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Just in time for the stuffy nose of fall and winter, an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided that common ingredients in oral cold and allergy medicines are not effective.
Now what should we do?
“There are a lot of options,” says Dr. David C. Brodner, an otolaryngologist in Boynton Beach, Florida. “If you would like to try home or pharmacy remedies on your own before seeing a doctor, you still have options.”
Phenylephrine is the main ingredient used in many common over-the-counter congestion products. Although safe to use, the FDA’s independent advisory panel agreed Tuesday that it is not effective in pill form. Other dosage forms, such as nasal sprays, are still thought to be effective.
The administration said phenylephrine in pill form will remain available for purchase while the FDA solicits public comment and makes a final decision on whether companies should discontinue or reformulate the drug.
Brodner recommends seeing your doctor if your cold or viral upper respiratory infection doesn’t get better after seven to 10 days, or if it gets worse.
But in the meantime, there are things you can do at home to alleviate symptoms, he says.
Even if you don’t have phenylephrine, there are many things at the pharmacy that can help if you feel stuffy, Brodner said.
He recommends a three-step plan to relieve feelings of blockage.
First, he recommends trying products like Mucinex or products containing guaifenesin, which can help thin the mucus that builds up in your sinuses.
Brodner said he would then try a nasal spray containing a steroid, such as Flonase or Nasacort.
Finally, he said he tells patients to get a saline irrigation device, like a neti pot, to clean their sinuses.
If you suffer from chronic sinus pressure or headaches, you may have found a friend in the neti pot.
Neti pots and other saline nasal irrigation devices are described as removing mucus and inflammatory products from the nose by pumping saline-containing water into the sinuses. Dr. Richard J. HarveyProfessor of Rhinology at Macquarie University.
However, there are some caveats. Tap water may be safe to drink and cook with, but Not sterile enough for neti pots “It’s important to use it,” said Shanna Miko, an epidemic intelligence officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC recommends that people using home medical devices such as CPAP machines, humidifiers, and neti pots use only water that is free of microorganisms, such as distilled or sterile water that can be purchased over the counter. You can also use water that has been boiled and cooled.
Brodner recommends that patients wash twice a day while they are feeling unwell.
Warm compresses, hot showers, hydration
Brodner says the nose likes to stay hydrated and warm.
Hot showers, warm compresses, and plenty of fluids can help keep your nose in the conditions it needs to stay healthy.
Applying a warm compress to your head and face may be helpful as it provides a calming effect. However, steam from a hot shower or a warm compress placed on your nose can also help keep you warm.
“Warming and moistening your nose will only help the mucus flow from your nose and sinuses,” he added.
The general advice when you’re sick is to make sure you stay hydrated because drinking water helps keep the lining of your nose and sinuses moist, Brodner said.
“Dry sinuses are very difficult to drain,” he added.
Believe it or not, “spicy foods can actually help” during crowds, Brodner says.
The burning sensation caused by spicy foods is caused by a chemical called capsaicin.
“You know, when you eat spicy food, your nose runs,” he said.
That mucus will help drain mucus from your sinuses, Dr. Brodner says, and hopefully flush out whatever’s irritating your sinuses.
It’s important to get some sleep when you’re in a rush, but sometimes it can be difficult to get some sleep.
“If you’re not getting enough sleep (we’ll call it adequate sleep, seven hours or more), your body’s ability to fight infections is diminished,” Brodner says.
The problem is that breathing through your nose instead of your mouth heats your nose and moistens the incoming air, which helps you sleep better.
If you have to breathe through your mouth at night, Brodner added, using a humidifier in your room while you sleep can help keep the air warm and moist.
He says sleeping with your head elevated may also help, as it uses gravity to help drain fluids. But it’s only beneficial if you can sleep comfortably that way.
A big bowl of chicken soup might be worth a try, According to a 2018 study.
A study shows that chicken soup may have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce cold symptoms, but the results have not been shown in humans, according to study author Dr. Stephen Leonard, Larson Professor of Medicine at New York University. It was discovered in a laboratory instead.Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha A story from 2018.
According to , spices and steam can help clear your sinuses. Another study in 2018.
And you can’t discount the tender loving care that comes with having someone make it for you, Leonard said.
“My wife (who prepared the soup for the study) insists that if someone takes care of you when you’re unwell, that tender loving care is not a placebo effect,” he said. Ta. “There’s clearly a beneficial effect. So if someone sat there and made you some chicken soup, you might feel better…but whether that has anything to do with what’s in the chicken soup or not is irrelevant.” Maybe not.”
