Thanksgiving is fast approaching. And with it comes savory turkey, tangy cranberry sauce and deliciously sweet pumpkin pie. With so many tasty foods just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure you’re in tip-top shape to enjoy them. One possible roadblock to enjoying Thanksgiving flavors is congestion. Let’s take a look at how congestion affects taste and what you can do to prevent it from interfering with the meal you’ve been waiting for all year.
How Does Congestion Affect Taste?
Taste dysfunction is a common complaint of chronic sinusitis patients. With chronic sinusitis, the tissues in the sinuses become inflamed, leading to congestion and reduced sense of taste and smell. While there is no one reason behind taste interference, the close relationship between taste and smell is often cited when explaining the phenomenon. For example, when you grab a burger from Bravas, the scent of the bun, meat and cheese fills your nostrils, adding to the culinary experience. When you cannot smell your dinner, you may also have trouble fully enjoying its flavor.
How Can I Relieve Congestion for a Better Thanksgiving Dinner?
You don’t need to let congestion get in the way of a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. A few ways you can manage congestion include:
- Treat the underlying condition. One of our ENT specialists can help identify the underlying cause of your congestion—whether allergies, sinusitis or other causes—and provide the necessary treatment.
- Try facial steaming. Breathing in hot steam will moisturize and loosen mucus in your sinuses. You can make your own facial steamer at home by leaning over a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head and breathing in the water vapors.
- Try decongestants. Over-the-counter decongestants provide temporary relief. Remember not to use decongestants for more than three days, as long-term use can cause greater congestion.
- Drink plenty of liquids. Water, herbal tea and fruit juices will help keep your body hydrated and aid mucus drainage.
- Try nasal flushing. Nasal flushing is an effective way to clear congestion. Simply combine saline solution with warm, purified water and pour it through your nostrils using a Neti Pot or special syringe to clear mucus.
With the help of one of our expert ENT specialists and a few simple at-home decongestant tips, you can clear up your stuffy nose in time for a Thanksgiving filled with delicious aromas and flavors. Contact Ear, Nose & Throat Associates to make your appointment today.