Treatment of runny nose with inhalations

With the onset of cold weather and increased humidity, our nose for some reason often becomes unusually wet. Increased mucus discharge from the nose, which is commonly called a runny nose, and in medical circles rhinitis, can knock anyone off track. And although a runny nose itself is not accompanied by painful sensations, it cannot be ignored, because this condition interferes with the process of proper breathing. Treatment of a runny nose is usually not difficult, because in pharmacies you can find many drugs that can quickly "dry out" the nasal mucosa. But given the unsafe nature of such treatment, which, with regular use, causes dysfunction of the mucosa, it is better to recommend it as a situational measure. It must be said that there are safer methods of dealing with rhinitis and nasal congestion. These are inhalations for a runny nose, which combine folk treatment and traditional medicine methods.

What is a runny nose?

In our body, many physiological processes occur every second, the mechanism of action of which we do not even think about. These processes are carried out reflexively without the participation of our mind. So we usually do not think about when to inhale or exhale, however, we do it constantly, because without oxygen entering the lungs, many other processes in the body will stop and the person will simply die.

The breathing process is carried out at an unconscious level. A person can breathe through both the nose and the mouth, but since childhood we are taught to try to breathe through the nose, saying that this will reduce the risk of getting sick. But how many people are interested in what happens after the air enters the nasal passages? What role does our nose play in the breathing process and why are we advised to breathe through the nose? What is the reason for the increase in the amount of mucous secretion in the nasal passages, which then begins to pour out, signaling illness? Why do we breathe every day, but a runny nose appears occasionally?

Well, let's start with the fact that the nose is not just a decoration on a person's face, giving it individual and unique features. First of all, it is one of the organs of the human respiratory system, its initial link, which bears a huge responsibility, because along with the air, whole hordes of viruses, bacteria, allergens, invisible to the eye, but very dangerous, strive to get into our body. True, they pose a danger if the body's defenses are weakened, which allows pathogens to multiply uncontrollably and practically with impunity.

And which organ is primarily responsible for protecting the body from pathogenic microbes penetrating the respiratory tract? Of course, the nose. Protection from pathogen invasion is considered its second most important function along with the function of breathing (and the nose is where the bulk of the oxygen consumed by the body comes in). The inner surface of the nose is lined with a mucous membrane, the ciliated epithelium of which is able to retain the smallest particles that enter with the air. While the hair in the nose prevents large "garbage" from entering the respiratory tract.

The surface of the ciliated epithelium is covered with a certain amount of mucous secretion, which binds potentially harmful particles that fall on it, disinfects them (mucous secretion contains special enzymes that have a destructive effect on microorganisms) and facilitates their removal through the pharynx and digestive tract. With severe irritation, sneezing occurs, allowing dust and pathogens to be removed out the same way they entered the nose.

Additionally, the following occurs in the nasal passages:

• Heating of the air (this is facilitated by increased blood circulation, division of air into several streams and retention of some of the air for warming in the recesses of the cavernous bodies),
• Humidification (mucous secretions contain moisture, most of which evaporates and humidifies the air entering the respiratory tract).

All this contributes to the fact that the air penetrating the bronchi and lungs becomes clean, and also has an optimal temperature and humidity. In such conditions, the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract is no longer threatened, nothing irritates it, and the respiratory system can function normally without failures.

It can be said that as long as the mucous membrane of the nasal passages functions normally, respiratory diseases do not threaten a person. But the immune system is responsible for the condition of the nasal mucosa; it is its cells that help to “disarm” pathogens regardless of weather conditions. And as soon as the immune system fails, microbes, allergens and viruses get the opportunity to actively attack the ciliated epithelium, gradually destroying it. The nasal mucosa swells, inflammatory exudate appears on it, which mixes with a specific secretion. In turn, for protective purposes, the brain gives the command to increase mucus production. The resulting semi-liquid substance begins to pour out and clog the nasal passages (if it is not removed in time by blowing your nose), disrupting the breathing process.

The modified ciliated epithelium is no longer able to cope with the protective function and pathogens have the ability to penetrate the pharynx and lower respiratory tract, causing inflammation there too. Moreover, because of a runny nose, nasal breathing becomes difficult, a person begins to actively breathe through the mouth, which is not able to warm and humidify the air, clean it from pathogenic microbes and allergens, as the nasal mucosa did. Bacteria and cold do their job, reducing local immunity and causing diseases of the throat, bronchi, lungs and other parts of the respiratory system.

This is the reason why many people think that a runny nose is one of the symptoms of a cold. In fact, rhinitis or inflammation of the nasal mucosa is a separate serious disease, against the background of which many infectious and inflammatory pathologies of the respiratory system and some allergic reactions develop.

