Key Takeaways
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Nasal strips open up your nasal passages to improve airflow and provide instant relief from congestion.
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They can help to reduce snoring caused by blockages in your nasal passages, improving sleep quality.
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They are often effective for mild to moderate congestion but might not work for deeper issues like nasal polyps or a deviated septum.
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Alternatives such as mouth tape, nasal dilators, and nasal sprays may also help to bring relief from congestion.
Nasal strips work for many people dealing with a stuffy nose and mild nasal congestion. They’re a non-invasive and super simple tool to help open nasal passages and improve airflow instantly, especially while you sleep.
If you’ve been searching for a solution like nasal strips, it’s likely that you’re tired of waking up with a stuffy nose, struggling to breathe at night, or snoring.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how nasal strips help and what alternatives you can try.
Understanding Nasal Congestion: What Causes a Stuffy Nose?
Wondering, “why can’t I breathe through my nose?”. A blocked nose can be caused by swollen nasal tissues, excessive mucus production, and/or physical abnormalities within your nasal passages.
Blood vessels in your nasal passages can become inflamed from an illness, allergies, or irritation, making it difficult to breathe through your nose.
Common causes of nasal congestion include:
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Colds or the flu
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Allergies (common triggers include pollen, dust, pet dander)
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Sinus infections
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Mouth breathing
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Deviated septum
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Nasal polyps
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Dry air or environmental irritants
The Benefits of Nasal Strips
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Improves Airflow Right Away
Nasal strips use a gentle, spring-like tension to lift the sides of your nose and open up the nasal passages.
This action helps to increase airflow immediately, which makes it easier to breathe through your nose, especially while you sleep or during physical activity when you need to breathe more rapidly.
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Reduce Snoring and Improve Sleep Quality
One of the main causes of snoring is blocked nasal passages, either due to swelling or congestion. A stuffy nose can also make you breathe through your mouth, which can worsen snoring, too.
Nasal strips lower air resistance in your nasal passages by widening them, which can reduce the vibrations in your airway that lead to snoring. This means quieter nights and deeper, better sleep for both you and your partner.
Take a look here at some of the best nasal strips for snoring and some great tips to stop mouth breathing.
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Help During Colds or Allergies
When you're dealing with a cold or seasonal allergies, a stuffy nose can ruin your sleep and leave you dreaming of the days you could once breathe comfortably.
Nasal strips offer instant relief by physically opening up blocked nasal passages, without medication or side effects.
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Supports Nasal Breathing Training
If you’re trying to reduce mouth breathing and become a full-time nasal breather, nasal strips can be a big help.
Used alongside mouth tape, they can help to reinforce nose breathing during sleep and help break the bad habit of mouth breathing.
Here’s more on what you should know about being a nose breather vs. mouth breather.
Managing Expectations: The Limitations of Nasal Strips
Nasal strips are helpful but not perfect for all situations. Here are some of their limitations:
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They Don’t Fix Structural Issues
Nasal strips can help to relieve symptoms like stuffiness and congestion, but they don’t treat root causes like nasal polyps, chronic inflammation, or a deviated septum.
For lasting relief in these types of cases, medical treatment through the guidance of your healthcare practitioner is recommended.
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They Don’t Fully Prevent Mouth Breathing
While nasal strips can help reduce the likelihood of mouth breathing by promoting easier nasal breathing, it doesn’t prevent mouth breathing from happening.
To completely stop mouth breathing in its tracks, tools like mouth tape can be more helpful.
Check out our guides on the benefits of mouth tape for sleep and how to stop sleeping with your mouth open.
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Placement Affects Performance
If nasal strips aren't placed at the correct position across the bridge of your nose, they may not lift your nasal passages effectively to properly improve airflow. Therefore, proper placement is essential for the best results and consistent benefits.
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Adhesive May Not Work for Everyone
Some people find that nasal strips don’t stick to their nose well, especially if they have oily or sweaty skin. Poor adhesion can reduce their effectiveness, especially if the strip peels off during the night while you’re asleep.
That’s why it’s essential to choose a high-quality product, like Dream Recovery Second Wind Nasal Strips, that are guaranteed to stay put during both sleep and exercise.
Other Ways to Breathe Easier: Nasal Strip Alternatives
If nasal strips aren’t enough, other tools can help you breathe more freely.
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Mouth Tape
Mouth tape promotes healthier nasal breathing by gently keeping your mouth closed. Some of the many benefits of mouth taping include:
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Reduced snoring
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Better oral health
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Deeper sleep
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Improved sleep apnea symptoms
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Enhanced relaxation
It’s essential to choose a high-quality mouth tape in order to experience the maximum benefits while avoiding side effects like skin irritation.
Dream Recovery Mouth Tape is the superior choice - thanks to the use of organic bamboo silk and hypoallergenic adhesive, it’s designed to stay on all night for maximum efficacy, all while being gentle to the most sensitive skin.
Transform your sleep with Dream Recovery Mouth Tape.
Note: You should only use mouth tape when you can comfortably breathe through your nose.
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Nasal Dilators
Unlike nasal strips, nasal dilators go inside your nostrils to keep them open instead of being placed on the outside of your nose.
They’re also reusable and may even be more effective for moderate to severe nasal blockages or structural issues since they push the nostrils open from the inside out. However, they are more invasive, which means they might not be suitable for everyone.
Compare nasal strips vs. nasal dilators here.
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Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays can be useful to help reduce inflammation or clear excess mucus to bring better airflow.
Saline sprays are drug-free, while medicated ones may help during allergy season or sinus infections. However, these shouldn’t be used long-term, since this can lead to dependence and other side effects.
Learn more here about how to widen nasal passages naturally.
Experience the Dream Recovery Difference: Premium Nasal Strips for Optimal Sleep and Congestion Relief
If you’re tired of waking up congested or find yourself snoring throughout the night, Dream Recovery’s Second Wind Nasal Strips provide instant relief from congestion and improve nasal breathing by up to 33%!
With 2 different colors and strength options, plus a skin-safe adhesive, they’re perfect for colds, allergies, mouth breathers, and overall sleep enhancement.
Breathe easier with Dream Recovery Second Wind Nasal Strips.