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Nasal Spray Helps Relieve Congestion
Whether you're dealing with allergies or sinus infections, nasal spray may help ease your symptoms and help you breathe easier. Sprays offer a quick, on-the-go option to complement other congestion medications.
Best Medicine for Congestion and Sinus Relief
When you're dealing with congestion and sinus symptoms, you want quick relief. Finding the best sinus relief medicine can depend on your situation and health needs. Visiting your doctor before you take any over-the-counter medications helps determine the source of your congestion. Your health care provider can determine if you need a prescription medication and can recommend over-the-counter remedies that might help.
Congestion and sinus relief come in many forms, including nasal sprays, tablets, liquid medications and breathing strips. Each product contains different active ingredients and may address a range of symptoms. Review the labels to find a product that helps with the symptoms you're experiencing. Your preferred administration method may also influence your decision. For instance, if you're choosing congestion medicine for a child, you might choose liquid medicine, while adults might prefer sinus relief medicine in tablet form.
Best Ways to Relieve Sinus Pressure
In addition to using sinus relief medicine, you can try home remedies and strategies to help ease sinus pressure and congestion. Some options include:
Breathing in steam from the shower or a bowl of hot water
Placing warm compresses on your face
Using a neti pot or squeeze bottle to irrigate your sinuses
Massaging your face
It can also help to stay hydrated. Running a humidifier or vaporizer could soothe your sinuses. When you're lying in bed, try to keep your head elevated to ease sinus symptoms. Following your health care provider's recommendations can help speed up your recovery and ease your sinus pressure faster.
How to Use Nasal Spray for Sinus Relief
Always use nasal spray congestion medicine as indicated on the label. Some medicated nasal sprays limit how many times you use them per day, while saline nasal spray is more flexible on how frequently you use it.
For general application of nasal spray for allergies and other issues, administer it while you're standing or sitting upright. Then, follow these steps:
Blow your nose to clear out any mucus.
Hold one nostril closed and place the bottle tip into the other nostril.
With your mouth closed, spray the product into your nostril. Inhale a little as you spray it.
Switch to the other nostril and repeat the process.
If possible, avoid blowing your nose or sneezing right after you apply the congestion medicine spray. This helps keep the spray in your nose, where it can help ease your symptoms.
How Do Decongestants Work?
Most decongestants contain ingredients, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, that work by constricting blood vessels within your nose, helping reduce inflammation and the production of mucus. Because this swelling and mucus can extend into your sinuses and eustachian tubes, it may contribute to sinus pain, vertigo and a feeling of ear fullness. Oral and nasal spray products work as nose and ear decongestants, alleviating most of these bothersome symptoms.
Another type of decongestant is a saline nasal spray. These products help thin mucus, making it easier to remove, and can help moisturize your nasal passages to relieve irritation and dryness.
Steroid-based nasal sprays also work as decongestants but are typically only used for allergy-related congestion. They work by reducing the production of histamine and other chemicals that cause hay fever symptoms for targeted relief.
Which Decongestants Are Safe for High Blood Pressure?
Decongestants that work by constricting your nasal passages act as mild stimulants and are known to increase blood pressure, so they're typically unsuitable for people who already have high blood pressure. A decongestant nasal spray may be okay since the local dose is low and minimal amounts should reach your bloodstream, but check with your doctor first.
Generally, saline spray is the best type of decongestant overall for people with heart conditions or high blood pressure. Because these products are drug-free, they have no direct effect on your blood pressure and shouldn't interact with medications
What Decongestants Are Safe to Take While Pregnant?
Many decongestants and cold and flu medicines are okay to take while pregnant, including certain products with stimulant-based ingredients, such as phenylephrine. However, some women can experience high blood pressure or issues with blood sugar control during pregnancy, so these medications may be unsuitable in those situations.
Getting frequent checkups during pregnancy and asking your doctor before taking any medication or supplement is the best way to ensure your baby is born healthy. If you must take medicine for a cold or allergy, try to only use it for as long as necessary.