A runny nose in itself is a very unpleasant condition, which we rush to get rid of as soon as possible. However, most people prefer quick ways to combat a runny nose in the form of nasal vasoconstrictor drops, without thinking that they only provide temporary relief, relieving swelling of the nasal mucosa for a few minutes or hours. But such treatment is indicated only in cases of severe nasal congestion, preventing oxygen from entering the respiratory tract. In addition, unsafe drops, which, when used regularly, lead to atrophy of the nasal mucosa, can be used for no more than 4-5 days.

But there is another way to combat rhinitis and nasal congestion. Inhalations for a runny nose will not give such a quick effect, but such treatment has a gentle therapeutic effect on the nasal mucosa and does not cause a decrease in the functionality of the ciliated epithelium. In addition, particles of a medicinal or folk remedy with an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect used in inhalation procedures have the ability to penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract, simultaneously healing the bronchial mucosa and preventing the spread of infection in them.

In this regard, the question of whether it is possible to do inhalation with a runny nose has the following answer: it is possible and even necessary, because it is a fairly safe and effective treatment procedure that helps to get rid of the symptoms of inflammation without harming the inner lining of the nose. Moreover, inhalation can be used for medications with any beneficial effect on the disease: moisturizing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory.

Read more about the causes, symptoms, and types of runny nose in this article.

Indications for the procedure

Most of us associate a runny nose with colds, which are usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. In addition to a runny nose, these pathologies may be accompanied by fever, cough, sore throat, sneezing, headaches. And many of us believe that inhalations are a procedure that should be performed not when there is a sore throat and runny nose, but when a cough appears.

Yes, in case of cough with difficulty in expectoration, inhalation treatment is one of the main effective therapeutic procedures, giving a quick and lasting effect. But in case of common rhinitis, inhalation of vapors containing particles of medicinal compositions is no less useful. The only difference is that you will need to inhale not through your mouth, as in case of cough and bronchitis, but through your nose.

In case of a severe runny nose (aka acute rhinitis), inhalations help to reduce the inflammatory process in a few procedures and prevent the disease from becoming chronic. Compositions with antiseptics and emollients will help to cleanse the weakened mucous membrane from pathogens and irritants and at the same time soften and moisturize it, protecting it from drying out and irritation. Steam inhalations are considered to be especially effective in this regard, but they can only be carried out at normal body temperature, which is not always possible if we are talking about a viral infection (ARI, flu, etc.).

If acute rhinitis is not treated or is treated incorrectly (for example, by using vasoconstrictor drops for a long time, which disrupt blood circulation in the vessels of the nasal mucosa), the disease can gradually become chronic. In this case, the person will suffer from constant nasal congestion, which will periodically have exacerbations in the form of a runny nose.

Nasal congestion is a potentially dangerous condition, especially if it occurs regularly. In this case, breathing problems will become chronic, and vital organs and systems of a person will constantly experience oxygen starvation. This cannot but affect the functionality of the brain, heart, nervous system, etc. This means that in this case, measures that help a person cope with nasal congestion and restore nasal breathing are especially important.

Long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops that relieve swelling of the nasopharynx will only worsen the condition of the nasal mucosa. A safe alternative to such treatment for chronic rhinitis will be inhalations.

But since medicinal compounds that have different effects on the respiratory tract can be used for inhalations (steam, dry, oil, and with a special nebulizer device), you must first determine the type of rhinitis.

So a runny nose, which usually begins under the influence of cold air, is called catarrhal rhinitis. With this pathology, congestion and mucous discharge can be both bilateral and unilateral. Most often, this form of pathology is transformed from acute rhinitis, which is often bacterial or viral in nature.

Inhalations during exacerbations of chronic catarrhal rhinitis, usually caused by the activation of opportunistic microflora, can be carried out using essential oils, herbal infusions, onion and garlic-based compositions, and medications with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action. The purpose of such inhalations will be to combat infection.

To relieve nasal congestion during periods of remission, compositions that relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and provide it with optimal hydration are more suitable. You can use essential oils (if there is no allergy to them), mineral water, saline solution, antiseptics (soda solution, herbal compositions or pharmaceutical preparations "Miramistin", "Chlorophyllipt", "Tonsilgon").

In viral pathologies, a clear secretion is released from the nose during a runny nose, which at different periods of the disease may resemble water or mucus. If the cause of acute or chronic rhinitis is a bacterial infection, the discharge from the nose takes on a purulent character. They usually have a yellowish or greenish tint, if the purulent-inflammatory process passes into the paranasal sinuses, the discharge may have an unpleasant odor.

