction.
Allergens can range from dust, pollen, animal fur or even certain foods. For those allergic to pollen, the allergies come seasonally. You lot tin can await a runny nose in spring and summer, when flowering plants, trees, weeds and grasses begin producing pollen.
Yous become allergic reactions because your immune system is reacting to these allergen particles perceived as an invasive threat to your health. These particles can also irritate your nasal passage. Every bit a consequence, the body reacts with a runny nose, sneezing or inflammation. The nasal secretions from allergies are usually clear. They may go xanthous and purulent in some rare cases.
Read more about hay fever here.
3. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes or imbalance tin cause inflammation and enlargement of the nasal blood vessel.
This condition is known every bit hormonal rhinitis. Hormonal changes or imbalance can crusade a directly effect on the membranes in your nasal passage. Your olfactory organ will first producing more mucus than usual, leaving y'all with a dreadful runny nose.
Hormonal rhinitis is a common symptom in pregnant women. This is because pregnancy is a period of major hormonal changes. 39% of pregnant women volition experience a runny nose and nasal congestion. Menopause, puberty and contraceptive use can also lead to hormonal rhinitis.
4. Cold air
Cold climate is not an result here in Singapore. We go to savour sweltering tropical heat all yr round. To combat the unbearable heat, we apply air conditioning. Just this brings on the same problems as cold climates.
Cold air can exist drying, and this will cause your nasal membranes to dry out. With a dry olfactory organ, your body responds by triggering an increased production of mucus. This is an effort to endeavor and balance out the fluids in your nasal passage.
That's why your olfactory organ always gets a little wet and runny when you lot're in a room that'due south besides common cold.
Symptoms of a runny olfactory organ
You might think that your olfactory organ is but reacting to dusty or common cold environments. However, a runny olfactory organ is normally a sign that your nasal passage is inflamed and irritated.
If left untreated, these symptoms may finish up lasting for a few days or even weeks. Hither are some signs of a runny nose:
- Excessive mucus production
- Nasal discharge
- Difficulty animate
- Nasal congestion
- Bouts of sneezing
- Headache or facial pain due to increased pressure in the nasal cavities
- Sore throat or coughing due to mucus dripping dorsum into your throat (mail service-nasal baste)
In some severe cases, y'all might become olfactory organ bleeds from bravado your olfactory organ too much or fifty-fifty end up with a sore pharynx or laryngitis due to prolonged mail service-nasal drip.
Read more about laryngitis here.
How to treat a runny nose
A common way to treat a runny nose is to have antihistamines.
When yous get a runny olfactory organ, your trunk is actually producing chemicals called histamines. This chemic is usually released when your body tries to combat infections and allergies. Histamines are responsible for causing inflammation, and antihistamines work to block the furnishings of it.
Antihistamines can requite y'all relief from the sneezing, runny nose and coughing. You can get over-the-counter antihistamine medication at convenience stores, supermarkets and pharmacies.
Clarinase, Zyrtec, Clarityn and Telfast are some examples of over-the-counter antihistamines, and you lot can buy them without a prescription from a doctor. Do note that these antihistamines can make you lot drowsy, so it might be a good idea to accept them before you lot get to bed.
Other types of over-the-counter medication tin can include decongestants. Decongestants can help gainsay the stuffiness and blocked nasal passageways. These decongestants can be in the course of nasal sprays, medicated oils or fifty-fifty humidifiers.
Non sure what are the differences between antihistamines and decongestants? Find out here.
Home remedies for a runny nose
If you're looking for quicker relief, y'all might want to attempt some of these simple and effective abode remedies for your runny nose.
1. Beverage hot tea
Some teas contain herbs that are balmy decongestants. Instead of regular blackness or red tea, endeavor not-caffeinated chamomile, ginger or mint tea. These specific herbs contain anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties that can ease the blockage in your nose.
Now don't become searching for the nearest chimera tea store to get your tea fix. Instead of iced tea, nosotros recommend opting for a cup of hot tea.
