Runny nose what to do with it. What to do if a runny nose starts? Kalanchoe juice for a runny nose

Runny nose – inflammation of the nasal mucosa, in which mucous masses are released and a burning or dry feeling appears. Drops, sprays, ointments and creams, as well as traditional medicine, are used to treat it. With proper treatment it goes away within a week.

Runny nose and its types

A runny nose or rhinitis is perfectly treatable if its type is determined in a timely manner. Lack of proper treatment can lead to sinusitis, otitis or sinusitis, that is, give complications to the organs of smell and hearing.

He can be:

• A separate disease;
• A symptom of most infectious diseases (ARVI, influenza, sore throat and others);
• Consequence of injury to the nasal mucosa.

The development of a runny nose is greatly promoted by hypothermia, dust and gas contamination in the air.

Rhinitis is divided into 2 groups, infectious and non-infectious.

Infectious

Spicy

Appears in infectious and viral diseases. Has 3 phases.

The initial symptom phase is itching, burning in the nose, fever, headache.

Catarrhal phase – 2-3 hours after the first phase. There is mucus secretion and difficulty breathing.

The recovery phase is on the 5-7th day of illness. The sinuses are cleared and breathing is restored.

Chronic

Occurs when the mucous membrane is irritated by purulent discharge from the sinuses, congenital deformation of the septum, or circulatory problems in the mucous membrane.

Hypertrophic

Proliferation of the mucous and submucosal layer. Mucopurulent discharge appears and breathing becomes very difficult.

Atrophic

With thinning of the mucous membrane. Dryness and crusting appear, and the perception of odors decreases.

Non-infectious

Allergic

Is a reaction to exposure to an allergen. It can be seasonal (in a reaction to flowering, poplar fluff), and year-round if the allergen is dust, pet hair, or certain products. Breathing through the nose becomes difficult, watery mucus and sneezing appear.

Vasomotor

Appears when the blood vessels of the mucous membrane dilate. Occurs due to hormonal imbalance, emotional distress, exposure to smoke, gas, and food with spices.

Medication

Appears with constant use of vasoconstrictors. The mucous membrane contracts under their action, but then swells with even greater force.

Traumatic

The causes are mechanical trauma, chemical exposure, frostbite or burns.

• Learn to blow your nose correctly by closing one nostril and opening your mouth slightly;
• Avoid contact with irritants (dust, cold air, strong odors, cigarette smoke);
• When choosing drops or sprays, give preference to herbal-based preparations, for example Pinosol (pine, eucalyptus and mint oil) or Pinovit with a similar composition;
• Rinse the sinuses with salt water, but not more than 3 times a day, so as not to weaken the protective functions of the mucous membrane;
• Constantly ventilate the room and humidify the air.

Traditional treatment for runny nose

A runny nose is treated with drops, sprays, ointments and creams. Any drug has contraindications, side effects and the possibility of the body becoming accustomed to it.

According to the effect they provide, drops and sprays are:

• Moisturizing - Aqua Maris, Aqualor with sea water.
• Vasoconstrictors (reduce swelling and reduce the amount of mucus) - Naphthyzin, Sanorin, Nazivin, Ximelin, Dlynos, Otrivin.
• Antibacterial – Bioparox, Isofra.
• Antiviral – Grippferon.
• Herbal remedies – Pinosol and Pinovit with pine, mint and eucalyptus oils.
• Combined (with vasoconstrictor, anti-edematous properties) - Gikomycin-teva.
• Antihistamines - Vibrocil, Allergodil to relieve allergic rhinitis.

There are ointments:

• Antiviral – oxolinic ointment 0.25%.
• Antiseptic - Vishnevsky ointment, tetracycline ointment.
• Combined - Levomikol, Evamenol with menthol and eucalyptus oil.
• Homeopathic – Doctor Mom, “Asterisk”, “Thuja” ointment.

Also, when treating rhinitis, inhalations are done over steam or using an inhaler or nebulizer with nozzles.

To do this, use essential oils (eucalyptus, sage, fir, pine) and boiled water or saline solution.

