WHAT IS STEAM INHALATION?
Steam inhalation is one of the most widely used home
remedies to soothe and open the nasal passages and get relief from the symptoms
of a cold or sinus infection.
Also called steam therapy, it involves the inhalation of
water vapor. The warm, moist air is thought to work by loosening the mucus in
the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. This may relieve symptoms of inflamed,
swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages.
While steam inhalation won’t cure an infection, like a cold
or the flu, it may help make you feel a lot better while your body fights it
off. But as with any home remedy, it’s important to learn best practices so you
don’t hurt yourself in the process.
WHAT ARE
THE BENEFITS OF STEAM INHALATION?
A stuffy nose is
triggered by inflammation in the blood vessels of the sinuses. The blood
vessels can become irritated because of an acute upper
respiratory infection, such as a cold or a sinus infection.
The main benefit of breathing in moist, warm steam is that
may help ease feelings of irritation and swollen blood vessels in the nasal
passages. The moisture may also help thin the mucus in your
sinuses, which allows them to empty more easily. This can allow your breathing
to return to normal, at least for a short period of time.
Steam inhalation may provide some temporary relief from the
symptoms of:
- the common cold
- the flu (influenza)
- sinus infections
(infectious sinusitis)
- bronchitis
- nasal allergies
While steam inhalation can provide subjective relief from
the symptoms of a cold and other upper respiratory infections, it won’t
actually make your infection go away any faster.
Steam inhalation doesn’t actually kill the virus responsible
for the infection. At best, steam inhalation might make you feel a little
better as your body fights your cold.
One review of six clinical trials
evaluating steam therapy in adults with the common cold had mixed results. Some
participants had symptom relief, but others didn’t. Additionally, some
participants experienced discomfort inside the nose from the steam inhalation.
Another recent clinical trial looked at the use of steam inhalation in treating
chronic sinus symptoms. The study, however, didn’t find that steam inhalation
was beneficial for the majority of sinus symptoms, except for headache.
Although the results of clinical studies have been mixed,
anecdotal evidence claims steam inhalation helps alleviate:
- headache
- congested (stuffy) nose
- throat irritation
- breathing problems caused by
airway congestion
- dry or irritated nasal passages
- cough
THE TAKEAWAY
Steam inhalation may be an
effective way to clear up your nasal and respiratory passages when you’re sick
with a cold or the flu, but it won’t actually
cure your infection. Your body’s immune
system will still do the bulk of the work to get rid of the virus causing your
symptoms.
What
works for one person might not work for you. If you experience any discomfort,
pain, or irritation from using steam therapy, stop using it and look for other
ways to alleviate your symptoms.
If you’re feeling under the
weather for more than a week or have severe symptoms, make an appointment to
see your doctor.
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