Any procedures for purulent processes should be carried out with special care. So, thermal procedures in this case can only worsen the patient's condition. But dry inhalations, essential oils and procedures with a nebulizer are not only not contraindicated, but even recommended in this situation. After all, inhalation treatment makes it possible to penetrate deeper into the respiratory tract compared to drops and sprays.

Since the cause of pus discharge from the nasal passages is considered to be a bacterial infection, inhalations for purulent rhinitis should be carried out using not only antiseptics, but also antibiotics (for example, Fluimucil-IT). Some doctors consider such treatment even more effective than taking pills or injections, because the antimicrobial drug acts directly in the affected area, i.e. the place where pathogenic microorganisms accumulate.

Another type of chronic rhinitis is considered to be allergic rhinitis, which occurs under the influence of certain allergens. In this case, one must be careful with herbal infusions, some folk recipes and essential oils, because they can only increase the allergy, being allergens themselves, irritating the nasal mucosa when inhaling vapors or small particles of the composition.

Essential oils can only be neutral. These include chamomile, lemon balm, eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood and pine oils. In addition to oils, when nasal passages are blocked due to an allergen, drugs are used that help thin and remove mucus from the nose (Ambroxol, Lazolvan and others, also used in inhalations for difficult cough with thick sputum). In the absence of drugs, you can inhale with saline or still mineral water, which will also help remove sputum from the nose.

Fluimucil is also suitable for treating allergic rhinitis and is considered an effective and relatively safe mucolytic. In the case of a bacterial infection, which is quite possible due to the incorrect functioning of the immune system in allergy sufferers, they switch to a combination drug that includes a combination of a mucolytic and an antibiotic (Fluimucil-IT).

Inhalations for allergic rhinitis must be combined with rinsing the nasal passages and taking antihistamines, without which effective treatment of allergies and their symptoms is simply impossible.

Vasomotor rhinitis is one of the forms of chronic rhinitis, but the cause of inflammation of the mucous membrane and its swelling in this case are not allergens and microorganisms, but internal causes (for example, hormonal imbalances), leading to impaired blood circulation in the nasal mucosa. It is clear that first of all it will be necessary to determine the cause of the pathological condition in order to carry out appropriate treatment that helps to establish metabolic processes and blood circulation, and at the same time restore the nasal mucosa.

But symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose with vasomotor rhinitis should not be left either. The body must receive a sufficient amount of oxygen to normalize its work, which means that breathing must be normalized during the treatment period using effective procedures, one of which is inhalation.

Essential oils, saline and soda solutions, antiseptics, herbal remedies, mineral water and saline solution are suitable for inhalations for vasomotor rhinitis. If you do inhalations regularly, you can safely refuse to use unsafe vasoconstrictor drops (Nazivin, Vibrocil, etc.), which, by the way, are not recommended for use for more than 7 days.

Whatever the cause of a runny nose (unless, of course, it is anatomical features of the nasolacrimal canal structure), swelling and inflammation of the nasal mucosa almost always occur against the background of reduced immunity (local and general). General immunity can be increased with the help of oral immunostimulants. But inhalations play a major role in strengthening local immunity (the solutions "Interferon" and "Derinat" have proven themselves well).

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Preparation

Inhalation procedures for a runny nose are aimed at reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process in the nasal passages, as well as removing swelling of the nasal tissues and restoring normal nasal breathing. Inhalations involve deep inhalation of microparticles of medicinal compounds through the nose. The particles settle on the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, nasopharynx, bronchi, where they have a therapeutic effect.

For inhalations for a runny nose, liquid solutions of drugs, herbal infusions, decoctions and diluted alcohol tinctures, mineral water, saline solution (it is also used to dilute pharmaceutical drugs), essential oils are used. Among pharmaceutical drugs, mucolytics, anti-inflammatory and decongestant agents, antiseptics and antibiotics, immunostimulants, which can be used in inhalation procedures, are in special demand.

In the treatment of rhinitis, two types of inhalations are most often used: steam and procedures known to us since the time of our ancestors, and carried out using a modern inhaler called a nebulizer. In principle, the treatment of nasal passages with sprays can also be considered inhalation, but the effectiveness of such a procedure may be somewhat lower, because in terms of time it takes only a few seconds and involves only 1-2 deep breaths, while inhalations over steam or with a nebulizer involve inhaling medicinal particles for several minutes plus additional moisturizing of the mucous membrane.

Steam inhalations involve the use of hot medicinal compounds. To do this, you will need a steam inhaler, a deep saucepan, a bowl or a teapot in which the liquid is preheated to the desired temperature. Usually 30-45 degrees is enough. The maximum steam temperature should not be higher than 65 degrees, otherwise you can provoke a burn of the mucous membranes.

Steam inhalations will be more effective if you cover your head with a napkin or towel during them, which will reduce the dispersion of steam in the nose area. The same towel can be used to remove beads of sweat from the face that appear under the influence of hot steam.

