Need Nasal Congestion Relief? Try Otrivin
Sinuses are wonderful things, and they’re not to be messed with. Unfortunately, there’s all sorts of stuff that’s got other ideas like pollen or pet dander and it’s hard to keep that stuff out of your nose in certain situations or at certain times of the year. Nasal congestion isn’t nice at any time, but when your nose is stuffed beyond all belief, and you can’t blow your way out of the predicament then it’s time to get medicated nasal congestion relief. Otrivin nasal spray has been clearing out blocked noses for a long time now, and it’s an excellent OTC nasal spray for anyone who needs it.
We didn’t even mention the flu or common cold in all of that, and those are two other reasons why you may find yourself mouth breathing out of necessity. It’s fine if you don’t have any other choice, and nobody has the option of not breathing for anything longer than 30 seconds or so. Unless you’re one of those amazing free divers who can be underwater for crazy long periods of time holding their breath.
We’ll go ahead and assume that’s not you, but one thing that is good to know is that it is better to breathe through your nose than your mouth. If you’re a snorer your wife may have already been telling you this for years, but it’s actually true for more universal reasons. We’ll skip the biology lesson, but the basics of it are that breathing through your nose is more natural and it more effectively allows your body to use the inhaled oxygen more effectively.
So let those nostrils do their thing, and for some people that’s going to mean finding effective nasal congestion relief from time to time. We’ll look at all of this, and then share the best way to unclog a nose when a nasal spray just isn’t getting the job done.
Rhino What?
Mention the word rhinitis and a lot of people start thinking you’re talking about something related to heavy African animals with huge horns on the ends of their snouts. Sure, the first four letters may be the same but rhinitis is something entirely different. This is when the lining of your sinuses become inflamed and that’s what starts the process where eventually you’re sneezing like crazy and / or so stuffed up you couldn’t breathe through your nose if your life depended on it. People who are prone to rhinitis may be that way because of allergies, or it could be an environmental trigger they can’t afford.
Either way, these are the people who will have Otrivin nasal spray in their cabinet and tagging along with them on vacation. Especially if you’ve got hay fever and it’s the middle of June. It doesn’t unclog your sinuses immediately, but for most people it does start to take effect within 5 or 10 minutes. And the relief is glorious apparently! Otrivin works by narrowing the blood vessels in the nasal passageway, preventing swelling and congestion from being as severe. Beconase is another good choice and it works the same way.
So go ahead and take advantage of this quality nasal congestion relief option but be very aware of one thing – it is possible to overuse these nasal decongestant products to the point that it starts to do harm. Decongestant overuse can lead to rhinitis medicamentosa and in worst case scenarios people develop chronic sinusitis.
The safe move is to only use a nasal decongestant as indicated with the product instructions. Do not exceed the dosage. If the product is not working for you see your doctor to discuss other stuffy nose solutions. Or consider something else, which leads us to our next section here.
Go Neti
Preparing a Neti Pot is a whole lot more involved than squeezing an Otrivin nasal spray bottle once for each nostril, but sometimes these steam soakers are just what’s needed to clear a congested nose. That’s the term we’re choosing to use for nasal irrigation, which is what the Neti Pot does. It’s a different approach to nasal congestion relief, and many people will do this if their clogged nose is so bad that Otrivin nasal spray is only providing partial relief.
Nasal congestion and allergy season go hand in hand for people with pollen allergies, and Otrivin nasal spray or a nasal irrigation can be helpful for people who’s nose is a mess because of allergic rhinitis too. You can buy entire Neti Pot kits, but it’s also possible to make your own Neti Pot saline solution for nasal congestion relief.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
