Pass on the following advice to help customers stay congestion-free and breathing easy:

• Keep nasal passages moist by using sea water or saline sprays or washes
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Use steam inhalation. A hot steamy shower or a vaporiser may help
• Do not smoke and avoid smoky atmospheres
• Be scrupulous about personal hygiene. Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing; wash hands regularly; discard used tissues immediately
• Raise the head of the bed a few inches or use extra pillows to ease any breathing difficulties.

When to refer

You should refer a customer to the pharmacist if they:

• Have symptoms which are severe or last longer than 10 days
• Have a fever lasting for more than three days
• Produce nasal discharge that is yellow/green and accompanied by sinus pain or pressure
• Have blood in their nasal discharge or a persistent clear discharge after a head injury
• Notice a change in vision or swelling around their eyes
• Are a baby with nasal congestion that is causing feeding difficulties
• Are a child who may have a foreign object inside their nose
• Have symptoms that initially improve but then worsen
• Are taking prescribed medication for a long-term medical condition
• Have symptoms that persist despite the use of appropriate OTC medication.