Medicinal compositions (some medications, herbs, tinctures, soda, essential oils) are often added directly to heated water during steam inhalations, after which the patient immediately begins to inhale the medicinal vapors, leaning over the container with the solution.

Another option for steam inhalations is the preliminary preparation of the medicinal composition (boiling or infusion), which is then cooled to the desired temperature. Oil inhalations can also be considered a type of steam. In this case, essential oils are added to hot water before the procedure itself.

The disadvantage of steam inhalations is the fact that many medications are destroyed and lose their effectiveness at high temperatures. Therefore, folk recipes are more suitable for the procedure.

If inhalations are carried out with a nebulizer, it is necessary to assemble the device in advance and check its serviceability by plugging the device into the network. The integrity of the reservoir, into which the prepared inhalation composition is subsequently poured, is also pre-checked. A nebulizer is considered the best option for inhalations using pharmaceutical drugs, while the use of herbal infusions and oily compositions in them is limited, which is always written in the instructions for the device. Usually, such restrictions can be found in the annotations to ultrasonic nebulizers. If they are not followed, the far from cheap device can very quickly fail.

The medicinal composition should be prepared immediately before inhalation. If a previously prepared solution is used and stored in the refrigerator, it should be heated beforehand. The temperature of the solution poured into the inhaler should be close to room temperature.

As for the dosage, it all depends on the type of nebulizer and the size of its reservoir. Usually, a small amount of the drug is used, bringing it to the required volume with saline, distilled or purified water, or water for injection.

Not only dishes, devices and inhalation compositions require preliminary preparation. The patient himself also needs to be prepared. The last meal before inhalation should be taken one and a half hours before the start of the procedure. This will help to avoid such unpleasant symptoms as nausea and vomiting.

To make sure that the procedure will be safe and will not worsen the patient's condition, you need to measure your body temperature shortly before the procedure. If it does not exceed 37.5 degrees, inhalations for a runny nose with a nebulizer can be carried out without fear. As for steam inhalations, it is better to refuse them even at 37 degrees, so as not to provoke a further increase in the thermometer readings.

Before inhalation, patients are not recommended to overwork or engage in vigorous activity that requires significant expenditure of energy. It is better to rest a little, read a book or listen to pleasant music, giving the body the opportunity to tune in to fight the disease. Breathing should be calm and even.

It is not advisable to get carried away with smoking during inhalation treatment. It is better to temporarily (or permanently) give up this bad habit altogether. If a person is not capable of such a feat, then it is necessary to refrain from inhaling nicotine for at least an hour before the inhalation procedure. In order to consolidate the therapeutic effect, you will have to endure without cigarettes for the same amount of time after the procedure.

Immediately before inhalation, you need to make sure that the clothes you are wearing do not compress your chest and throat, allowing you to take a full breath in and out.

Using a nebulizer with a mask for inhalation for a runny nose is especially effective, as it allows you to breathe calmly through your nose. In addition, this treatment is suitable even for small children. However, sweat may accumulate on the face after removing the mask and particles of medicine may settle, so you need to prepare a small towel or napkin for your face in advance.

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Technique runny nose inhalations

Inhalations are a simple procedure that even a 2-3 year old child can master, not to mention adult patients. When the temperature is measured and its indicators are assessed, the instruments and inhalation solution are prepared, you can proceed directly to the treatment procedure.

If you choose steam inhalations, you can do them in three ways:

• Over a saucepan or bowl containing the prepared inhalation composition of the required temperature. In this case, the head should be tilted over the vessel with the steaming liquid and covered with a thick towel. These requirements help maintain the required steam temperature and coordinate its movement so that the maximum amount of healing particles gets into the respiratory tract.
• Above the teapot, to the neck of which a paper cone is attached. Above this cone you will need to breathe alternately with the left and then the right nostril. It should be taken into account that the directed stream of steam may have a temperature higher than desired, so the inhalation solution should not be made too hot.
• By means of a steam inhaler, into the reservoir of which the medicinal solution is poured. The device, plugged into the network, heats the composition to the required temperature (some devices have several temperature modes) and maintains it during the entire procedure. Steam is released through a mask attached to the device, over which the patient leans.

When choosing the temperature of the steam, you need to remember that at the very beginning of the disease, when swelling of the nasal mucosa appears and it becomes difficult to breathe, but the amount of mucus secreted has not yet increased, steam at room temperature is enough. The medicinal compositions will fight inflammation and infection. But to remove phlegm from the nasal passages, it is better to use warm steam, which promotes vasodilation, increases blood circulation and simulates the cleaning of the nose from mucus.