Treatment with folk remedies

Despite the large number of modern antiviral and antibacterial drugs, people do not stop using the advice of traditional medicine.

Here are the most effective ones:

Aloe juice

Use pure or diluted with water in a ratio of 3:1. Don't be afraid of a burning sensation in your nose; it goes away after a short time.

Kalanchoe

Make cuts on a washed Kalanchoe leaf, squeeze out the juice and lubricate the sinuses with it.

Honey

Use neat (a small amount in each nostril) or dilute with water to make drops. For greater effect, make infusions with onions, beet juice, horseradish or aloe juice.

Salt

Take a small rag bag, heat the salt in a clean, dry frying pan, put it in the bag and apply it to the bridge of your nose. Boiled eggs are suitable instead of salt. To avoid burning your skin, place a towel or napkin between your nose and the hot eggs.

Onion

Take 1 spoon of squeezed onion juice and 5 drops of olive oil, leave, drop into each nostril.

Take an onion, chop it, add half a glass of water and a spoonful of honey. Infuse, strain and use as drops.

Beet juice

Take 3 tablespoons of beet juice and one spoon of honey, leave and drop 2-3 times a day.

Garlic

Set fire to one head of garlic, and alternately bring the smoldering head to each nostril.

Treatment of runny nose in children

A runny nose in children is one of the most common diseases and does not always go away quickly. At the first symptoms, treatment should be started immediately to enable the child to breathe freely through his nose and sleep peacefully at night.

First, teach your child to blow his nose well, but gently. Then rinse the nasal passages throughout the day. For 1 glass of warm water, take half a teaspoon of salt and soda. Rinse with a teapot or saucer, drawing in water through each nostril in turn, holding it for a while and blowing it back out.

If the child is too small or is not good at the procedure, then you can use drops based on sea water - Aqua Maris or Marimer.

The last step is the instillation of drops with a vasoconstrictor effect. For children, plant-based drops are suitable - Pinosol or Delufen, or chemical preparations Nizivin, Naphthyzin, Otrivin.

Inhalation will be a very useful remedy for children's runny nose. They are made both over steam and using an inhaler or nebulizer using special attachments.

Another useful tip is to give your child as much fluid as possible, since when breathing through the mouth, he loses a large amount of moisture and the mucous membranes dry out. And do not forget about ventilation and ensuring the humidity of the room.

During pregnancy

A runny nose in women during pregnancy is very undesirable, like any other disease, especially if it is accompanied by fever.

When it appears, they advise:

• Drink plenty of fluids;
• Rinse the nose with saline solution;
• Gargling with water and soda;
• Inhalation or breathing over steam;
• Ventilation and humidification of the room.

Pregnant women should not take antibiotics, alcohol preparations, essential oils, or vasoconstrictors without a doctor’s recommendation.

Conclusion

A runny nose or nasal congestion causes a lot of discomfort for both adults and children. Treating rhinitis from an early stage will allow it to get rid of it faster. Rinse your sinuses, ventilate and moisturize the room, and most importantly, choose the right drops, spray, ointment or folk recipes based on the type of runny nose. This will make the treatment effective and less lengthy.

A runny nose is accompanied by a stuffy nose and difficulty breathing. Many patients do not go to the clinic, which often leads to serious complications. It is important to take into account that for proper therapy the process should be taken responsibly. If the cause is falsely identified, the selection of a suitable drug is difficult, and there is a risk of transforming the disease into a chronic form. When the first signs appear, you should immediately contact a specialist, this will help avoid unpleasant consequences in the future.

The disease is often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms: nasal congestion, sore throat, headache. Many people do not know how to get rid of a bad runny nose on their own and turn to a doctor. If a severe runny nose needs to be cured as quickly as possible and there is no time to go to the hospital, you should use nasal drops and medicinal solutions. In this case, it is best to take vasoconstrictor medications. The following products are in great demand: Nazivin, Tizin, Noxprey, Naphthyzin. This type of medication can be addictive and should not be used for more than a week. Immunomodulators in combination with homeopathic remedies show high effectiveness for severe runny nose.
It is also worth paying attention to folk remedies, their action is based on vasoconstrictor and antiseptic properties. The following recipes are considered the most popular:

• boiled water and honey in equal proportions;
• tincture of calendula or chamomile;
• St. John's wort decoction;
• fresh juice from aloe leaves;
• beet broth.

