


However, you can have your child sit in a steamy bathroom while you run hot water in the shower for a similar effect. In fact, one study found that most people who received burns from steam inhalation therapy were children. Steam inhalation isn’t advised for children due to the risk of burns.

For these, you just need to add water to the level indicated and plug in the system. You can also purchase an electric steam inhaler (also called a vaporizer) online or at a drugstore. However, you can repeat steam inhalation two or three times per day if you’re still having symptoms. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for at least two to five minutes.ĭon’t steam longer than 10 to 15 minutes for each session.Be extremely careful to avoid making direct contact with the water. Shut your eyes and slowly lower your head toward the hot water until you’re about 8 to 12 inches away from the water.Drape the towel over the back of your head.Carefully pour the hot water into the bowl.a pot or kettle and a stove or microwave for heating up water.breathing problems caused by airway congestion.The study, however, didn’t find that steam inhalation was beneficial for the majority of sinus symptoms, except for headache.Īlthough the results of clinical studies have been mixed, anecdotal evidence claims steam inhalation helps alleviate:
#Sinus steam inhaler trial
Additionally, some participants experienced discomfort inside the nose from the steam inhalation.Īnother recent clinical trial looked at the use of steam inhalation in treating chronic sinus symptoms. Some participants had symptom relief, but others didn’t. One review of six clinical trials evaluating steam therapy in adults with the common cold had mixed results. At best, steam inhalation might make you feel a little better as your body fights your cold. Steam inhalation doesn’t actually kill the virus responsible for the infection. 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. sinus infections (infectious sinusitis).Steam inhalation may provide some temporary relief from the symptoms of: This can allow your breathing to return to normal, at least for a short period of time. The moisture may also help thin the mucus in your sinuses, which allows them to empty more easily. 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 blood vessels can become irritated because of an acute upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or a sinus infection. A stuffy nose is triggered by inflammation in the blood vessels of the sinuses.