What solutions are best for steam inhalation? Any can be used, except for medications that are destroyed by heat (by the way, saline and Furacilin, which dissolves only in hot water, are not among them). But solutions of salt and soda, compositions based on medicinal herbs and essential oils (these components can be combined) have earned great popularity in inhalation therapy using healing steam.

Now let's consider the issue of inhalation using a nebulizer. The action of this device is reduced to the supply of particles of the medicinal composition into the respiratory tract along with cold steam. The particles of the inhalation composition are crushed to the required size and pushed into the air, which the person inhales through a mask or a special nasal attachment attached to the device. There are several such attachments and they are intended for patients of different ages: for the smallest, for children over 3 years old and for adult patients.

There are several types of nebulizers (compressor, membrane, ultrasonic). The operating principle of the devices is slightly different, but the rules for use in case of a runny nose are similar for all devices.

What you should pay attention to is the size of the fine particles in the device you are using. In order for the medicinal particles to settle on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, and not go towards the lower respiratory tract, it is desirable that their size be at least 5 microns. Most compressor devices produce particles of exactly this size (although they are noisier than others), so they are most suitable for treating a runny nose. The particle size in MESH inhalers and ultrasonic devices usually ranges from 2 to 5 microns (it all depends on the manufacturer of the device). If it is possible to adjust the particle size, you will need to set it to maximum.

Ultrasonic nebulizers are considered the most silent and convenient due to their compactness. They have recently become more popular than noisy and bulky compression nebulizers. But such devices have limitations regarding the solutions used. It is strictly not recommended to pour herbal infusions into the ultrasonic device, which may contain large particles, oil and alcohol compounds. The instructions for many models say that they are not intended for inhalation of hormonal drugs, antiseptics and antibiotics, various suspensions that are not susceptible to ultrasound exposure.

Membrane devices have the fewest restrictions and the most convenience, but their cost is also quite high, so not everyone will decide to buy such a device.

Inhalation with a nebulizer is even easier and more convenient than steam treatments. The prepared solution, heated to room temperature, is poured into the inhaler reservoir, the device is plugged in and a mask or nasal attachment is put on.

It is most convenient to perform inhalations while sitting; in severe cases, when the patient is prescribed bed rest, the procedure can be performed in a semi-recumbent position. But the nebulizer should be positioned vertically.

Any inhalations for a runny nose require caution. Do not try to take a very deep breath. Firstly, this is not necessary if we are talking about treating the upper respiratory tract. Secondly, if you breathe too deeply, your breathing becomes out of order, causing dizziness and weakness. Breathing should be deep enough, but even and calm. When treating the nasal passages, inhale and exhale through the nose. When inhaling, the air should be held for a couple of seconds and released back.

If the nose is very blocked and a person is unable to inhale through it, one must inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose until the nasal passages are cleared.

In order for such treatment to bring the expected effect, doctors recommend inhalation procedures several times a day, but no more than 5. There is no need to repeat the procedures too often. The interval between them should be at least 1.5 hours, and the duration of one procedure should not exceed 15 minutes.

Inhalations for expectant mothers

Inhalations for runny nose in pregnant women should be carried out with the same caution as in the case of treating small children. Such procedures are not contraindicated for expectant mothers and are even recommended as one of the safest methods of combating the disease, which does not put stress on internal organs.

A pregnant woman should not fail to treat a runny nose, because nasal breathing disorders lead to a lack of oxygen not only in the body of the expectant mother, but also in her unborn child. Fetal hypoxia during the period of development of the main vital systems and organs is fraught with developmental delays and congenital pathologies, and sometimes even intrauterine death of the fetus. So inhalations can be called a procedure that literally protects both mother and child from unpleasant consequences.

Pregnant women are most concerned about thermal procedures. But steam inhalations, which are effective at the very beginning of the disease, as they help to forget about unpleasant symptoms in a few procedures, will not cause harm during pregnancy if the expectant mother does not have a fever. When inhaling, you need to adhere to the rule of limiting the water temperature to 50-55 degrees. Warm steam is unlikely to provoke the appearance of dangerous symptoms in a woman or harm the fetus in her womb.

If possible, in order to be even more secure, it is better to buy a nebulizer. This device will more than once help out a young mother, her child and other family members when symptoms such as cough, runny nose and sore throat appear.

For steam and cold inhalations during pregnancy, it is worth taking herbal compositions and essential oils (but first you need to make sure that the woman is not allergic to them, and the plants themselves cannot provoke contractions of the uterus), saline solution and mineral water. Pharmaceutical drugs during pregnancy should be taken with special caution and only as a last resort, if the doctor insists on it.

The duration of inhalation procedures for the expectant mother should be reduced to 10 minutes. If we are talking about compositions containing essential oils, then you should inhale them for no more than 5-6 minutes.