What is the best way to treat a severe runny nose?

An integrated approach will help cure a severe runny nose, which involves not only getting rid of mucus, but also significantly helping the body recover.
As part of therapy, the following is carried out:

• creation of favorable climatic conditions;
• sufficient fluid intake, which ensures the removal of toxins and promotes the renewal of secretions;
• taking hormonal and antibacterial drugs (if there are complications).

Traditional recipes also show high effectiveness; before using them, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment of a severe runny nose with folk remedies

How to treat a severe runny nose in an adult with folk remedies? Using the following recipes will speed up the healing process:

1. 5 drops dilute iodine in 1/2 tbsp. water, drop into the nose 3 times a day (helps if a runny nose is not associated with infectious diseases).
2. Kalanchoe - 3 r. per day, lubricate the inside of the nasal sinuses with the juice of a plant leaf (instillation helps eliminate mucus).
3. Kombucha - heat the infusion to 37 degrees, insert tampons soaked in the solution into ammonia - inhale every 20 minutes. alternately with each nostril, pinching the opposite one.
4. 2 minced garlic cloves pour 1/2 tbsp. water, leave for an hour, strain through cheesecloth, add 1 tsp. olive oil, use as nasal drops 3 times a day. In some cases, you can simply eat a clove of garlic.
5. Place the grated horseradish in a glass container, close the lid tightly, leave for 15 minutes, then inhale air through your mouth, hold your breath for 3 seconds, exhale through your nose.

Pharmaceutical preparations for home use

Treatment of a severe runny nose in adults involves taking medications, especially if the causative agent is a bacterial infection (in this case, antibiotics should be taken). To determine the type of pathogen, the doctor takes a swab from the nasal sinuses. The sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to a specific set of antimicrobial agents must be taken into account. Taking antibiotics is considered advisable in the event of a pathogenic infection. It is advisable to use them when the disease transforms into a chronic form and inflammation spreads to the sinuses.

In addition to antibiotics, treatment for a very severe runny nose includes taking the following medications:

• antiviral agents - the action is aimed at destroying harmful microorganisms;
• homeopathic remedies - have a general strengthening effect, help increase the concentration of proteins in the circulatory system, as a result, immunity increases;
• anti-inflammatory drugs - suppress the effect of the inflammatory process;
• antihistamines - prescribed in rare cases, such as vasomotor rhinitis.

The doctor selects medications based on the diagnosis; the following medications are very popular:

• Sinupret is a drug of plant origin, prescribed for inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx and respiratory organs;
• Coldact Flu Plus - has a long duration of action, reduces fever, promotes vasoconstriction, has antihistamine properties, and fights cold symptoms;
• Rhinopront - due to its combined properties, it provides an antihistamine and vasoconstrictor effect, the drug helps in the treatment of hay fever, rhinitis, and has contraindications.

How to treat severe allergic runny nose and nasal congestion?

When treating a disease, it is very important to establish the cause of its occurrence; therapy should be aimed primarily at eliminating the cause of the disease. If this condition is not met, the likelihood of relapse is high. Allergies are the second most common cause of acute runny nose. It can be year-round (occur as a result of a reaction to dust, pet hair) or seasonal (appears when plants are flowering). Therapy for allergic rhinitis is not necessary; often it is enough to eliminate contact with the allergen.
In the acute form of the disease, the following drugs are prescribed:

1. Hormonal agents - glucocorticosteroids (Budesonide, Flucticasone, Mometasone) show the greatest effectiveness; they have anti-inflammatory properties;
2. Antihistamines - Loratadine, Suprastin are suitable for home use, it is recommended to take 1-2 tablets daily, the effect begins in 5-20 minutes.
3. Antiallergic - Vibrocil spray - combines antihistamine and vasoconstrictor properties, helps with sinus congestion.
4. Barrier agents - the therapeutic effect is to create a barrier with airborne allergens; this category includes sprays of mint and sesame oil, guar gum, and cellulose. Vibrolor provides protection to the mucous membranes of the nasal sinuses from cigarette smoke, dust and other inhaled allergens.

