The best buys at your local pharmacy

AILMENT: STUFFY NOSE
DRUGFESS OR OTRIVIN
LOWDOWN The nose produces mucus to help it warm and humidify the air we breathe so it’s easier for our lungs to use. Mucus should be clear and runny, but sometimes it dries up, making you feel stuffy. If you’ve got dried-up snot, use Fess nasal spray – it’s a saline solution that’ll thin out chunky mucus. For more hardcore cases, try Otrivin. It helps open the airways.
ALTERNATIVE Narium instead of Fess and Drixine instead of Otrivin.
FINE PRINT While Fess is fine to use as often as you want, over time other nasal sprays can damage nose lining and cause rebound congestion. So yeah, don’t use them too often.
SEE A DOCTOR If symptoms persist after three to four days or if you have a temperature.

Photo by Women's Health Aug 2, 2011