Pregnancy is a period when a woman cannot rely only on her knowledge, because not only her health is at stake. Therefore, before resorting to inhalations, you need to consult with a doctor about the safety of such a procedure, discuss which solutions can be used for inhalations, which type of procedures to give preference to, etc.

Contraindications to the procedure

No matter how much is written about the benefits of inhalations for diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, they may not always be useful and not for everyone. Even if we ignore the fact that any of the drugs and traditional medicine used may have their own contraindications, there are general restrictions directly to the procedure itself, regardless of the type of inhalation compositions used. If they are not taken into account, the treatment of a runny nose can result in serious health problems.

It is clear that steam inhalations for a runny nose, which are classified as thermal procedures, have stricter contraindications for implementation. They cannot be carried out:

• at a body temperature exceeding 37 degrees (inhalations with a nebulizer have different limits, they are not recommended at temperatures above 37.5 degrees),
• if you are prone to nosebleeds (increased blood flow due to heat can lead to rupture of blood vessels in the nasal passages) and hemoptysis,
• when purulent sputum is released from the nose (warming up in this case only aggravates the situation, promoting the proliferation of bacteria and their spread throughout the body by hematogenous means due to increased blood circulation in the affected area, and accordingly increasing the inflammatory process). When purulent discharge appears, dry inhalations and procedures using a nebulizer are indicated, the temperature of the compositions in which is not high.

Now let's talk about general contraindications for any inhalation procedures. These include:

• severe cardiovascular diseases: ischemic heart disease (IHD), arterial hypertension, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure in the decompensation stage (in case of less serious heart diseases, it is worth discussing the possibility of inhalation procedures using a nebulizer with a cardiologist),
• problems with the blood vessels of the brain: atherosclerosis of blood vessels, stroke,
• problems with the respiratory system: respiratory or pulmonary failure, pulmonary emphysema, pneumothorax (any procedures in this case are carried out only in a clinical setting under the supervision of a doctor).

The doctor prescribing inhalation procedures must have information about any existing diseases of the patient. The patient's task is to make this work easier for him. Moreover, it is necessary to tell not only about existing diseases and health problems, but also about those that were previously.

Thus, it is considered dangerous to perform inhalations in patients who have previously suffered a stroke or myocardial infarction and no more than six months have passed since the acute phase of the disease. If the patient has a tendency to thrombosis, the doctor should also be informed about this, which will help to select safe types of procedures and drugs in this regard.

Caution should also be exercised when choosing inhalation formulations. Pharmaceutical preparations have annotations that indicate all contraindications for use, but as for folk recipes, you will definitely have to conduct allergy tests in advance to avoid the development of intolerance reactions during the procedure. This is especially important for patients who have previously had allergic reactions to any substances or medications.

To begin with, you can inhale for no more than 2 minutes, observing your sensations, and then, if there are no unpleasant symptoms, increase the duration of inhalations to the recommended one. It is even safer to apply the inhalation composition to the wrist, leaving it for 24-48 hours. These are necessary precautions before the first use of a new inhalation composition.

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Consequences after the procedure

Inhalations for runny nose and cough are considered one of the most effective methods of solving the problem that disrupts normal breathing, as a result of which various organs and systems begin to experience oxygen starvation, which affects their functionality. If a runny nose and nasal congestion are not treated, after a while you can notice a deterioration in the general condition, the appearance of symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, rapid fatigue, irritability, which are associated with the fact that the brain does not receive enough oxygen. But we know that the central nervous system suffers from hypoxia first of all.

Inhalation procedures for cough and runny nose help restore respiratory function and avoid unpleasant consequences of hypoxia. In addition, such procedures, if carried out correctly, help avoid drying and cracking of the inflamed nasal mucosa, and promote its regeneration.

The use of antiseptics and antibiotics in nebulizers allows us to fight infections hidden deep in the nasal passages, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and even the initial sections of the bronchi, where it gradually moves if the disease is not treated. The nebulizer breaks the inhalation solution into small particles that settle in different sections of the upper respiratory tract. It is important that the particle size does not exceed 5 microns, otherwise we will be treating the bronchi and lungs, while the nose and throat will remain untreated.

Inhalation treatment is usually used when you need quick relief of symptoms, but you do not want to use vasoconstrictors to relieve tissue swelling. Inhalations, unlike instillation of such drugs, do not cause addiction and weakening of the functions of the nasal mucosa. However, you should not get carried away with such procedures, especially if the inhalation solution contains antiseptics and antibiotics, which, with long-term treatment, can disrupt the microflora in the nose, thereby weakening the local immunity.

