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Running and clogged sinuses
Rhino
TheRhinLOLRegistered User regular
TheRhinLOLRegistered User regular
I'm trying to get back into running. This morning my sinus/nose was really clogged. I couldn't even breath though my left one (when I held my right one shut). I tried some saline mist and also ate some hot peppers. Didn't really help much.
I'm not allergic to anything. Just gets clogged up when I sleep.
When this happens I'll start breathing though my mouth which really tears up my throat. What do professional runners do ?
I'm not allergic to anything. Just gets clogged up when I sleep.
When this happens I'll start breathing though my mouth which really tears up my throat. What do professional runners do ?
Rhino on
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I hate to out myself as someone who sticks a teapot up my nose to irrigate it, but I'd try this too. I've suffered from clogged sinuses on the right side of my face for years, and couldn't believe the difference this made.
If it doesn't work, then I'd try antihistamines.
I've actually been wanting to try this for a while but am horrified of it as a concept.
with all the support it's been getting from people I know I may have to try this out
Yeah, the idea of it seems kinda crazy on the outside, though when you get down to it you're just putting a solution in your nose that helps dislodge and soften mucous. Really, it reminds me of swimming in the ocean. It doesn't hurt at all to do it, or even really feel awkward (aside from if you think about how you look while you're doing it.)
Basically, you take a teapot (you can buy squeezable pots designed specifically for this use, though I just use an old teapot) and fill it with warm water, and add salt. You should probably look up the exact measurements, I'm used to sort of winging it when I mix it up.
Then you lean over a sink (doing it in the tub might be a good idea the first time), stick the spout of the teapot in your nose, and tilt it upwards so the water goes into your sinuses. You can either let it drain out through the back of your mouth or remove the spout and let it out of your nose. Some will be going in your mouth either way.
It sounds kind of silly, but (unlike when you snort up chlorinated water at a pool) it doesn't hurt at all, and it does a surprisingly good job of clearing out the sinuses --even stuff that doesn't flush out comes out a lot more easily when you blow your nose, once you've done it. I don't do it every day, but I do it regularly enough that my right-sinuses are open.
edit: there we go
tip: When you blow your nose afterwards, do it crazy gently. Too much pressure will basically make it feel like you have water in your ears, but it'll hurt more.
I breath inwards and lean my head back for 15 or 20 seconds to keep the water up there, before I finally just blow my nose in some tissue paper.
Kinda gross, but it cleans my sinuses pretty well. I can understand the folks talking about using salt water, but I've never tried that myself.
I gotta try this.
Take it to the next level
http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinusrinse.php
Had one of these in my kitchen cabinets since it came out.
Nah, I meant I tilt the teapot up
Also, tilt your head forward and to the side. The water should be coming out the other nostril. If it's going into your mouth, you're tilting your head back.
You can get a proper neti pot for like $20, including 50 or so packets of the powder. There really is no reason to go cheap and start using regular salt, here. $0.40 per rinse is pretty damn cheap, anyway.
Edit: Couple more points
- If it wasn't clear from any of the above, do this for both nostrils, tilting your head to the opposite side. (ie: Stick up left nostril, tilt head to the right).
- After each nostril, stand up straight and sniff in gently. Solution will go into your throat. Spit it out. This helps clear out the back of your sinuses.
I can't imagine breathing through my nose when running, the amount of air you need cannot be had through those tiny little holes!
I'm still alive!
Also, I have not tried this yet. But I'm definitely going to...
you're supposed to breath in through your nose and out through your mouth aren't you?
I can understand using both but there's no way just breathing in through your nose would deliver enough oxygen.....when your body is fighting for oxygen it's your gaping mouth that it's trying to pull air through. I just can't imagine running at a pace where breathing in through my nose would suffice.
It's how I've always been taught to run. Even when we ran drills and sprints in football and wrestling it was in through the nose and out through the mouth. Most people seem to follow this pattern, although as on magazine puts it "The same with whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. Most runners naturally breathe through both. Famed New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard, when asked how runners should breathe, once replied: "Breathe through your mouth. Breathe through your nose. Suck the air in through your ears, if you can.""