Rhinitis is not only a very unpleasant disease, but also dangerous. For some reason, many people ignore this fact, do not take measures to cure it, believing that it will pass by itself, or use special sprays without trying to figure out the cause. As a result - a chronic runny nose, constant nasal congestion, sprays cease to help, breathing is disturbed, microbes and bacteria "go" further: throat, bronchi, lungs. Atrophy of tissues (not only nasal, but also brain) can also develop. In order not to reach the point of no return, a runny nose must be treated from the first minutes of its appearance. Warming up the nose is the most effective method in the fight against rhinitis and its consequences. But first you need to understand the causes of the disease.
Causes of a runny nose
Rhinitis can appear both as a result of exposure to the mucous membrane of cold air, and with viral or allergic diseases. Most often, a runny nose occurs in children. The symptom is not dangerous in itself, butthose complications that appear with a long absence of suitable treatment.
The nasal mucosa performs protective functions against viruses, fungi and bacteria entering the respiratory tract, which trap small villi on its surface. A runny nose is an inflammatory process that occurs when foreign bodies, dust, an allergen, drugs, or the result of a congenital pathology of tissues and cartilage enter the nose. May appear due to polyps growing in the nose, adenoids, due to Kartagener's syndrome.
If you do not go to the ENT and do not understand the cause of a runny nose, do not treat it at all or treat it with inappropriate medications, a complication will quickly develop. The inflammation spreads to the throat and beyond. Only a doctor can choose the right complex of drugs, avoiding complications.
If a runny nose is formed due to contact with an allergen, this is accompanied by frequent sneezing and watery eyes, the eyes and nose itch, the nasal mucosa swells, and congestion occurs, but at the same time there are abundant and watery discharge from the nose. In this case, it makes no sense to warm it - you need to exclude contact with the allergen.
In case of violations of blood vessels, when they stop responding to the external environment and there are diseases of the vessels or the central nervous system, you also do not need to warm up the nose - you will have to treat the vessels.
But rhinitis that has arisen due to a viral infection or due to hypothermia of the body needs treatment by warming up, but not on the first day of viral infection, but on the third. The procedure will reducesecreted mucus and speed up the healing process.
When affected by fungi or bacteria, with an atrophic form of the common cold, it is strictly forbidden to warm the nose. In the latter case, ultraviolet heating is sometimes used, but only as directed by a doctor and based on the diagnosis of the disease.
Heating the nose for rhinitis
After we figured out the causes of a runny nose, we can already consider warming up. You can warm in different ways: with a device for warming the nose, folk methods, using jointly washing from inflammation products, medications and light massage. Such a set of measures will contribute to a speedy recovery.
Each doctor, prescribing medicines for a cold, recommends staying at home for the period of treatment, avoiding meetings and long walks in order to avoid complications that may appear due to ordinary rhinitis: otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
Before warming up, be sure to clear your nose. This can be done by rinsing the nose with ready-made solutions sold in every pharmacy, or by preparing a slightly s alty homemade solution (half a teaspoon of sea s alt is mixed in a glass of water). After removing the mucus, you can do a light massage in the nose and under the eyes, along the cheekbones, towards the nose and ears. You can also walk around the area between the eyebrows. Massage helps reduce swelling in the nose and facilitates the release of mucus.
In addition, high humidity should be maintained in the room, for which it is bettersplurge on a simple moisturizer. But while it is not there, the same effect can be obtained if hot water is turned on in the bathroom and the warm steam is released from there into the room. This will also help to get rid of congestion and blow out all the mucus in which microbes and bacteria actively multiply.
Steam can also warm up the nose. But a one-time procedure will not give such an effect as repeating it 3-5 times a day. Then a positive result will be noticeable and relief will come immediately.
Is this useful?
