How Skipping Alcohol Can Help Clear Your Sinuses
Like many of us, maybe you’ve decided to put down the glass after a party-filled holiday season.
“Dry January,” which involves abstaining from alcohol for the month of January, has grown in popularity in many countries, with a large number of people participating globally.
Aside from strengthening your will power, this practice can have some surprising health benefits.
Have you ever considered that an evening glass of wine or weekend beers might be contributing to your sinus congestion? While alcohol is often seen as a way to unwind, it can have various “unpleasant” effects on the body, including our sinuses.
First, we have to understand how sinus congestion works. Sinus congestion occurs when the nasal passages become inflamed and filled with excess mucus. This can lead to discomfort, difficulty breathing, and a host of other symptoms. Common causes include certain lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption.
Alcohol can cause blood vessels to expand, leading to swelling in the nasal passage. This can aggravate sinus congestion, especially in individuals already prone to sinus issues.
Also, certain alcoholic beverages like beer and wine contain histamines, which can trigger allergy-like symptoms, including nasal congestion. A real buzz-kill!
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it encourages the body to lose fluids. This can lead to dehydration, thickening the mucus in your sinuses and lungs, making it harder to clear. Staying hydrated is key to keeping mucus thin and manageable.
Giving up alcohol for Dry January can help keep you and your sinuses from drying out!
While having a drink now and then is a common part of many people's lives, it's important to be aware of how alcohol can affect you. Reducing or eliminating alcohol can lead to decreased sinus congestion, better hydration, improved sleep, and a stronger immune system.
Regardless of whether or not you resolved to giving “Dry January” a try, you can always clear out sinus congestion in less than 30-seconds, thanks to Naväge.