Tips To Clear a Stuffy Nose and Congestion From Allergies

How To Get Rid of a Stuffy Nose

No matter the cause, we’re here to help you learn how to get rid of a stuffy nose. These at-home stuffy nose remedies are easy to use for relieving sinus pressure and clogging.

Drink Water To Unclog Your Stuffy Nose

One of the easiest ways to combat a congested nose is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids thins mucus in your nasal passages, helping it move out of your sinuses. This relieves pressure and inflammation, helping you breathe easier. Some over the counter (OTC) medications used for congestion, allergies, and colds may dry you out; staying hydrated can also counter these effects.^2,3

Water is the most obvious choice for hydration, but warm, soothing beverages like tea, clear soups and broths, or water with lemon and honey can all help. The heat from these drinks can also loosen mucus and soothe a sore throat.²

Try Tea To Help Relieve Nasal Congestion⁴

One simple and soothing remedy to consider is drinking hot tea. Hot tea for a stuffy nose can help alleviate nasal congestion by loosening mucus and promoting drainage. The steam from a hot cup of tea can also help open up your nasal passages, making it easier to breathe.

Choosing the best tea for a stuffy nose can enhance the benefits. Herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, and chamomile are excellent choices. Peppermint tea contains menthol, which has natural decongestant properties. Ginger tea is known for its anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce swelling in the nasal passages. Chamomile tea is soothing and can help relax the muscles, providing additional relief.

To maximize the benefits, try inhaling the steam from your hot tea before drinking it. This can provide immediate relief by opening up your airways. You can also add a bit of honey or lemon for added flavor and to soothe a sore throat that often accompanies nasal congestion.

Apply Warm Compresses To Clear Your Sinuses⁵

Warm compresses are great for general pain relief and are just as useful for congestion. The heat from the compress helps loosen mucus, relieving pressure and pain in the sinuses. If you have a few spare cloths lying around, you can make your own compresses at home.

Here are the steps for how to make a warm compress:

1. Run a washcloth or towel under warm water, then another under cold water

2. Lie down and apply the warm compress to your forehead and/or over the nose for three minutes

3. Switch to a cold compress over the same areas for 30 seconds

4. Alternate the compresses two more times for a total of three cycles

5. Repeat this treatment up to four times a day as needed for relief

Steam Out Nasal Congestion⁶

Nose not running? Run the shower. Steam combines the power of heat and hydration to loosen dry mucus and relax inflamed nasal passages. Taking a steamy shower and allowing the hot water to run over your forehead and face can help open your airways and offer sinus pressure relief.

For a quicker stuffy nose remedy, fill a sink or bowl with hot water and stand over it while breathing in the steam. You’ll want to avoid directly breathing in hot steam from the water, letting it rise to you instead. Place a towel over your head to help catch the rising steam and create a mini sauna for yourself.

Use a Humidifier as a Fast Stuffy Nose Remedy

Humidifiers and electric steamers can also be used to bring moisture into the air around you. You can choose from either a warm-mist or cool-mist humidifier for your stuffy nose, as both are effective in relieving sinus congestion and pain.⁷ These devices are sold based on room size, so be sure to measure the room it will sit in for the best results.

Be sure to fill your humidifier with distilled water, as tap water has minerals that can be irritating when inhaled. Cleaning it daily can also help prevent any bacteria or mold from growing inside, which can also be harmful to breathe in.⁷

Elevate Your Head To Get Rid of Your Stuffy Nose at Night

Do you ever wake up in the morning and ask yourself, “Why is my nose always stuffy?” Lying down can make congestion worse, since gravity is keeping mucus in the nose and sinuses. Your blood pressure and blood flow to the upper body also changes when you lie down in bed — this can cause inflammation in the nose and nasal passages.⁸

Sleeping on your side may cause the nostril closest to the bed to clog. To help prevent a stuffy nose at night, lay on your back and elevate your head with an extra pillow or two to get a little help from gravity. Once you are up and moving the next day, your congestion will most likely go away.⁹

Use a Nasal Spray To Relieve Congestion²

For quick relief from nasal congestion, consider using a nasal spray. Nasal sprays for congestion reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, helping to clear mucus and improve breathing. There are several types available, each with specific benefits:

Decongestant nasal sprays contain medications like oxymetazoline or phenylephrine, which constrict blood vessels in the nasal passages to reduce swelling. These are great for short-term relief but should not be used for more than a few days to avoid rebound congestion.

Saline nasal sprays are simply saltwater solutions that thin and loosen mucus, making it easier to expel. Safe for long-term use, they are ideal for chronic conditions like allergies.

Steroid nasal sprays, such as fluticasone or triamcinolone, reduce inflammation and provide long-term relief from allergic rhinitis.

When choosing a nasal congestion spray, consider the cause of your congestion and how long you need relief. Decongestant sprays are best for short-term issues like colds, while saline or steroid sprays are better for chronic conditions.

Take OTC Medicines for Allergy Congestion Relief

Looking for how to clear your sinuses at the source? OTC antihistamine medications like BENADRYL^® work by blocking histamines, which are chemicals released by your body’s immune system in response to allergens. Histamines are responsible for allergy side effects like nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and itching nose and throat.

BENADRYL^® Allergy Plus Congestion combines the power of antihistamines with nasal decongestants to help fight the source of allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, itchy throat, sinus congestion. Kick congestion to the curb with BENADRYL^® Allergy Plus Congestion.