Useful for the nose and wet and dry heating: during the procedures in the sinuses, the vessels expand, blood circulation accelerates and thereby the swelling is removed, the mucus comes out better, the person begins to breathe fully. Regularity is important here. Warming up helps:
- cleansing and restoring the nasal mucosa;
- decrease swelling;
- normalize breathing;
- increasing the body's resistance to harmful external influences.
In addition, the thermal effect, directed not only to the nose, but also to the entire face, has a beneficial effect on the nervous and vascular systems.
It is important to follow a set of measures, since the use of only warming up or just one spray will not get rid of the common cold and infections.
When to start heating?
Warming up is ideally carried out at the very beginning of the disease, that is, in the first days of the onset of a runny nose. The procedure is also suitable at the stage of recovery to facilitate breathing, to thin and relieveexcretion of mucus or pus. If the patient is taking antibiotics, warming up can be carried out only on the 5th day of taking the drugs.
In case of a runny nose, warming is prescribed if the following indications are present:
- watery clear discharge coming out of nose;
- body temperature does not exceed 38.5°C;
- there are no adenoids and polyps in the nasal passage;
- no allergic reaction.
If the runny nose is already protracted, but caused by viruses, cold, etc., warming up should also be done. Chronic rhinitis can be cured - it's not for life.
When it comes to children, especially babies, consultation with a pediatrician is a must.
Who can't warm their nose and why
It is impossible to warm up the nose if the mucus is green, the discharge is purulent and thick. In this case, medicines are the first to “go into battle” according to the indications of the attending physician. It is also necessary to exclude the occurrence of complications in the form of sinusitis. If you start to warm the nose when there is a lot of pus in it, this pus goes up to the frontal sinuses, and it will end badly - hospitalization and puncture of the sinuses so that the pus does not enter the eyes, ears or brain.
Adenoids, polyps, or a deviated septum can cause a chronic runny nose, and there is no increase in body temperature. Therefore, taking a picture of the sinuses will be useful.
A person suffering from rhinitis should not warm their nose if these signs are present:
- high body temperature;
- purulent nasal discharge;
- runny nose has become chronic;
- there is swelling around the eyes;
- otitis media affecting the middle ear area;
- there are purulent inflammations in the oral cavity (tonsillitis);
- adenoids or polyps;
- hypertension;
- problems with blood vessels in the brain area.
Half of these signs a person is not able to determine on their own or relatives, therefore, the treatment of a runny nose by warming up should be discussed with a specialist.
Apparatus "Fairy"
There are a lot of devices for heating the nasal sinuses, all of them act in their own way, which often confuses all buyers. Which one to choose is unclear. But it's easy to figure it out. For example, the device "Fairy" is designed to warm the tissue in a particular area, great for warming up the nose and throat. The rays directed at the affected area contribute to the expansion of blood vessels, the restoration of damaged tissues, the elimination of edema and nasal congestion.
It can not be used for cancer, tuberculosis, high body temperature, nosebleeds, purulent formations.
Use the treatment with this device only with the permission of a doctor, as self-use may lead to side effects.
First, the device is prepared for the procedure - it is disinfected, while it cannot be washed and soaked in liquid.
The procedure itself: heating elements of the apparatus are installed around the nose on the skin, the desired time mode is selected depending on the disease - from 5 to 25 minutes, several times a day. mode needtalk to a specialist.
Does the Miracle Steam inhaler help with a cold
Such a device for warming up the nose as the Chudopar steam inhaler effectively copes with inflammation, swelling and even pain. The beneficial effect of the device on all forms of the common cold caused by infections has been scientifically proven.
Medications (to which there is no allergy), which enter the nose in the form of vapors, act on the affected tissues, while warming them up.
The inhaler is used no more than 3 times a day, and the duration of the session is no more than 3 minutes for children and no more than 10 for adults. Prohibited for use in nosebleeds and in the presence of high temperature, otherwise the patient's condition will worsen.
The device can warm up not only the nose, but also the throat, respiratory tract. For inhalation, solutions prescribed by a doctor are used.