When treating severe allergic rhinitis, vasoconstrictor sprays should be abandoned; their use is allowed only as a last resort. The duration of action of the drugs is 5-6 hours, since the symptoms of rhinitis disappear immediately after the end of the allergy attack.

When you have a runny nose, inflammation of the nasal mucosa occurs. This condition is medically called rhinitis. The disease usually develops in cold, damp weather, that is, as a result of general or local hypothermia. A runny nose is often a symptom of infectious diseases such as influenza, diphtheria, measles, etc.

Rhinitis does not pose a great danger to humans, but it significantly worsens life. It can be allergic, vasomotor, bacterial. A person’s task is to cure a runny nose before it turns into something more serious. What recipes exist for a runny nose, what can you do to prevent it from becoming chronic? These and other questions will be discussed below.

If this is acute rhinitis, then most often it is accompanied by general malaise. A sore throat appears and the person sneezes frequently. After this, profuse nasal discharge appears. In this case, the nose is stuffy, it becomes difficult to breathe through this organ.

Reasons for the development of rhinitis

Since a runny nose is a consequence of some disorder, the causes of its occurrence are different.

Non-infectious causes:

1. Traumatic rhinitis - develops due to mechanical, thermal or chemical damage to the nasal cavity. Often this reason can arise among people working in hazardous enterprises.
2. Hypertrophic type - it develops due to prolonged exposure to irritating substances on the nasal mucosa. It could be dust, smoke, gas.
3. Allergic rhinitis - appears due to exposure to allergens. Anything can be an allergen: dust, plant pollen, animal fur, etc.
4. A runny nose that develops while taking medications—most often this is the long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops.
5. Atrophic runny nose - atrophic processes occur in the nasal mucosa, for example due to prolonged inhalation of dust.
6. Vasomotor rhinitis can develop due to stress, hormonal imbalances in the body, smoke inhalation, and even spicy foods.

Infectious causes

In this case, the nasal mucosa is affected by the action of various microorganisms, due to which colds, acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections develop. Having penetrated the nasal mucosa, bacteria and viruses begin to destroy its protective functions. In most cases, this occurs due to hypothermia of the body, especially if the feet are frozen.

An infectious runny nose can develop against the background of diseases such as otitis media, sinusitis, adenoiditis, etc. In this case, microbes penetrate the mucous membrane, and rhinitis develops against the background of weakened immunity. If a runny nose is not treated on time, it becomes chronic or leads to a number of complications.

Chronic rhinitis is characterized by its long and sluggish course. It develops against the background of an untreated runny nose or with its improper treatment. In addition to complications, the following diseases can develop: sinusitis, hypertension, cardiac asthma. Then you can say that you have a runny nose.

Principles of treatment

What can you do to quickly get rid of a runny nose? If there is no fever with rhinitis, it is recommended to carry out thermal procedures. These are warming compresses, steaming the legs, etc.

Learn to blow your nose correctly. So one nostril is closed, while the mouth is open. In another case, the contents of the nasal cavity may enter the middle ear or paranasal sinuses.

If you have dry crusts in your nose, soften them first. For this, any oil is used - sunflower, olive, corn, etc. After this, form a flagellum out of cotton wool and remove the softened crusts.

If you have a runny nose, drink as much fluid as possible. It should be warm. For example, milk with honey, tea with raspberries or lemon. Traditional medicine recommends preparing decoctions based on rose hips, chamomile, St. John's wort, and black currant leaves. If your body temperature rises above 38 ºС, it is recommended to take an antipyretic drug. For a viral runny nose, instill the drug Interferon into the nose.

Treatment of infectious rhinitis

A runny nose of this kind can be cured under the supervision of an otolaryngologist, who will prescribe the necessary medications. These can be antibacterial drops, astringent or cauterizing drugs. Physiotherapy is effective in this case, which may include the following procedures:

• inhalations with mucolytics;
• warming up;
• use of quartz tube;
• electrophoresis.