Inhalations for a runny nose are considered an effective procedure for a reason, because after them the patient feels much better. The first 2-3 procedures do not always bring the desired relief, but later the patient gets the opportunity to sleep peacefully at night, without waking up from the inability to breathe through the nose. Subsequent procedures bring relief during the daytime as well.

People say that if a runny nose is not treated, it will go away within a week, and with appropriate treatment - within 7 days. It turns out that there is no need to treat a runny nose at all. But is it right to treat the disease and its symptoms in this way? And is it worth suffering from nasal congestion for a week if inhalations can ease the course of the disease, while preventing possible complications, i.e. the transition of the infectious and inflammatory process to the paranasal sinuses, inner and middle ear, bronchi and lungs.

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Complications after the procedure

Any medical procedures are beneficial only if all the requirements for their implementation are met. Procedures with a nebulizer and especially steam inhalations for a runny nose, which at first glance do not present any difficulty and seem absolutely safe, still require a responsible approach, since they do not exclude the risk of various complications.

So, the recommendation of doctors to conduct an allergy test before the first inhalation with a new drug or herbal infusion is not without common sense. And it is not always about susceptibility to allergic reactions, which, by the way, with increased sensitivity to the components of the inhalation solution can pose a real danger to a person. As with oral administration of drugs, and with their inhalation administration, there is a certain probability of Quincke's edema or anaphylactic reaction, which, if emergency care is not provided, can end in the death of the patient.

Milder complications of the inhalation procedure in a person with a predisposition to allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to the drug or herbal composition are considered to be an increase in runny nose, itching and rash on the body, gastrointestinal disorders. If such symptoms appear, in no case should repeated inhalations be carried out with the same inhalation composition. During and after the procedure, you need to be attentive to any deterioration in the condition, which may indicate that the drug is simply not suitable for the patient and the doctor's prescription needs to be reviewed.

But let's return to another danger of inhalations, which is extremely difficult to foresee. We are talking about laryngospasm, which can occur in people of different ages, but most often occurs and is more severe in children under 3 years old, which is due to the narrowness of the airways. The fact is that when the nasal passages are affected, the process most often also spreads to the larynx and pharynx, because the airways are interconnected. Inflamed walls of the larynx become more sensitive to the effects of irritants, which during inhalations can be too hot air or a medicinal composition.

Laryngospasm is a sharp, short-term narrowing of the glottis, which makes it difficult for air to enter the lower respiratory tract. The symptoms of this condition are: difficult noisy breathing, cyanosis of the skin caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the blood, hyperhidrosis, muscle tension in the body, noticeable difficulty in inhaling and exhaling, weakening of the pulse. In more serious cases, when laryngospasm lasts more than a minute, convulsions, foaming at the mouth, involuntary urination (symptoms similar to an epileptic seizure), loss of consciousness, lack of pupillary response to light, cardiac arrest may occur.

Serious consequences can be avoided if the person receives emergency assistance in a timely manner, which usually consists of simple manipulations:

• provide access to fresh air in the room where the patient is located, if possible, remove clothing from the person’s chest and neck,
• humidify the air in the room and the patient's face, give the person water to drink,
• the following actions help relieve laryngeal spasm: tickling, gentle tugging of the nose and ears, pinching, which irritate tense nerves and muscles and allow them to relax,
• If a person feels discomfort indicating the approach of laryngospasm, you need to ask him to hold his breath as long as possible; the carbon dioxide that accumulates in the body will act as an irritant that prevents laryngeal spasm.
• In severe cases, when a person loses consciousness and the heartbeat cannot be heard, those around him will have to perform indirect heart massage to save the person’s life until the ambulance arrives.

The probability of laryngospasm during inhalations always remains regardless of the type of inhaler and the procedure itself, so it is better to carry out such therapeutic manipulations when there are other relatives or friends at home who can provide assistance if necessary. Inhalations in small children should ideally be carried out by medical personnel, but if the procedure is carried out at home, parents should be with the child all the time and monitor his condition.

In addition to laryngospasm, steam inhalations have another danger. At high steam temperatures, you can get a burn of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and eyes. In this case, the tissues of the mucous membrane will turn red and swell even more, which will only worsen nasal congestion. Semi-liquid salty secretions will irritate the tissues burned by the steam, and the patient will experience a burning sensation in the nose. At the same time, painful, hard-to-heal ulcers may appear on the mucous membrane, which attract bacterial infection.

Inhalation treatment of rhinitis is also associated with the risk of swelling of mucus in the nasal cavity. In this case, it clogs the entrance to the middle ear and can cause inflammation in this area (otitis). To prevent this from happening before the inhalation procedure, if we are not talking about vasoconstrictor compounds recommended for severe nasal congestion, it is recommended to free the nasal passages from mucus as much as possible by blowing and rinsing. Inhalations for a runny nose or cough should be carried out only with those compounds that have been approved by the attending physician.

