Best medicine for head cold and ear congestion

SINUS & NASAL CONGESTION

Oh, your aching head! If you’re suffering from unbearable nasal congestion and headache, you probably have a head cold. The reason you’re so stuffed up? When you have a head cold, the membranes lining your nasal passages become swollen and produce excess mucus to flush out whatever is causing the irritation, whether it’s a virus or an allergen. You might experience pain in your forehead, under your eyes or in your upper teeth.

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SINUS & NASAL CONGESTION
How do you get rid of congestion in your head and ears?
How do I unclog my ears from a cold?
How do I relieve sinus pressure in my ears?
How do you drain sinus fluid from your ear?

The key to getting rid of a head cold is to reduce sinus swelling and help mucus drain from your sinuses. Although it might seem counterintuitive, keeping your nasal passages moist is the best way to clear out congestion—dry sinuses will only result in further irritation.

Try these simple tips to clear up a head cold and help relieve headache and sinus pressure.

Use a humidifier.

Since breathing in dry air will dry out your sinuses, it’s best to add moisture back into your environment by using a cool-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer. You can also try breathing in steam from a hot shower. Doing so can help soothe the irritated membranes lining your nasal passages.

Reach for a warm compress.

A great way to ease a headache and sinus pressure is to place a warm compress on your forehead and nose. If you don’t have a compress, try moistening a washcloth with warm water and applying it to your face several times a day. This will help relieve nasal congestion and relieve your head cold symptoms.

Irrigate your sinuses.

Flushing out your sinuses with salt water can help clear out mucus and other irritants (like pollen, dust and bacteria) and reduce inflammation of the mucous membrane, resulting in better drainage. This can be done with a neti pot, syringe or various other products that can be found in drug stores. When using a nasal rinse, be sure to use sterile or previously boiled water, and rinse and dry the device thoroughly after each use.

Try a nasal spray.

If a nasal wash isn’t for you, try using a nasal saline spray. Similar to a nasal wash, it can help add moisture to your sinuses and flush out irritants and infectious agents. Look for a mist formula and apply it up to six times a day.

Drink plenty of fluids.

There’s a reason chicken soup tastes so good when you have a cold: Sipping lots of liquids can help thin out your mucus and promote nasal drainage. Try drinking water, tea and warm milk.

Take a decongestant.

Over-the-counter nasal decongestants reduce blood flow to the nasal membranes, which decreases swelling and congestion. They can help open up your nasal passages and decrease the pain and pressure in your sinuses and head. For fast relief, try Sinex Severe All-In-One Sinus liquicaps—the non-drowsy formula contains a powerful pain reliever and phenylephrine, a safe and effective decongestant.

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Cold viruses attack the lining of the nasal passages causing swelling and increasing mucus production. This results in nasal congestion or stuffiness, and a runny nose. Clogged nasal passages interfere with normal breathing and can also affect your sense of taste and smell. Sometimes the channel (Eustachian tube) to the ear also becomes congested or clogged by mucus, creating pressure or discomfort in the inner ear.

PSEUDOVAL (like sudafed; pseudoephedrine) is an effective decongestant. It works by shrinking blood vessels and swollen membranes in the nasal passages and thus relieves congestion and makes breathing easier. It does not stop a runny nose. It will not make you drowsy because it does not contain antihistamine.

Adult dosage: 1or 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours

Warning: Decongestants may cause nervousness, dizziness, and insomnia. Do not take at bedtime. Do not use if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or thyroid disease, prostate problem, or glaucoma, unless you have checked with your physician. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing a baby; seek the advice of your doctor.

Drug interaction precaution: Do not use this product if you are taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. If you are uncertain whether your prescription drug contains an MAOI, consult a health professional before using this product.

MEDICIDIN-D contains acetaminophen, to reduce fever and discomfort. It also contains a decongestant and an antihistamine. The decongestant helps relieve nasal and ear congestion and makes breathing easier. The antihistamine seems to be effective in relieving runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and other allergy-like symptoms which accompany a headcold. Antihistamines are thought to reduce the reaction of the local tissues to the virus.

Adult Dosage: 2 tablets every 4 hours.

Warning: May cause drowsiness. Avoid driving or taking alcoholic beverages when using this medication. Also, same warnings as for Pseudoval and Acetaminophen.

NASAL SPRAYS are effective decongestants but can be habit forming and cause worse problems if overused or if used habitually. The rebound congestion which may result may be worse than the congestion it was used to relieve. For this reason, nasal sprays are not available from the Self-Care Center for Colds.

How do you get rid of congestion in your head and ears?

How to unclog stuffy ears.

Get a humidifier. “Humidity and moisture are a great way to treat sinus inflammation or irritation,” says Dr. ... .

Use a saline mist or nasal spray. Pollen, dust and bacteria cause the sinuses to dry out. ... .

Consider a decongestant. ... .

Avoid caffeine, salt, tobacco and alcohol. ... .

Check for wax..

How do I unclog my ears from a cold?

If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.

How do I relieve sinus pressure in my ears?

Here are some remedies for sinus pressure in the ears:.

Over the counter decongestant. ... .

Pain medication. ... .

Blowing your nose. ... .

Saline Rinse. ... .

Steam. ... .

Hot Moist Washcloth on the face. ... .

Drink Plenty of Fluids. ... .

Avoid fast movements and bending over..

How do you drain sinus fluid from your ear?

For any ear + sinus congestion: tap lightly above the eyebrows, under the eye on the cheek bone, + rub both of those areas out to break up sinus congestion + encourage drainage. You can also gently massage from behind the ear, down the neck, to encourage lymphatic drainage!