If the runny nose does not go away after these procedures, then more serious actions are taken. These include:

• cryodestruction;
• ultrasonic cleaning;
• laser photodestruction;
• lower submucosal conchotomy.

Hypertrophic rhinitis

In this case, surgical intervention is most often performed, which involves the following types of treatment:

• cryodestruction;
• disintegration by laser or ultrasound;
• removal of the inferior nasal concha or its displacement to the outer edge, this type is called conchotomy or lateralization.

Atrophic runny nose

Various preparations for instillation into the nose are suitable here, for example, oil drops based on rosehip, vitamins A and E. Olive oil with propolis is used. Doctors often recommend oil-alkaline inhalations.

Allergic runny nose

Vasoconstrictor drops are prescribed for a short period of use, combined with antihistamines. Subsequently, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment in relation to desensitization to the allergen. To cure an allergic type runny nose, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the allergen.

Vasomotor rhinitis

For vasomotor rhinitis to go away without consequences, an integrated approach is required. The following rules and measures are required:

• nutrition should be regular and rational;
• good restful sleep;
• acupuncture course;
• active lifestyle;
• moderate physical activity.

Drug therapy involves taking antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids. The nasal passages are irrigated with saline solution. Electrophoresis with calcium or zinc is applied to the nasal area. If all these measures prove futile, then surgery is performed.

For all types of runny nose, restorative treatment is carried out; it will help to quickly overcome the disease. This therapy consists of the following:

1. Your feet and head should be kept warm during treatment.
2. Vitamin C is important during this period. It can be contained in vitamin complexes, fruits, herbs and vegetables.
3. Drink rosehip decoction or take ginseng extract.

If, along with a runny nose, other symptoms of an infectious disease develop, immediately seek medical help.

Traditional medicine recipes for a runny nose

Traditional medicine has many recipes for facilitating nasal breathing and fighting a runny nose. But before using them, you should visit a doctor and make sure that existing rhinitis is not a symptom of a serious illness, and only then use the recommendations.

1. To cure a runny nose, warm the area of ​​the maxillary sinuses with a boiled egg. Keep it near your nose until it cools.
2. Inhale menthol oil or ammonia through each nostril alternately.
3. If a headache appears along with a runny nose, then lubricate the wings of the nose, the area behind the ears and temples with menthol oil.
4. Place aloe juice in your nose up to several times a day, 5-6 drops in each nostril.
5. Breathe incense smoke.
6. Glue mustard plasters to your heels or pour mustard powder into your socks.

Application of various means:

1. Kalanchoe. When a runny nose just develops, start lubricating the mucous membrane with the juice of this plant or drop 2-3 drops into each nostril. The runny nose should end quickly.
2. Kerosene. Before going to bed, moisten gauze with kerosene and apply it to your heels; you can cover it with film on top and put on socks. The next morning you will feel relief and the runny nose will disappear.
3. Beet. It should be fresh, not boiled; squeeze the juice from the plant and place 5-6 drops in each nostril. You can also add honey to beet juice.
4. Sea salt. Take 4 tsp for 1 glass of water. salt, 1 tsp. soda and 5 drops of iodine. This solution must be used to rinse the nasal passages, drawing in water first through one nostril and then through the other. This rinsing is done 2 times a day.

If this procedure is difficult for you, you can soak cotton swabs in a saline solution and insert them into each nostril for 10 minutes.

If at the initial stage a runny nose is treated and all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, then it will only bring you temporary inconvenience. It’s even better if you take preventive measures in advance that are not difficult to implement, then no colds or runny noses will linger in your body for long. Hardening procedures, an active lifestyle, physical activity, proper nutrition, and giving up bad habits are required.

If rhinitis is a common occurrence for you, then as a preventive measure, every morning for a certain time, draw the saline solution into both nostrils alternately so that the water gets into your mouth. Do not forget to maintain the proportions for preparing the solution. It’s easy to make at home; just dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of warm boiled water. salt.

