Healthy Nose
Most nose problems happen in cold weather when the air you breathe is dry indoor air. Symptoms can be a nosebleed, dry nasal passages and sinuses, coughing and nasal congestion.
Many treatments, including the use of chicken soup as a congestion cure, have developed over centuries. The neti pot is a small ceramic pot that is used to rinse the nasal cavities with saline (salt) solution. It has also been used for centuries, and many, including Ophra, swear that it keeps the nasal passages clean and irrigated, preventing and relieving sinus symptoms. An additional treatment option is the use of nasal sprays to keep your nasal passages open, but you should be careful to use the proper spray. Many over the counter sprays can make your nose dependent on them and make your condition actually worse.
If youre bothered by a constantly congested nose, you may want to see an otolaryngologist (oh-toe-lar-in-GAH-luh-jist), a doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat.
Recently Answered
- Q Is there anything I can do as a WisePatient to prevent sinus complications?
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Pay attention to your sinus symptoms and take preventive steps like doing an saline wash, says Satish Govindaraj, MD, director of endoscopic skull base surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. Watch as he offers other suggestions to prevent... Full Answer
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- Q What is a neti pot?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyA nose bidet, or neti pot, can help clear mucus from your sinuses using warm saltwater, relieving cold and allergy symptoms. It's filling up those little nooks and crannies that you have and allowing your body to evacuate that stuff so you can actually... Full Answer
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- Q What are the risks of nose-picking and nose hair-plucking?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyPicking your nose and plucking hairs out of it can put you at risk for serious infection. Watch the video to learn more. Full Answer
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- Q Why does my nose run in cold weather?
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff, Internal MedicineThe inside surfaces of the nose are covered with blood-filled mucous membranes that warm and humidify the air as it passes by on its way to the lungs. When cold air hits them, they tend to secrete water and mucus. The colder and drier the air,... Full Answer
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- Q How is the nose connected to the sinuses?
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Dr. Larry Chiaramonte, Allergy & ImmunologyThe nose is really the gateway to the sinuses. The ethmoid (between the eye and nose), maxillary (below the eye) and frontal (above the eye) sinuses all drain their mucus in a groove below the middle turbinate, one of three turbinates or bumps on... Full Answer
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- Q How should I rinse my sinuses?
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Here's how to rinse your sinuses: First, make a salt water rinse from 1 cup of water mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt. (You can also use a saline rinse from a store.) Put the salt water in a rubber bulb syringe. For a baby, use an eye... Full Answer
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- Q How often can I use a neti pot?
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmacyYou can use a neti pot to rinse and clean your nasal passages several times a day depending on how uncomfortable your symptoms are making you. By using a neti pot filled with saline solution or warm saltwater to rinse your nasal passages, you could get... Full Answer
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- Q Why is my sense of smell so sensitive?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyA person's nose can detect up to 10,000 smells, without being smell-sensitive. In this video, Dr. Oz talks about why it is better to have too much smell than not enough. Full Answer
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- Q How can I relieve pain due to a runny nose?
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A stuffy, runny nose is bad enough. Add pain to the mix and you'll feel downright wretched. So kick pain to the curb right away. Try: Applying ice and/or heat packs -- for relief of pain and pressure due to congestion and inflammation. Gargling... Full Answer
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- Q Why does my nose run in the winter?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyYou have small hairs called cilia that continually milk secretions up your nose towards the sinuses. The temperature in the nose is usually around 80 F (put down the thermometer; trust us on this one). But it can drop during cold weather, thus paralyzing... Full Answer
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