Common "Steam Inhalation" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Steam Inhalation

Inhalation of water vapor from boiling water is called steam inhalation. Steam inhalation is the most commonly used natural remedy for a blocked nose and other symptoms caused by a cold or sinus infection. It does not cure the infection but provides temporary relief from symptoms like stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, cough, and dry nasal tract.

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All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.

What are the causes of diarrhea and nausea every morning, with terrible sinus headache?

Query: Hello doctor, I have had a sinus infection for over eight weeks now. After trying to get rid of it using Neti pot and Flonase, I started taking antibiotics. I had my sinuses scraped about four years ago due to a recurrent sinus infection. I went to a dentist because of a broken tooth, that was causi...  Read Full »


Dr. Sagar Ramesh Makode

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. So you have two issues, one is your sinusitis, and the other is diarrhea. Gastritis is probably antibiotic associated, so you need to discuss with your doctor and change the antibiotics that are causing your diarrhea. I would suggest the following for your gastric pro...  Read Full »

Please suggest a medicine for cough and cold.

Query: Hello doctor, I have a cold, cough and I am ill for the past two days. Please suggest any medication because I am having my exams.  Read Full »


Dr. Mayank Arya

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. lt is the body's mechanism to fight off the infection thats why we get cough and sneeze to expel the infection and it is not the medicine that could help you for the exam. Purchase a steamer or dehumidifier, pour in camphor oil or Karvol vapocap (Chlorothymol+ Mentho...  Read Full »

My pregnant wife is suffering from cough and nose block. Please help.

Query: Hi doctor, My wife is 26 weeks pregnant and she is suffering from cold and cough for the past two days. Also, she is having a chronic nose block from her 12th week and using nasal spray for relief. She is finding it very hard to sleep for the past two days because of continuous cough. Her cough is w...  Read Full »


Dr. Sweta Singh

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Any infection is not good for pregnant women. Please confirm if your wife has any fever. Meanwhile, you can take the following measures to help her feel comfortable; Give cough syrup two teaspoons thrice a day. Honey and ginger cough lozenges once in two hours. Give gin...  Read Full »

Why am I having irritation in lungs and throat?

Query: Hi doctor,I have a nagging tickle or irritation on the top of the lungs and at the bottom of the throat. It causes me to cough occasionally. I have this problem for two months with no other symptoms. I shout at some people during work and I sing frequently. I am curious whether I have damaged my voi...  Read Full »


Dr. Shyam Kalyan. N

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Please mention whether you had a sudden onset or whether it was gradual. Please mention the duration of this onset, had any associated pain, any difficulty in breathing, any change in voice, any allergies, any aggravating factor, and relieving factors. I think that you ...  Read Full »

Shortness of breath and chest pain after breathing in steam. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 26 year old male weighing in 185 Ibs and 5'9". I do not take any medications. I am worried if I am at risk of any complications after having breathed in some steam/air at about 350 F. I was covering a pot roast I had just taken out of the oven when I accidentally took a breath o...  Read Full »


Dr. Ritesh Kumar Singh

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on the history, at times, though not very common, steam/air inhalation can cause inflammation of the airway leading to respiratory symptoms and even pulmonary edema. So, keep an eye on symptoms like development of hoarseness of voice, wheezing, stridor, breathless...  Read Full »

Kindly suggest an effective treatment for bad cold.

Query: Hello doctor, My wife is 28 years old. She is having a bad cold since last few days and having throat pain and discomfort. She has an ear pain because of continuously coughing and sneezing. Kindly let us know any further precautions and medications so that it can subside soon. She is currently havin...  Read Full »


Dr. Saumya Mittal

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. This sounds like a viral infection. I would suggest the following: Steam inhalation four times a day. Warm saline gargles four times a day. Plenty of fluids, preferably warm. Tablet Revital Woman (Ginseng root extract and multivitamins) once a day after food. T...  Read Full »

I have breathing difficulty with cold while lying down. Please help.

Query: Hi doctor, I do not know what happened, but I stopped being able to breathe the last night. It was terrifying. My nose was stuffed up and I have been trying to get over the cold for almost 16 days now. I was laying on my back and had a dream (it was not scary at all). During the dream, I realized th...  Read Full »


Dr. Sagar Ramesh Makode

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The primary likely cause appears to be nasal congestion, particularly more pronounced during sleep, which can lead to a sensation of feeling choked. This congestion often eases when awake and mobile, causing a shift to mouth breathing, which is not as prevalent during sl...  Read Full »

My 1.1 years old baby often gets cold and cough. Why?

Query: Hi doctor, My daughter is 1.1 years old and she weights around 18.7 lbs. For the last couple of months she gets cold and cough for every 10 days. We are not using any medication. Let us know if we have to get her tested. Is this is really a concern. Apart from this, she is very active and has no oth...  Read Full »


Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. 1. This is common in children in this age group. 2. Due to the seasonal variation, children of this age group are prone to get upper respiratory infections especially children who are bottle fed. 3. You should only be worried if your child develops fever persistentl...  Read Full »

I get rhythmic noise in ear and fullness which goes away on forceful breathing. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I have been hearing a wind like rhythmic noise in my right ear. It also makes my ears feel full. When breathing forcefully it might go away for some time but it comes back again.  Read Full »


Dr. Navelkar Rohan Sanjay

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. A ringing sound or wind-like sound in the ear lasting for more than five minutes is called tinnitus. If less than five minutes, it is not significant. This particular sound you are describing can be caused due to dysfunctional eustachian tube, i.e. the tube connectin...  Read Full »

My nose feels partially obstructed and my head feels swollen. What to do?

Query: Hello doctor, My nose feels partially obstructed, and my head feels swollen. What to do? Please help.  Read Full »


Dr. Divakara. P

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Nasal obstruction most commonly occurs due to nasal congestion secondary to allergy or infection. But sometimes it could be due to Deviated Nasal Septum (DNS), which requires examination or x-ray of PNS for confirmation. Most likely in your case, it is nasal congestion wi...  Read Full »

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