How is it already that time of year again? It seems like just yesterday the sun was shining bright and we were enjoying a drink on the beach in perfect 80-degree weather.
Well, okay, this summer was actually pretty gross and it was more like 95 and balmy, but you get what we mean.
The weather has officially gotten cold and now that the clocks have turned back, it looks like it is midnight when it is only 5 P.M. The winter is pretty dark and gloomy.
Weather aside, when the winter comes, so does that awful sniffly nose. Cold and flu season is officially upon us and it is going to be a doozy.
During the 2017-2018 season, influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity began to increase in November, reaching an extended period of high activity during January and February nationally, and remained elevated through the end of March. ILI peaked at 7.5%, the highest percentage since the 2009 flu pandemic, which peaked at 7.7%. Influenza-like illness (ILI) was at or above the national baseline for 19 weeks, making the 2017-2018 season one of the longest in recent years.
It might sound like whining, but is there honestly anything worse than when your nose is stuffed up? Well, there might just be a way to unclog that nose and start breathing easy!
If youโre tired of blowing your nose every five minutes, youโre going to want to try out this hack. According to Prevention Magazine, the method is actually very simple. You might feel silly for never having noticed this sooner!
How To Unclog Your Nose
- Press your tongue to the top of your mouth.
- Press between your eyebrows on your forehead.
- Press, tap, and release for about 20 seconds.
Prevention Magazine created a video to show you exactly how to press your tongue, between your eyebrows, and tap and release.
Amy Rushlow, the managing editor of Prevention, explains the method:
โWhat it does is it rocks a bone called the vomer bone back and forth, and it actually clears everything thatโs congested. You can also try putting your head back and pinching your nose, then holding your breath for as long as you can. Take a breath when you finally have to, and your sinuses should be clear. Your brain realizes that youโre not getting in enough oxygen, so your survival mechanism kicks in, clearing your sinuses so you can get in air.โ
Now, there are many reasons why you might have a stuffy nose. You might be suffering allergies, you might have a common cold, you could possibly have the flu, or you might have a sinus infection. It is always best to consult with your doctor if youโre feeling under the weather.
If you arenโt feeling well, these are some of the top symptoms of the flu according to the Mayo Clinic:
- Fever over 100.4 F (38 C)
- Aching muscles
- Chills and sweats
- Headache
- Dry, persistent cough
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
If youโre worried that youโre not suffering from a little cold and might have the flu, youโre going to want to hurry to your doctors to get checked out. If you do have the flu, you might get medicines like Oseltamivir (an oral medicine) or Zanamivir (an inhaled medicine).
Make sure to get lots of rest and stay hydrated if you do get sick this cold and flu season!
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