How to Treat Nasal Congestion and Sinus Pressure

When you’re stuffed up, focus on keeping your nasal passages and sinusesmoist. Although people sometimes think that dry air might help clear up a runny nose, it actually has the opposite effect. Drying out the membranes will irritate them further.

To keep your nasal passages moist, you can:

• Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
• Take long showers or breathe in steam from a pot of warm (but not too hot) water.
• Drink lots of fluids. This will thin out your mucus, which could help prevent blocked sinuses.
• Use a nasal saline spray. It’s salt water, and it will help keep your nasal passages from drying out.
• Try a Neti pot, nasal irrigator, or bulb syringe.
• Place a warm, wet towel on your face.
• Prop yourself up. Keeping your head elevated may make breathing more comfortable.
• Avoid chlorinated pools. They can irritate your nasal passages.