Hot beverages are more constructive than cold drinks. This is due to the oestrus and steam that tin aid open up your airways and assist with decongestion. The heat can also soothe the inflammation of your nose and throat.
two. Facial steam
Facial steam is a method oftentimes used to open pores for clearing pimples and acne, but that's not the only thing information technology can do — information technology can also help to open your blocked nasal passageways.
Facial steam helps to thin out mucus and provide the much-needed moisture for healing. This clears your blocked nose and helps you to exhale ameliorate.
To create your ain facial steam:
- Get a bowl of steaming hot water and a towel. Y'all can get it by heating make clean h2o in a clean pot on your stove and rut it just enough so that steam is created
- Place your caput over the bowl of hot water and cover your head with the towel.
- Keep your head there for almost xx to 30 minutes at a time.
- Inhale the steam from the bowl to articulate your olfactory organ and get faster relief.
Studies take shown that steam inhalation can reduce recovery fourth dimension by nigh a week.
You can also add together in essential oils to your bowl of hot h2o. Try tea tree oils, peppermint, thyme, rosemary, pine, sage or eucalyptus. These oils contain compounds like menthol and thymol that can help to decongest the nose and leave y'all feeling much meliorate.
three. Blow your nose gently
If yous've got a runny nose, ever go along some tissues on hand. Blow your nose to clear the fungus whenever you can, but not too hard.
By blowing too hard, you lot can send the germ-carrying phlegm and mucus dorsum into your ear passages, which may pb to an ear infection. To prevent this, clear ane nostril at a time by pressing a finger over one nostril and accident gently to clear the other.
It'due south important not to sniffle your mucus dorsum into your caput. The germ-carrying mucus and phlegm should be expelled when possible. Keeping it in allows it to breed and spread germs into other parts of your head. For example, postnasal baste (fungus dripping back to your pharynx) can lead to an inflamed throat.
4. Stuff your olfactory organ
Blowing your nose is like a double-edged sword. You need to expel the mucus and phlegm, but yous as well can't do it also hard.
If you do, yous might beal your condition every bit the force tin cause swelling and inflammation. Additionally, the skin around your nose is very sensitive and constant nose bravado tin can cause soreness and hurting.
Other than blowing your nose, yous tin can try stuffing it too! Scroll upward a wad of tissue and stuff it into one nostril at a time. The tissues can soak upwards and blot the excess mucus around the nostril.
This method is a much gentler approach to clearing mucus and phlegm than bravado your nose. The only drawback is that you might look featherbrained with wads of tissue sticking out from your nose.
5. Menthol rubs or menthol lozenges
Time to whip out the adept old Axe Oil your gramps keeps in his back pocket!
While your neighbourhood coffee shop uncles favour Axe Oil, there are other brands of menthol rubs. You lot can find Vicks, Tiger Balm, Olbas Mentholatum and many more at your local convenience shop or pharmacy. If your peel is sensitive to oils and rubs, you can opt to suck on a lozenge instead.
However, you should be enlightened that menthol doesn't do much to ease nasal congestion. What they do is trigger menthol receptors in your nose that makes you feel similar you're breathing better.
Menthol rubs and lozenges tin also help with other cold symptoms like cough and sore pharynx that comes mitt-in-paw with runny noses.
When using menthol rubs, avoid rubbing it straight in or on your olfactory organ. The skin around your nose is sensitive, and these rubs might cause skin irritation. Instead, apply a small corporeality beneath your olfactory organ or on your upper lip.
