When your nose is stuffy or congested, reaching for a nasal decongestant spray can bring relief.1 But how exactly do they work, and which type should you use? Learn what nasal sprays do, how to use them, and what to keep in mind with this guide.
How to Clear a Blocked Nose with a Nasal Spray
When your body senses an invader, like a virus, germ or allergen, your immune system sends extra blood to the blood vessels in your nose, causing the nasal passageways to swell up.1 Nasal decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in your nose, helping to reduce swelling in the nasal tissues.1 This opens your airways and makes it easier to breathe.1 While they don’t treat the underlying cause of your symptoms or help you recover faster, they can offer short-term relief from congestion.1
Nasal sprays can help to temporarily relieve blocked or stuffy noses from the following:1
- Cold
- Flu
- Sinusitis
- Allergies
- Hay fever
What Is The Active Ingredient in Theraflu Nasal Decongestant mist
Some nasal decongestant sprays, including Theraflu Severe Congestion Nasal Mist, use the active ingredient Oxymetazoline, which can temporarily relieve nasal congestion and stuffiness caused by hay fever, other allergies, colds or sinus problems.2
How to Use Nasal Sprays
Here are some general guidelines for using decongestant nose sprays. However, always remember to adhere to the instructions on the product label.
- Blow your nose gently to remove mucus.2
- Keep your head upright and spray the medicine into each nostril, sniffing gently as you squeeze the bottle quickly and firmly. If needed, repeat the process until you've used the full dose.2
- When you’re done, rinse the spray tip with hot water without letting water get inside the bottle. Dry with a clean tissue and place the cap back on.2
- To prevent spreading germs, never share your nasal spray with others.2
Additional Nasal Spray Tips
Keep these tips in mind when using your nasal spray:3
- Avoid the septum. When using nasal spray, aim slightly outward rather than toward the center of your nose.
- Sniff gently. A light sniff is all you need. Inhaling too forcefully can move the medicine into your throat instead of allowing it to stay in your nasal passages, where it’s most effective.
- No taste is a good sign. If you’re tasting the spray in your throat, it’s likely not staying in your nose. For best results, the medication should remain in your nose.
Different Types of Nasal Sprays
In addition to nasal decongestant spray, there are a range of other types of nasal sprays:4,5
- Antihistamine sprays. Like oral histamines, antihistamine nasal sprays block histamines—the chemical in your body that causes allergic reactions. They’re used to treat allergy symptoms, particularly a runny nose.
- Steroid nasal sprays. These are used to help relieve allergy symptoms, including congestion, sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose. These sprays are intended to help manage allergic rhinitis, not the flu. Talk to a healthcare provider before using a steroid spray to ensure it’s the product you need.
- Combination steroid and antihistamine sprays. Nasal sprays that combine both steroid and antihistamine ingredients and are available via prescription.
- Saline nasal sprays. Sprays that contain saline to help moisturize and flush the nasal passageways.
- Nasal irrigation solutions. The most common version of this is a neti pot, where a solution of sterile water and salt is flushed into the nose to remove mucus. Plain tap water and well water cannot be used to irrigate the nose as it isn’t filtered properly.
Try Theraflu Nasal Decongestant Mist
Get up to 12 hours of long-lasting relief from severe nasal congestion and breathe better with Theraflu Severe Congestion Relief Nasal Mist. Formulated with Oxymetazoline HCL, this easy-to-use nasal decongestant spray reduces swelling in nasal passages to provide fast-acting relief that lasts all day. For the same benefits with an added cooling sensation, try Theraflu Severe Congestion Relief Nasal Mist + Cooling.
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