Of course, it is smart to take a corona test first. If it is negative, you may have caught another virus. We ask doctor Rutger Verhoeff what best helps with a cold.
Viruses in autumn and winter
A stuffy nose can have various causes. In autumn, for example, it is not surprising that it prevails. “There are more than two hundred viruses that can cause a cold or blocked nose,” explains Dr. Rutger. “Moreover, we spend more time indoors and closer together in the fall and winter.”
Allergic reaction
You can also suffer from a stuffy nose due to an allergic reaction, such as hay fever, house dust mite allergy or an allergy to dog and/or cat hair. There are also non-allergic stimuli that can cause a stuffy nose. These are stimuli that can affect anyone. “The complaints are caused by the nasal mucosa reacting strongly to certain stimuli.” This causes the nasal mucosa to swell, often causing your nose to become blocked.
Polyps
If you have nasal polyps, you may also suffer from nasal congestion. Your nose can become blocked, especially when lying down. Sometimes this also causes complaints such as headaches, with a feeling of fullness in the head. “It is striking that with nasal polyps you actually mainly suffer from one side. The other nostril is then not blocked,” says Doctor Rutger.
When you wake up in the morning, the first thing you notice is a stuffy nose. Moreover, with a stuffy nose you often sleep with your mouth open, which can cause the complaints to spread to your throat. “It is not surprising that you have more trouble in the morning. Also, snot doesn’t sink down as easily when you lie down.”
It is not the case that you suffer more from a stuffy nose in the evening. “The only thing I can think of is that there is less distraction in the evening than during the day, which makes the complaints more noticeable.”
A cold or stuffy nose only causes complaints in the ENT area, i.e. your throat, nose and ears. If all goes well, it will go away on its own, but there are certainly tips and tricks to feel better:
1. Healthy living
We can’t say it often enough, but the healthier you live, the less you will suffer from a stuffy nose. This is especially true in autumn and winter, when many viruses are prevalent. “Make sure you get enough vitamin C,” the doctor advises. “For example, eat a pepper and an orange a day and you are already at the recommended daily amount.”
2. Steaming
Do you also suffer from a stuffy feeling due to a stuffy nose? Steaming helps clear your stuffy nose and sinuses. This often gives you the feeling of getting a little more air. This can simply be done with hot water. “You don’t necessarily need to add menthol, because it adds nothing,” says Dr. Rutger. Steam can help thin the mucus in your nose and reduce inflammation. Taking a warm shower can also reduce the symptoms of a stuffy nose.
This is how you steam:
Fill a bowl with hot water of a maximum temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. Hang your face above the bowl and place a tea towel over your head and the bowl. It is better not to use a towel, because it allows the steam droplets to pass through. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Keep this up for about 5 to 10 minutes, but stop sooner if it gets too hot.
3. Nasal spray
Nasal spray is also very effective against a blocked nose, says Doctor Rutger. “You have two variants: nasal spray with saline solution and that with xylometozoline. You really shouldn’t use the latter for more than seven days.”
4. Tablets for allergies
Is the stuffy nose not due to a virus, but do you suffer from hay fever, animal hair or dust mites? Then you can visit your doctor for special tablets. You can take this preventatively, so that you know in advance that you will not experience any problems. Are you late? Even then the pills can still be effective.
Do you suddenly suffer from a stuffy nose in the fall or winter? Then there is a good chance that it is a virus. “If you suffer from this for more than fourteen days, you can sound the alarm,” advises Dr. Rutger. This also applies to the periods when many people suffer from hay fever.
Do you recognize the non-allergic stimuli and do you suffer from them for more than two to three weeks? Then visit your GP or ENT doctor. They help determine the cause and/or come up with a solution. Even if you chronically suffer from a stuffy nose, it is advisable to make an appointment.
“That taking antibiotics helps against a stuffy nose is one of the biggest misconceptions,” says the GP. Moreover, it is often said that you have to blow your nose well to get all the viruses out of your body, but that is also not true. “Whether you blow your nose or turn your nose: it doesn’t matter. Don’t blow your nose too hard, because then snot can sometimes end up in the wrong place, namely in your sinuses.”
Do you often catch a cold? That could be due to a bad night’s sleep. Sleep coach Mark Schadenberg explains this in the video below:
Bron: Prevention Magazine
30 september 2023
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2023-09-30 23:30:01
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