BREATHE CIRCLEAll articlesBuy DilliFollow the leaflet instructions on how long to use a decongestant nasal spray. If your doctor has prescribed a spray, discuss any changes with them.
Breathe freely. Live better.
From grape to raisin
Thomas Müller, founder of Breathe Circle · The founder's personal blog
What does a blocked nose feel like? Imagine a plump grape in each nostril. These three drawings show what happens inside your nose when you use a decongestant spray.
Figure 1 Two plump grapes
A grape on the left and another on the right. You try to breathe in through your nose, but hardly any air gets past. In our drawing, the grapes represent the soft tissue with its rich blood supply that covers the turbinates inside your nose. When this tissue swells during a cold, there is less space for air to pass through.
Figure 2 A single spray
You reach for a decongestant nasal spray. What happens inside your nose? An active ingredient such as xylometazoline narrows the small blood vessels in the nasal lining. The swelling goes down and the tissue takes up less space.
Figure 3 Two little raisins
Look at all the space around the raisins! In the drawing the grapes have shrunk. Inside your nose, the swelling in the lining has gone down. Within a few minutes, it often feels easier to draw air in again.
Try the Breathe Test before reaching for the spray
Before you reach for a decongestant spray for a blocked nose, take five seconds. Breathe in gently through your nose. Place one finger on each cheek beside your nostrils, gently draw the skin outwards and breathe in again. Let go and compare.
Start the five-second Breathe TestDoes that feel like enough air for me?
During the test, you make a little more room at the entrance to your nose. Any swelling around the turbinates further back stays the same.
Yes, that feels like enough air.
You could try Dilli to see whether it comfortably holds your nostrils open in everyday life. If breathing through your nose that way feels sufficient, you may be able to manage without a decongestant spray at that moment.
Meet the DilliNo, that still feels too restricted.
If your nose is often blocked or you regularly reach for a spray, talk to your pharmacist or GP. If you also snore, the Breathe Better Test can help you note what you have noticed before your consultation.
Explore the Breathe Better Test