What Works
What Works for Me
I have been battling with nasal/sinus problems for decades. There are three basic things I need to be healthy and happy. Eat right, get enough sleep, and take care of my nasal passages/sinuses. If I take care of these, it is easy to handle everything else in life.
It has taken me a good bit of trial and error (some of it painful) to figure out the best treatments that work for me. Below I have put together the what I am currently using to good effect.
As a disclaimer, you should seek a doctors advice for any diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice.
Sinus Rinse
These days, this is my number one go to. The first thing most people say when I mention this product is, "I could never do that!". I had trouble at first as well, but hear my out on this. It is a weird thing to say; however this product has changed my life. I am much healthier than I was because of this gift from the gods. I have much less pain and I get colds less frequently and less severely. Colds use to be a big bad thing for me and would regularly knock me out for a week, even if I was taking Sudafed to control the symptoms.
The product I use is the Sinus Rinse from NeilMed. It is a squeeze bottle designed for gently squirting saline water up one nostril. The saline then flows/drains out the other nostril. Some people say gross, I say awesome!
I have recommended this product to a number of friends with similar problems and now they are believers as well. When you get desperate enough from the pain and suffering you will try almost anything. I am glad I finally surrendered.
The other great thing about this product is no drugs and the associated side effects.
There are four main circumstances when I use this:
Allergies: When allergy season kicks in or I have been around animals I get a stuffy head and runny nose. Depending on how severe the allergies are I may need to use this once or twice a day.
Colds: While I still get colds, they don't last long and they are barely noticeable anymore. This is a big difference from missing work for up to a week several times a year before I starting using this. For a cold I may need to use this once or twice a day.
Dirt/Dust/Chemicals: Since my nose is so sensitive, whenever I am in an area that has stuff in it like dust, dirt or chemicals, I will rinse right afterwards. Otherwise it will end up causing irritation and/or pain. So, if I am cleaning out a dusty area, spray painting, or at the gun range, I will rinse as soon as possible when I am done.
Winter/dry conditions: When winter comes around and the heaters kick in the air gets real dry real quick. If I am not careful my nasal passages will dry out and get bloody. I also get headaches and a good bit a pain that can lay me low. Life is pretty miserable in the winter if I am not careful. There are other products that I mainly use in the winter to manage this, however I will occasionally use the Sinus Rinse as well. I need to be careful though, if I use it too much it will rinse away the little mucus I have keeping my nasal passages moist.
There are many ways this product is packaged. One of them that works for me: Sinus Rinse
Large Humidifier
While the Sinus Rinse is my all time favorite, a large humidifier is my number one for winter. Winter brings the pain. When it gets cold enough that the heat is kicking on all of the day, the air in my home will get very dry. Drier than a desert, literally. My nose cannot take it. The dryness wreaks havoc on me with pain, headaches, and bloody nasal passages.
This is when the humidifier comes out (actually I make a preemptive strike and take it out before it gets too dry) . I have a large humidifier that can cover ~1,900 square feet and run for 24 hours. It can handle a large space and takes care of most of the house.
The big downsides that it needs to be cleaned every few weeks and has a wick/filter that I usually replace at the same time. The small inconvenience is well worth the relief.
This is similar to the model I purchased a few years ago: humidifier
Hygrometer / Humidity Meter
This one is a tool as opposed something to address my symptoms. Depending on the temperature, the air can hold varying amounts of moisture. A hygrometer measures this as the relative humidity in the air. When you are sensitive to dry air, this is a great tool to have. Sometimes it may take being exposed to the dry air for a few hours for the demonic effects to kick in. However, once the damage is done, it can be days for me to recover. This is my canary in the coal mine and lets me take action before the pain kicks in and the damage starts.
Anything above 30% relative humidity and I am usually OK. Above 40% and I may break out ... break out in song and dance that is (no joke). Above 50% and you need to start worrying about mold and mildew.
I have one of these for home and one for work: hygrometer
Steam Inhaler
When I use this one, I call it getting "my treatment". This is my plan Z when all else fails (humidifier, Nasal Rinse, sinus sprays). This is either when I leave the house and I am out of my controlled environment or when it gets so cold out and the heat runs so frequently that the air in the house gets too dry even with the humidifier.
This device is like a steamer with a mask you put right over your nose and mouth. It runs for about 10-15 minutes. I usually read or watch Youtube while I am doing this (I'm not setup to do it in front of the TV). Unlike the Sinus Rinse this will not rinse away the mucus and it seems to thoughoughly get the moisture deep up inside. ooh yeah.
This is the one I have: Steam Inhaler
