How to Thin Sinus Mucus
Sinus mucus becomes troublesome if it gets sticky and thick. Thickened mucus can stop up your eustachian tubes -- the tube between your ears and your nose -- causing ear infection. In addition, it can also block up your sinuses, causing sinus infection and headaches.
Sinus mucus becomes troublesome if it gets sticky and thick. Thickened mucus can stop up your eustachian tubes -- the tube between your ears and your nose -- causing ear infection. In addition, it can also block up your sinuses, causing sinus infection and headaches. To avoid this, pay attention if your nose starts to get stuffy. Work quickly to ensure your mucus stays thin and moves easily through your system, avoiding the potential to create infection.
Step 1
Drink plenty of fluids. When you have a stuffy nose, add more fluid to your diet. Hot drinks especially act in two ways to help thin sinus mucus. They not only add fluid to your body, but they also steam your mouth and nose, helping keep the mucus hydrated.
Step 2
Use a humidifier. Increasing the water content of the air you breathe can help keep your sinus mucus thin and flowing. Make sure you use a cold air humidifier, as warm air humidifiers can cause burns if the water is spilled or you walk too close to the steam.
Step 3
Spray saline into your nasal cavity. Saline can keep the nasal passages free-flowing by adding salted water to the mucus. The spray also helps wash out bacteria and viruses that may collect in your sinuses.
Step 4
Create a mini-steam room. Sit over a bowl of steaming water and breathe through your nose with a towel draped over your head. The inhaled steam thins the sinus mucus.
Step 5
Take a decongestant for no more than three days. While decongestants can temporarily dry up your mucus, they can also rebound and cause much heavier mucus discharge.
Tip
Avoid antihistamines as they cause your mucus to dry up and thicken. If you take high blood pressure medication, avoid decongestants.