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I have the flu and one of my nostrils is blocked. When I blow inside a tissue nothing comes out as opposed to the other one, and I can't breathe from it. How can I unblock it?
4 مايو 2015
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د. Zakia Dimassi طب الأطفال
A short-term solution for a blocked nostril associated with a cold or  flu is the use of nasal decongestant sprays, based on oxymetazoline every 8 hours, BUT the use of such nasal sprays must not exceed a period of 3-5 days, and only when needed, as these drugs are known to be associated with what we call rebound congestion: they act by reducing the blood flow to the nasal mucosa (the inner lining of the nasal cavity) in order to shrink the swollen and congested mucosa thereby relieving the nasal blockage; the good thing is that they provide immediate relief; the downside is that once the effect of the drug wears off, the blood flow goes back to its previous state, and the blockage recurs very quickly. This side effect grows worse with recurrent use of these drugs, to an extent that some people become dependent on this drug to maintain their nostrils patent.
To play it safe, start by using nasal saline spray, which although not as effective as oxymetazoline in relieving nasal congestion and blockade, it does produce some relief, in addition to humidification and loosening of secretions. Reserve oxymetazoline for the nighttime so you can sleep comfortably. 
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