Why It Matters to Know the Difference Allergies and colds share many symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, congestion, and fatigue — but they have completely different causes and require different treatments. Treating allergies with cold medicine wastes money and misses the real problem. Treating a cold with allergy medication may partially help symptoms but will…
What Is a Nasal Decongestant? A nasal decongestant is a medication that shrinks swollen blood vessels and tissues in the nasal passages, opening the airway and making it easier to breathe. When you have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection, the turbinates inside your nose become engorged with blood, narrowing the nasal passage. Decongestants…
Understanding Nasal Congestion Nasal congestion occurs when the blood vessels and tissues inside the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed, restricting airflow. While most people assume congestion means too much mucus, the primary culprit is vascular engorgement of the turbinates — spongy structures along the inner nasal walls that regulate airflow and humidity. Effective treatment…
To get rid of a stuffy nose fast, inhale steam for 10–15 minutes, flush your nasal passages with a saline rinse, and apply a warm compress across your face. For immediate drug-free relief, press the acupressure points beside your nostrils for 30 seconds — most people feel improved airflow within 1–2 minutes. These remedies target…
Why Does Your Nose Run? A runny nose, or rhinorrhea, occurs when the nasal membranes produce excess mucus in response to irritants, infections, allergens, temperature changes, or even strong emotions. Your body produces roughly one to two liters of mucus daily under normal conditions. When something triggers an increase, the excess has to go somewhere…
To treat a sinus infection at home, flush your sinuses with a saline nasal rinse 2–3 times daily, inhale steam for 10–15 minutes, apply warm compresses to your face, and stay well hydrated with warm fluids. Up to 98% of acute sinus infections are viral and resolve without antibiotics within 7–10 days, according to the…
The Short Answer It depends on the cause. Viral sinus infections, which account for the vast majority of cases, are contagious because the underlying virus can spread from person to person. However, the sinus infection itself does not transmit directly — what spreads is the cold or flu virus that triggered it. Bacterial and fungal…
When a sinus infection strikes, the first question most people ask is: what medicine should I take? The answer depends on whether your infection is viral or bacterial, how long it has lasted, and how severe your symptoms are. Reaching for the wrong treatment can delay recovery, waste money, and — in the case of…
To relieve sinus pressure fast, apply a warm compress across your nose and cheeks for 5 minutes, then perform nasal irrigation with a saline rinse to flush trapped mucus. For the quickest relief, press the acupressure points beside your nostrils (LI20) and between your eyebrows (Yintang) for 30 seconds each — most people feel reduced…
