Blocked on one side of my nose

Lie down on your side with the clogged nostril higher than your clear nostril. Breathe normally and you'll notice your nostril will unclog after a few minutes, works 90% of the time.

Think of the clog as a mass behind your nose and gravity is shifting it to the middle. FYI it might switch to the other nostril, so it might take a few attempts before you clear both and at the very least you get a bit of easy relief without meds or more aggressive methods.

Supposedly it has nothing to do with gravity. It's a physiological reaction to pressure on your armpit. Supposedly you can induce it in any position. Put pressure on your right armpit and your left nostril will clear. I've never tried it.
- Not sure if serious

Do not listen to medical advise on a public forum. Most advice will not help and some may actually be harmful.

Ask a doctor or at least pharmacist.

My current understanding (as an engineer not a medical person) is that the human body shrinks one nose side itentionally. This way you have a wide nose way and a narrow one. This leads to different airspeed which lets you smell different stuff better. The body changes sides in intervals. One allergic reaction is that the interior of the nose swells more. So the narrow path will become even narrower until it blocks.

There are substances that combat this swelling, but using them for too long can severely damage your sense of smell and health.

When I got COVID and my sinuses were welded shut, I ate some Ghost peppers and it was like suddenly opening the valve on a firehose.

I feel like there are multiple levels spice to try before jumping ghost pepper. Although I suppose that each person has their own spice tolerance.

Do the maneuver @Dadbod89@lemmy.world suggested.
Try Flonase. Helps a lot but takes 1-2 weeks to start to work.
See a doc if things persist.

Eat spicy.

I had issues with my nose for ages and got the tip to use a Rhino Horn from a friend. Using it daily helps a lot, but still one passage gets clogged up regularly. This is a cheap way to clear the passages, as all you need is water and kitchen salt. (later I discovered I have hay fever... ah well, this works better then any medication.

Make sure to boil ALL water first before doing this to avoid brain eating amoeba.
- No need, overhere in the Netherlands we have safe tap water.
I use a version of this, it's based on the neti pot from india. Completely natural technique and does more than clearing our your sinus. It also stops any post nasal drip, Globus (lump in the throat) and can help with snoring.

I use flo sinus flush

Go to a chemist and get some pseudoephedrine. That stuff is magic for blocked noses.

That stuff is just magic all round
- ECA stack 💪

Wait isn't that normal? I've only have like 1 functioning nostril for a while. Maybe thats why I feel like I'm always out of breath.

You do know you can also breathe through your mouth? ;)

Mucinex D will get it and drain everything else out of your sinuses too. Sudafed has a similar product too.

You have to get this from the pharmacist counter and show ID.

The government replaced pseudoephederine (how Sudafed got its name) with phenylephrine as the easy access decongestant. It has had multiple studies done that show it is about as effective as a placebo.

Source 1 and [article source](https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/uselessness-phenylephrine

I had a surgery to remove nasal polyps. Perhaps you can check with a consultant.

I might do this. I have some myself. What was the surgery like? What was the recovery like?
- If you're blocked, it could also be a deviated septum. I had mine fixed and the difference is incredible. Recovery about 2 days .
- Every situation is different so it is best to check with your doctor.
  
  For me the surgery was quick, I didn't even feel any difference when I woke up from the anaesthesia. I was released from the hospital within the same day. I rested at home for a few days, had to avoid lifting heaving stuff or sports for a few weeks.
  
  Now I can breathe without having to open my mouth all the time.

Flonase helps me tremendously when ragweed season hits.

Seconding Flonase. It opens me right up, even when I'm sick.

I don't know why this works or if it will work for you, but it works for me like 95% of the time when I have a mild cold or something. Breathe through your nose as slow as you possibly can. That's it. Obviously don't pass out so if you feel you have to, then take a few normal breaths. It helps if you're calm and your heart rate slows down.

I used to get addicted to nasal sprays all the time and haven't used one since I found this method.

I’ve heard it’s because your brain thinks (somewhat correctly) that you can’t breathe and releases “clear that clog right now” chemicals.

Holding your breath until you almost pass out works for the same reason, but I don’t recommend it.

Hold your ear on the blocked side about level with the ear canal and pull out wards, the place your opposite thumb on at the bone under your eye and next to your nose and push in the same direction. Should open things up.

I don't know if this could help even with allergies but I usually do this https://piped.kavin.rocks/watch?v=I47xi2F3W9g and it's awesome