Heating with electricity - apparatus "Darsonval"
There is nothing wrong with the Darsonval apparatus, yes, it affects inflammation with a weak electric current, but a person does not experience any pain or discomfort. This device is used not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. With its help, the protective functions of the body are activated.
Electric discharge helps relieve swelling, increase the flow of oxygen to cells, restore metabolic processes, favoring the regeneration of affected tissues.
The Darsonval apparatus is used as a standard treatment for no more than 10 days, eachthe daily procedure lasts from 3 to 10 minutes by applying separately to each nostril.
But it is forbidden to use during pregnancy, people suffering from epilepsy, oncology and heart disease. With purulent inflammation, treatment with the device is also ineffective.
How to warm the nose with a Minin reflector
The popular name of the Minin reflector is a blue quartz lamp for warming up the nose. This device differs from many types of heating in that there is no skin contact with the heat source, i.e. the lamp is installed at a distance of 25-60 cm from the face and heats with rays, which allows you to prevent burns, as happens when heating with folk methods.
During the procedure, you need to close your eyes, the session lasts 15 minutes, the frequency is no more than 2 procedures per day. You can use it even in a dream, which attracts many parents, because often small children refuse such procedures and are very capricious. But the device is also very effective for adults.
To determine the distance correctly, you first need to hold your hand under infrared rays and determine when the heat is pleasant, and when it is too hot. If you install the lamp further than 60 cm, it will not have the desired effect, as it is too far away, but you cannot hold it closer than 20 cm to your face.
Kids are warmed for no more than 5 minutes, older children can be longer. Physiotherapy is carried out 1-2 times a day. After 4-5 such sessions, the runny nose ceases to cause inconvenience, the patient's condition improves significantly:
- nasal breathing returns to normal;
- bacteria, fungi and viruses are eliminated from the nasalcavity;
- vessels are strengthened;
- improves mucosal function;
- damaged tissues and cells are restored;
- pain disappears.
The apparatus for warming the nose and throat Minin reflector can be used even for infants. But there are also contraindications:
- high temperature;
- presence of purulent inflammation in the heated area;
- chronic rhinitis;
- tuberculosis;
- pregnancy;
- malignant tumors.
This method of dealing with a runny nose and other inflamed areas may be the oldest method, but its effectiveness and safety have been tested by millions of people.
The Sun apparatus has the same characteristics, which warms with ultraviolet radiation, but here the rays are directed exclusively into the nasal passages.
How to treat a runny nose with medicines
Treatment of the common cold with steam inhalers or nebulizers is very effective in healing. A home nasal warmer is inexpensive and will help fight various infectious diseases throughout your life.
For treatment, medical solutions are used, which are sold in every pharmacy, but the use of drugs must be discussed with the attending physician. With the help of a nebulizer, the medicine enters the remote corners of the nasal passages, which cannot be achieved by heating over a basin of boiling water, especially with this procedure, the mucous membranewill not get burned or damaged thereby even more, as happens when using folk methods.
After the procedure, the patient should not go outside and get cold, so it is better to do inhalations at night. Ideally, bed rest should be maintained until recovery.
Special warming patches are also effective - they can be stuck on the bridge of the nose in the evening and peeled off in the morning: it is convenient to warm up the nose at home.
But pepper, for example, stick only for 30 minutes. But first you need to check if there is an allergy to the warming components of such a patch. It is better to stick the patch first on the back of the hand and after 15 minutes check for redness on the skin. In any case, you need to read the instructions for each drug.
Also in pharmacies you can find special heating pads for heating the nose with s alt and not only it. The heating pad contains a liquid solution of sodium chloride, and there is an applicator on it, which must be broken before use, so that the liquid begins to turn into crystals. During this process, you need to warm your nose for 15 minutes, repeating the procedure no more than 2 times a day. Until the next use, the heating pad is placed in warm water so that the crystals acquire their original state. Or you can find a special coal to warm up the nose.