Nasal congestion is a signal that it is time to urgently take action. Treating a runny nose at home quickly suppresses the main symptoms and restrains the further development of the disease. Timely cleansing of the mucous membrane and relieving inflammation prevents the infection from descending. If you take control of the situation in the first hours of illness, you can protect yourself from more unpleasant consequences.

Breathing through the nose is physiologically correct. The skull contains many sinuses through which natural ventilation of the internal cavities occurs. They open fully and work correctly only when we breathe through our nose.

When breathing through the mouth, not enough air enters the cavity, which causes a decrease in negative pressure in the skull. Venous outflow is disrupted. Swelling and headache appear. Excess fluid accumulates in the sinuses, which becomes a breeding ground for pathogens.

A runny nose leads to congestion, congestion to mouth breathing, and the latter, in turn, aggravates the situation and contributes to the further development of infection. This vicious chain can be broken through rapid response measures.

The key points in the fight against congestion should be:

• relieving inflammation;
• timely removal of mucus;
• reduction of microbial load.

To quickly overcome a runny nose, you need to use products that improve venous outflow, thin secretions, and have an antibacterial effect.

The most effective pharmaceutical products: list

The most effective pharmaceutical drugs are considered complex products, which include mucolytics, vasoconstrictors and antibacterial components. They work on all fronts at once: they thin out secretions, improve sinus drainage, reduce congestion and free the nose from infection.

The list of effective drugs is as follows:

• "Rinofluimucil";
• "Vibrocil";
• "Xymelin Extra";
• "Adrianol."

"Rinofluimucil" contains acetylcysteine, which thins mucus and nasal secretions. And thauminoheptane, which is part of the composition, has an anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect. The product is in the preferred aerosol form for treating a runny nose. Distributes evenly and provides quick results.

"Vibrocil" spray. Two substances, dimethindene and phenylephrine, suppress the activity of the ciliated epithelium, thin mucous secretions, help cleanse the sinuses, and reduce inflammation and pain. The drug has a vasoconstrictor effect. Available in the form of drops, nasal spray and gel.

This remedy acts not only against ordinary rhinitis, but also relieves congestion due to allergies. Not prescribed for patients with degeneration of the nasal mucosa, diabetes and thyroid diseases. Approved for use in children over 2 years of age.

"Xymelin Extra" contains two active ingredients: xylometazoline and ipratropium bromide. At the same time, it inhibits the activity of the ciliated epithelium, does not allow fluid to accumulate inside, dilutes the secretion, promotes its rapid removal, reduces pain and the severity of inflammation.

Nasal spray is contraindicated for children under 2 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, people with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, tachycardia, and glaucoma.

"Adrianol." Drops with phenylephrine and grimazoline reduce swelling and reduce the viscosity of secretions. They make breathing easier, quickly restore ventilation of the cranial cavities and internal negative pressure.

All vasoconstrictor drugs can be taken without a doctor’s prescription for no longer than 3 days.

Traditional medicine for a runny nose

The most effective measures to combat nasal congestion are washing. The liquid should forcefully flow into one nostril and calmly flow out of the other.

You can make a “device” for washing yourself. You need to take a teapot with a long spout. Pull a baby bottle nipple over the hole and insert it into the nostril.

For rinsing, prepare a solution: dilute a teaspoon of sea salt in a glass of boiled, not hot water. To enhance the effect, add a drop of iodine or a quarter teaspoon of soda.

The pacifier is inserted into the nostril. Tilt the kettle so that the liquid flows freely into the nose. The nostrils are washed alternately. The procedure is repeated morning and evening.

In the absence of such a device, you can use a regular syringe without a needle. There is no need to inject the solution heavily. It needs to be poured in slowly so that it also pours out unhindered.

Treatment of the outer part of the nasal openings is good for a runny nose. peach oil. The product simultaneously reduces inflammation and kills pathogenic bacteria. The passages are carefully lubricated with a cotton swab 3-4 times a day.

Traditional medicine values ​​honey for its immunostimulating and bacteriostatic properties. It suppresses the development of infection and enhances the local response. Honey thins the secretion and helps remove mucus. Both nostrils are treated with a cotton swab up to 4 times a day.

