Humidify the Air
You may think that more mucus means more trouble, but having a moist environment for your mucous membranes can help clear them out. Humidifiers will add moisture to the air in your home, which helps your tissues stay moist and prevents them from drying out. Breathing through a humidifier is similar to breathing through a steamy bathroom. The moisture is soothing on your throat and nose. If you have a cold or upper respiratory infection, you’ll want to get a humidifier that produces a cool mist. The hot steam from a humidifier can irritate inflamed tissue in the nose and throat.
Also, a humidifier may help reduce nasal congestion by keeping the nasal passages moistened. This makes breathing easier through the nose, which helps avoid mouth breathing (bad because it dries out your mouth) and throat clearing (bad because it dries out the throat). To get the most benefit from a humidifier, use it at night while you sleep. This way, the water vapor will stay in your room overnight and help keep your nose and throat moist all night. If you’re using a cool mist humidifier, make sure to wipe off any mineral deposits that form on the surface of the water tank every day.