Hither'southward a quick breakdown on the effectiveness and risks that come with the 5 dwelling remedies for a runny nose.
| Type of remedy | Is information technology easy to practice? | How effective is it? | Any potential risks? |
| Drink hot tea | Very easy. Simply need to buy appropriate teas. | Quite constructive in decongesting the nose. | None. But you could burn down your tongue if it's as well hot! |
| Facial steam | Super easy. No need to buy annihilation. | Effective in clearing mucus and phlegm. | None. You might actually take ameliorate complexion later on. |
| Blow your nose | Easy. Only you need to exist careful not to blow too hard. | Very effective. Clears mucus directly. | Might cause complications if you blow too hard. |
| Stuff your nose | Easy. Unless you're hands embarrassed by looking empty-headed. | Not so effective in removing excess mucus. | Might embarrass yourself if y'all forget to remove tissues. |
| Menthol rubs | Might face up difficulty in picking out a suitable brand. | Non effective in runny olfactory organ relief, but it helps you feel better. | Potential allergy to chemicals or skin irritation. |
Tips on coping with a runny nose
Dealing with a runny nose is an unpleasant experience. The discomfort, hassle and lack of slumber tin can go out you feeling angry and irritable.
How tin you make it a petty more bearable? Here are some tips on coping with a runny nose.
1. Utilize soft tissues when bravado your nose
The material you lot choose to blow your nose with can brand a significant difference. The peel around your nose is very sensitive and prone to irritation. And so it'south important to choose soft and gentle fabrics.
Avoid using paper towels, handkerchiefs or cloth. Opt for facial tissues instead. Attempt facial tissues that contain lotion or softeners that make the tissue gentler on the skin.
Now yous might exist tempted to blow your nose with wet tissues. Moisture = moisture, and moisture means it's suitable for relieving your blocked nose, correct? Well, no. Wet tissues usually comprise alcohol which can dry out out your nose and worsen the status.
2. Use the remedies earlier y'all sleep
Your body needs sufficient remainder to heal itself, simply getting enough sleep when you have a runny olfactory organ can be rather hard. The discomfort and difficulty breathing tends to keep you up at night.
Based on this, it might be a good thought to utilize the remedies listed right before you go to bed. Practise your all-time to clear your mucus before bed to ease the congestion. You might fall comatose a little easier.
If you're down with a runny nose, it's best to stay at home and remainder. Yous'll also be sparing others from the take a chance of catching your cold. Do your best to ensure that you get plenty sleep to allow your body to get together force to heal itself.
3. Practice good hygiene to stop germs from spreading
Treating yourself right and so that you tin can get meliorate is paramount. Making sure that you don't spread your germs to people effectually you is every bit important. Be responsible and do what you can to reduce the spread of germs by practising adept hygiene.
Make it a signal to wash your hands frequently and ensure that you soap and soap thoroughly. Clean between your fingers, nether your nails, around your wrists and the back of your hand. As a dominion of thumb, a thorough hand washing should terminal for near twenty seconds. If you lot want to go the extra mile, comport a paw sanitiser with you lot.
Coughing and sneezing? Instead of covering with your easily, endeavour roofing your rima oris with the crease of your elbow. Your elbow crease is non something y'all apply as regularly as your hands.
For those of you that are e'er prepared with tissues on mitt, make certain y'all dispose of them properly. Don't leave your tissues lying effectually. After blowing or wiping your nose, throw information technology abroad immediately. Don't put it dorsum into your pockets.
Yous might also want to consider putting on a face up mask to reduce the spread of germs.
Nothing beats a doctor's prescription
These home remedies are meant to provide relief. Some of them might piece of work better for you than others.
But if you suspect that the cause of your runny nose is a bacterial or viral infection, it is best to see a doctor. Habitation remedies and over-the-counter medication may not direct gainsay the virus or the bacteria that are causing the runny nose. They might salvage the symptoms, but not treat the cause.
If you lot're looking for a more direct approach to curing a runny nose, see a medical professional person. Get a proper diagnosis of the underlying cause for the runny nose and get medication that tin address it direct.
Not feeling well enough to go out and see a doctor? Endeavour a virtual consultation with MyDoc.
Source: https://my-doc.com/upper-respiratory-infection/home-remedies-how-to-cure-runny-nose/
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