Onion and garlic known for their antibacterial properties. To prepare a remedy for a runny nose, you need to boil half a glass of vegetable oil. Mix it with the juice from half an onion and 3-4 cloves of garlic. The product is infused for 3 hours. Pass through gauze. Treat the nasal passages with a moistened cotton swab 3-4 times a day.

Treatment with traditional methods continues until complete recovery.

Inhalation treatment: fast and effective

Nebulizers are modern inhalers that help deliver medicine to the problem area. They crush the product into tiny particles, which, settling in the respiratory tract, envelop each villi of the mucous epithelium.

For inhalation, special pharmaceutical products are used (for example, based on acetylcysteine). The nebulizer sprays a substance that enters the passages through a special mask. Inhale freely through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Mucolytic components thin out secretions and help quickly eliminate swelling. Inhalation is the most effective method of combating respiratory diseases.

We treat in 1 day

To cure a runny nose in one day, you need to devote all your free time to it. If possible, stay at home, which will help avoid possible hypothermia and additional effects of infection.

To understand how to quickly cure a runny nose, you need to understand the basic principles. They consist of freeing the nose from accumulated secretions, stimulating the production of secretions to quickly remove the infection, using antibacterial drugs and reducing swelling. Procedures must be repeated every 2 hours.

First of all, the nose is rinsed with saline solution. This method removes stagnant mucus. Among other things, salt has an osmotic effect, which is why it can dilute secretions and effectively clear the sinuses.

After removing the mucus, drops based on essential oils of eucalyptus, fir, and tea tree are instilled into the nose. You can prepare them yourself: dissolve two drops of the product in half a glass of warm boiled water.

The passages are instilled with the resulting solution at the rate of 2-3 drops in each nostril. You can lubricate the outside of your nose with undiluted essential oil, near each passage, carefully, without affecting the mucous membrane.

To enhance the therapeutic effect, after rinsing the nose twice a day, it is recommended to do inhalations using a nebulizer and a medicine (for example, acetylcysteine ​​in the form of a solution).

If you don’t have a device at home, you can do steam inhalations using a decoction of medicinal herbs (calendula or chamomile). Place a sachet of dry product in a glass of water. Heat in a water bath for 10 minutes. Cool to a comfortable temperature.

Pour the liquid into a wide container. Lean over her. Wrap yourself in a blanket on top. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. And so on until the liquid cools down. You should know that inhalation of hot steam is contraindicated at elevated temperatures.

Help with illness during pregnancy

Some vasoconstrictors are contraindicated during pregnancy. Women in special conditions are sometimes wary of even officially approved drugs.

As immediate help, salt water rinses are suitable for them, as well as medicinal medications that are unable to be absorbed and enter the systemic bloodstream, for example, Rinofluimucil.

The use of herbal preparations such as Pinosol is possible only on the recommendation of a doctor. Natural products may contain oils from coniferous plants, some of which negatively affect fetal development.

Effective remedies for runny nose for children and infants

Most “adult” drugs are approved for use in children from 2 or 3 years of age. But what if the child has not reached this age?

The main goal in treating infants is to clear the nasal passages. Nasal congestion prevents the child from eating and sleeping normally. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to clear the airways of mucus.

For these purposes, use “Aquamaris” or “Quix” based on sea water. The products quickly dilute the secretions and help clear out mucus and dried secretions. Flushes out bacteria and reduces swelling.

Children over two years old can irrigate their nose with Vibrocil or Xymelin. The herbal “Pinosol” is suitable as a natural preparation.

Preventive actions

To prevent a runny nose during the period of rampant respiratory infections, you must first avoid hypothermia. In such situations, the immune system experiences severe stress, as a result of which it malfunctions.

If you often have to come into contact with sick people or visit crowded places, treat your nose with Fleming's ointment as a preventive measure before leaving home. This will help reduce the bacterial load on the mucous membrane.

Upon returning home, you should rinse your nose with salted or sea water. The measure will help wash away accumulated bacteria and prevent them from penetrating deep into the mucous membrane.

Remember that a runny nose is easier to prevent than to treat. But if a problem is on the doorstep, you need to immediately put all your efforts into fighting it.

