Whether it be a cold, allergies, or the forbidden flu, nasal congestion is easily one of the most uncomfortable symptoms we all experience during the colder months of the year.

Essentially, nasal congestion happens when the membranes that line your nasal passages become inflamed, and then they start to make more mucus in an attempt to flush out whatever has caused the irritation. It goes without saying that nasal congestion can leave you, your kids, or both, feeling pretty miserable.

As a board-certified integrative medicine physician and member of Genexa’s Advisory Board, I am always looking for ways to help patients navigate the unpleasant symptoms associated with cold and flu. Here are a few tips and tricks that may be able to help, and knowing which stuffy nose medicines for kids and adults alike are best can also save you some time and trouble.

Home Treatments

Certain treatments can be done at home and may alleviate some of the pressure in your nose. At-home treatments can be highly effective if you have less severe symptoms.

That said, though, using an at-home method in combination with an OTC medicine may give you great results for more serious or uncomfortable symptoms.

Common and effective at-home methods of treatment include:

• Using a humidifier: A humidifier may alleviate congestion by adding moisture to the air, which you then breathe in. This moisture can help soothe the tissues in your nasal passages that have been inflamed and may lessen the irritation, helping you breathe easier.
• Running a hot shower: Hot showers can help congestion because of the steam they create, which helps thin out the mucus in your nose. This method works in a similar manner to the humidifier method, and it is a great option if you do not have a humidifier on hand and do not want to make a purchase. You can also use a sink for this method by plugging the drain and running hot water until the sink fills, and then leaning over it and placing a towel over your head to keep the steam near your face.
• Drinking lots of fluids: Staying sufficiently hydrated, and focusing on staying even more hydrated when sick. Drinking plenty of fluids can thin out the mucus in your nose and help push the fluids out, thus relieving pressure in your sinuses.
• Using a saline spray: Saline sprays can help because they work to increase the moisture in your nostrils and flush out irritants and mucus. Saline may also be purchased in the form of drops if you or your child cannot get the hang of a spray, and the drops entail placing 1-2 drops of the solution into each nostril and tilting your head back so that it can travel through the nasal passages. When choosing a saline product, check the ingredients to make sure no other medicines have been added, as plain old saline will get the job done.
  

OTC Medicines

When home treatments don’t quite have enough oomph, over-the-counter medicines will likely be able to help. Home treatments are ideal for congestion that is less severe, whereas OTC medicines may be effective for more persistent or slightly tougher symptoms.

Over-the-counter medicines can be a huge help, but the issue with many available products is that they contain a range of artificial inactive ingredients alongside the important active ingredients. Many people don’t want all of these artificial ingredients in their bodies.

That’s where Genexa comes in. The first medicine company devoted to making clean medicines that contain the active ingredients you need, without all of the artificial inactive ingredients most OTC drugs have in their formulas. And as a certified B-corp, they are committed to doing right by the planet, working closely with sustainable suppliers to make sure the ingredients in their medicines are best in class.

If you have a little one struggling with a stuffy nose, their Kids’ Cough & Chest Congestion Liquid may help alleviate symptoms, and it is recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 12.

Even more, if you have come down with a cold, too, their Cold Crush - Organic Cold & Cough tablets work to address common symptoms of a cold such as congestion, sore throat, cough, and sneezing.

The Cons of Traditional Decongestants

Traditional decongestants, including pseudoephedrine, can work against you even if they seem to help your congestion at first, and Genexa’s cold and flu formulations do not contain this ingredient.

Pseudoephedrine is accompanied by a host of potential side effects, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and trouble sleeping. Serious side effects can also occur, which include fast or irregular heartbeat, mental/mood changes, shaking or tremors, and difficulty urinating.

These side effects are rare but can become severe, and you should consult a doctor if you begin to experience any of them. Additionally, some decongestants also come with plenty of drug interactions which may make it hard for you to treat your congestion without disrupting the effectiveness of other medications you may be taking.

Certain medicines can end up making your congestion worse if you continue taking them after three days, which is entirely counterproductive and, we know, a tad confusing. This happens because many decongestants work by narrowing blood vessels in order to combat irritation and inflammation, but prolonged use can cause the opposite to occur by leading to rebound congestion when your blood vessels start expanding again.

What If My Symptoms Persist?

If symptoms of nasal congestion persist despite the use of at-home treatments or over-the-counter medicines, it is important to consult a doctor who will be able to get to the bottom of it. Severe congestion that does not go away could be a sinus infection or a sign of a more serious illness.

A doctor will also be able to give you a prescription for a medication that will often rid you of your symptoms, even temporarily, and these medications typically contain higher amounts of active ingredients than over-the-counter medicines, or contain stronger active ingredients altogether.

When using prescription medications, or when giving them to children, it is important to take care of dosing. Make sure to strictly follow the dosage instructions advised by your doctor, as medications do come with the risk of taking too much and experiencing unpleasant, and sometimes dangerous, symptoms of overdose.

Certain prescription medications are also recommended for use only until your symptoms go away, whereas others should be taken until your supply runs out. Your doctor will advise you on how often, and for how long, certain medications should be taken.

Summary

Whether it be a result of a cold, the flu, or allergies, nasal congestion is highly unpleasant and can leave your or your children in a lot of discomfort.

Certain at-home treatments, like using a humidifier or saline solution, may alleviate your symptoms, but over-the-counter medications may be necessary for worse congestion. Using medicines alongside at-home treatments may give you the best results yet. Nasal congestion that continues to persist, and is severe, should be discussed with your doctor, as more serious cases may require prescription medication to treat the illness or reduce nasal inflammation. Any medicines should be used with care, but Genexa is committed to offering you clean medicine with the most important active ingredients, and without the unnecessary artificial extras. Congestion is an unpleasant problem, but it is not permanent and many different treatment methods can help take care of it.