You can buy alcohol tincture of eucalyptus. For inhalation, you only need a few drops added to a half-liter jar of hot water. The tincture is effective against microbes. Approved for use by children from 3 years old.
Samethe result is the use of essential oils of eucalyptus, fir, pine, sea buckthorn and tea tree. Only 1-3 drops of one of them are needed per liter of hot water. But ready-made solutions with essential oils are also sold.
Next, folk methods of treating the common cold by heating will be considered.
Folk methods of warming up for rhinitis
The oldest folk way to warm up the nose with rhinitis is the most commonly used old folk way - with an egg. It is effective only when the procedure is carried out correctly. The method is suitable for those people who are contraindicated in a lamp for warming the nose and throat or medications. This method can be used even for pregnant women and children.
This method is great for nasal congestion and swelling in the sinuses, if all the rules are followed:
- hard boiled egg;
- it has cooled down, but is still warm enough (ideally, the temperature of the egg is about 55 degrees);
- egg wrapped in a thin towel;
- applied to the top of the nose for no more than 15 minutes;
- the patient after the procedure is in a warm room without drafts for at least 2 hours;
But this procedure is effective only for viral rhinitis. In other cases, it should not be used, especially with a trauma to the nose and purulent discharge.
Also performed well:
- Iodine grid is the easiest way. Superimposed on the wings of the nose and bridge of the nose. From above, cover the drawn mesh with several layers of bandage, cotton wool or gauze, plus cover it on topall this with a piece of a plastic bag. In this case, the patient needs to lie down for at least half an hour. You can repeat the procedure after 12 hours.
- Compresses can be prepared from radish juice, to which a little warmed sunflower oil is added. Cotton wool or bandage is wetted in this solution and applied to the nose, polyethylene is on top. The patient is also advised to lie down for half an hour.
- Inhalations with hot steam, potatoes or herbal infusions - steam penetrates directly into the nose, normalizing breathing, removing puffiness, improving blood circulation, quickly removing mucus from the infection from the nose. Suitable for those who are contraindicated in the medical method. It is better to carry out inhalations 2 hours after a meal. It is necessary to ensure that the water does not exceed 70 degrees, and inhale the steam very carefully so that this does not lead to a burn of the mucous membrane. You can simply breathe over freshly boiled potatoes or add a pinch of s alt and soda to the water. During the procedure, you need to take 10 breaths through the nose, while exhaling through the mouth. For herbal infusion, you will need dried sage, chamomile, calendula, yarrow, raspberry leaves - each herb, a teaspoon per liter of boiling water, leave for an hour, and warm the mixture before use, without boiling.
- Juice or pomace of onion, garlic or Kalanchoe, which have antiviral and antimicrobial effects - a liter of hot water needs a few drops of the juice of one of these medicinal plants. The main thing here is not to overdo it - too much can cause irritation of the mucous membrane.
Regular use of one ofmethods will greatly alleviate the symptoms and will have a positive effect on the sick organism for a long time, accelerating the recovery process, unless the method is agreed with the doctor and there are no purulent discharges and other contraindications.
Additional recommendations
For the most effective effect of nasal warming procedures, doctors advise following these recommendations:
- warm your nose in the evening or before going to bed;
- strengthen immunity by taking vitamins and using echinacea or ginseng tinctures;
- create a favorable microclimate in the room, humidified, without drafts;
- treat the nasal passages with oxolin ointment after warming up;
- use in combination with medicines (if prescribed by a doctor), massage and warming the feet with mustard powder.
After the procedures, doctors also recommend wearing warm clothes and socks, drinking warm tea with honey and spending time alone, on the bed, or at least just at home, not doing household chores.
Warming up the nose during a viral runny nose has a beneficial effect on the patient's well-being, facilitates breathing through the nose, and restores the nasal mucosa. But you should also remember about contraindications.