Myth. Whether the body will be able to defeat viruses on its own, without drugs, depends on the immune system and many other factors. It’s better not to take risks and not to let things take their course: if you don’t treat a runny nose, it could easily turn into sinusitis, otitis media, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and it could even end in bronchitis or pneumonia.

2. You can catch a runny nose if you are cold or get your feet very wet.

Myth. With good immunity, neither hypothermia nor wet feet will in themselves lead to a runny nose. But if, due to these factors, the immune system weakens, it can easily become a target for viruses that attack it.

3. Rinsing your nose and gargling with saline solutions helps you avoid getting sick, and if you do get sick, you can recover faster

Is it true. This simple procedure helps to moisturize the nasopharyngeal mucosa, strengthening its local immunity, and cleanses it of mucus and germs. The main thing is not to be lazy and do this every day, at least in the morning and evening, and if you feel like you are getting sick, once every hour or two. If you start gargling and rinsing your nose at the first sign of a cold, you can quickly defeat the virus.

4. A runny nose can be chronic.

Is it true. A runny nose, or scientifically called rhinitis, is usually just a symptom. It all depends on the cause of the disease. And if, for example, we are talking about allergies, then this symptom can indeed accompany a long time, and in some cases (for example, with a deviated nasal septum or some endocrine diseases) you can suffer from a runny nose for the rest of your life. But if we are talking about a runny nose as a symptom of a cold (that is, ARVI), and it does not go away a week after the start of treatment, and the discharge has become yellow or gray, then microbes are actively multiplying in the sinuses, and this is not a chronic runny nose. Not far from sinusitis, sinusitis, etc. See a doctor urgently!

5. To get a runny nose, you need to be sneezed on.

Myth. If this is a symptom of ARVI, an acute respiratory viral infection, then you can become infected through airborne droplets or through direct contact with the carrier of the virus or even just his things.

6. Cold drops can be addictive

Is it true. It is no coincidence that when treating a runny nose, doctors advise using such remedies only in the first 2-3 days, during the acute stage, when the nose is stuffy, it’s running and it’s impossible to breathe. Vasoconstrictor drops, if used for a long time, disrupt the nutrition of the nasal mucosa and the tone of blood vessels, which become more fragile. The elasticity of their walls is noticeably reduced, and chronic atrophic rhinitis may eventually occur.

Evgenia Shakhova

Doctor of Medicine, Professor, doctor of the highest category, chief otorhinolaryngologist of the Health Committee of the Administration of the Volgograd Region

Acute rhinitis is most often of viral etiology. The first period of the disease lasts from several hours to a day and is characterized by a feeling of tension and dry nose. The second stage is characterized by copious nasal discharge and congestion. At this stage, vasoconstrictor drops are usually used to improve breathing. But it is important to remember that without a doctor’s prescription they can only be used for a few days.

7. If you have a runny nose, it’s better to avoid using a handkerchief.

Both truth and myth. If we are talking about a cloth handkerchief, then this is absolutely true: after the first use, it becomes a real breeding ground for germs. So disposable paper tissues are not only more convenient, but also more hygienic. If the skin becomes red or irritated due to their frequent use, use an emollient cream or ointment with panthenol.

8. If you drip onion or garlic juice into your nose, you will recover quickly

Myth. There is not a single serious scientific study confirming this. But in this way you can easily cause serious irritation of the already inflamed nasal mucosa or even a burn. It is much healthier to eat onions and garlic: phytoncides will help you recover faster.

9. If you warm your nose and feet, you will be able to get rid of a runny nose faster

Both truth and myth. In the acute stage of a runny nose, warming the nose really helps to “dry up the runny nose” - largely by improving the blood supply to the nasal mucosa and reducing swelling. But if microbes begin to actively multiply in the nasal sinuses, heat will accelerate their reproduction, and sinusitis or sinusitis may develop. That is why you can warm your nose only in the initial, acute stage of the disease. As for hot foot baths, they are really useful at any stage of a cold: there are many reflex points on the soles of the feet that are closely connected with the respiratory system and at the same time help the immune system to quickly cope with viruses.