A persistent runny nose can be very annoying and might also hinder your performance, either at work or elsewhere. It certainly isn’t a desirable situation to be in! Here are a few tips to help you get rid of that awful runny nose, and get on with your life. Your runny nose might be caused due to an allergen, pollutant or simply due to aging. It’ll prove helpful if you can determine the cause of your runny nose early on.

Nasal Spray

One of the easiest and wisest things to do is to use a nasal spray. You can either buy one or make one yourself. It is primarily salt water solution, so you can make one at home by adding a teaspoon of salt to a glass of hot water. Using a dropper put a few drops of this solution into your nose, and then, breathe in deeply. Repeat this a few times. This simple process will help reduce the irritation in your nose by irrigation of your nasal passages. Keep in mind, that continual usage of drugstore nasal sprays will do you more harm than good. So, if you are purchasing one from a drugstore, use it only for a short while.

Mustard Oil Home Remedy

Another home remedy for your runny nose is mustard oil. Warm a little amount of mustard oil, and then use a dropper to put it in your nostril. Use only a drop for each nostril.

Increasing Humidity

Increasing the humidity of the air you breathe will also reduce the irritation you feel in your nose. For this purpose, you can buy a humidifier for your home.

Antihistamines

Taking an antihistamine will help you in the case of your runny nose being caused by an allergen. Thus, if you have determined that you’re runny nose is the result of an allergic reaction, go ahead and pop an antihistamine in. However, if the cause is not an allergen, antihistamines will probably not make a difference – except for the fact that they will make you feel drowsy! So do not take them while driving or performing other tasks that require your concentration.

Visit a Doctor

If your runny nose persists, schedule an appointment with your doctor. It might seem unnecessary, but it’s the wise thing to do. Taking prescribed medicines for your cold will actually help you get better. In the case of your mucus secretion appearing green in color, or containing blood, you should get treated immediately, since the problem is more serious than a usual runny nose.

Additional Tips

Here are some more tips that you should keep in mind when you’re suffering from a cold. Blow your nose often, drink a lot of water, and consume as much soup as you can. Also remember to rest well. Going out to party is probably not the best idea when you’ve got a runny nose. Stay at home, and rest.

In today’s world, everyone is exposed to a vast number of pollutants as soon as they step outside of their homes. The many types of pollutants could be auto-smoke, dust, perfumes, industrial fumes, etc. Avoid these irritants until you get rid of the runny nose.

Eat spicy food! This might sound strange, since eating something spicy generally causes your nose to run, but this tip can actually help you when you’ve got a runny nose! The hot food will increase your nasal discharge, which may help get rid of the irritant. By doing this, chemical are also produced by your nose, as a defense mechanism, in order to protect against infection. So you can actually get rid of that annoying runny nose in the long term, while devouring some deliciously spicy food.