If the procedure is performed correctly, the risk of developing otitis is extremely small, so it cannot be considered a serious reason to refuse the treatment procedure. After all, if the treatment is not performed, the risk of developing otitis and other serious pathologies will be much higher.

When choosing a method for treating a runny nose, it is very important to consider contraindications to the treatment procedures. Thus, inhalations at elevated body temperature can cause a deterioration in the patient's condition. Activation of blood circulation in the affected area, which is observed in the case of using anti-inflammatory compounds, in infectious pathologies will become a risk factor for the spread of infection in the body and the appearance of concomitant pathologies: bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, etc. It is also possible that pathogens can go further, causing inflammatory processes in the heart membranes, kidneys and other vital organs.

If you do not take into account the increased fragility of the nasal vessels, inhalations for a runny nose can provoke their rupture and blood loss, which is usually even higher when using steam inhalations than when using a nebulizer.

If a person has serious problems with the respiratory system, then the procedure of inhaling medicinal vapors can be carried out only with the permission of a doctor, so as not to unknowingly provoke an exacerbation of the disease and attacks of suffocation.

The same can be said about patients with cardiovascular pathologies. Firstly, such patients may take medications that are incompatible with inhalation formulations, which may cause a decrease in the effect of medications or other, more dangerous consequences of drug interactions. Secondly, a noticeable increase in blood circulation will be observed not only in the affected area, but also in areas located nearby. That is, the brain and heart may suffer if they have already been weakened by the disease.

As we can see, even the safest procedures require a careful and cautious approach to their implementation when it comes to human health. After all, their goal is to help fight the disease, and not to harm by causing new pathologies.

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Care after the procedure

The effectiveness of inhalation for runny nose and cough, which accompany many infectious and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, cannot be denied. But in order for the procedure to bring real help, easing the course of the disease, it is not enough to just properly prepare and carry it out, you also need to provide the patient with proper care after the procedure.

Although inhalations bring relief, after their implementation they are still associated with a certain load on the body, therefore after the inhalation procedure the patient needs to rest. After inhalations you should not engage in vigorous activity or talk a lot. It is better to avoid heavy physical exertion for an hour. The medicine administered by inhalation needs time to fully exert its healing effect and help the body fight the disease.

For 1-1.5 hours, it is recommended to not only observe physical rest, but also give rest to the digestive system. Only after the specified period of time will it be possible to calmly eat or drink water. It is better to do the last inhalation of the day before going to bed, because this will help to avoid the temptation to eat something after the procedure.

Smokers are also advised to wait an hour after the procedure to allow the respiratory system to recover and heal before being poisoned with cigarette smoke again.

You will have to avoid walks in the fresh air for 1.5-2 hours. This is especially important if steam inhalations were performed, which are classified as thermal procedures. Inhaling cold air in this case will have the effect observed with a sharp change in temperature. The patient's condition in this case may deteriorate sharply.

And even inhalations in a nebulizer, stimulating blood circulation in the nasopharynx, lead to some increase in temperature in the affected area. So again we get a temperature contrast.

During inhalations for a runny nose, the possibility of some of the medicinal composition getting into the oral cavity should not be excluded, although it is less than what remains as a result of inhalations when coughing. And yet, if inhalation of antibiotics or hormonal drugs was carried out, after the procedure it is recommended to rinse the mouth with boiled water (slightly warm or at room temperature).

After inhalation, it is necessary to put the used devices in order. The dishes are thoroughly washed with soda or antibacterial detergents. If possible, the saucepans should be boiled, and the napkins and towels used should be washed and dried.

If the procedure was carried out using a nebulizer, the remaining solution must be poured out of the reservoir, which is disconnected from the main part of the device. The reservoir must be thoroughly washed with boiled or distilled water; if necessary, it and all used attachments can be wiped with a liquid antiseptic. After washing, the device is wiped dry with a napkin that does not leave small fibers on the surface.

When using the nebulizer again, all its parts must be dry. Twice a week, it is recommended to disinfect the reservoir and attachments by boiling or treating with antiseptics (for example, the same Miramistin).

If you follow the recommendations for preparing and performing inhalation for a runny nose, as well as care after the procedure, you can expect noticeable relief of the symptoms of the disease after 3-5 such procedures. Inhalations help fight inflammation and infection, restore nasal breathing and stimulate regenerative processes in the tissues of the nose. Correctly performed inhalation treatment will help not only alleviate the patient's condition at the time of illness, but also prevent possible complications. In addition, it helps to avoid the unpleasant consequences of treating a runny nose by instilling unsafe vasoconstrictor drugs into the nose, which can ultimately lead to atrophy of the nasal mucosa.

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