Problem: Article: A bedridden person may or may not be able to keep with their own hygiene tasks. If they can't, you or another caregiver will need to help them. Even if they can, you might need to provide them with reminders and the tools to take care of their hygiene. Bathing, dental care, nail care, hair care, and changing clothes are all tasks your parent may need help with. For bathing, you may be able to help your parent into a shower chair (using a wheelchair), where they can mostly bathe themselves with some supervision. On the other hand, they may need a sponge bath. If your parent is completely bedridden, you'll need to bring items to them. For instance, you can bring a toothbrush, a cup with clean water, and a spitting cup over to the bed. Let the person brush their teeth or ask them to open their mouth so you can brush their teeth. Make sure you are helping them trim their nails regularly. They will likely need help with their toenails, even if they don't need help with their fingernails. You'll also need to help the person shave. An electric razor works best for this process, particularly if you've never shaved anyone else. Being bedridden comes with certain health risks that you need to help watch out for if you're providing care for your parent. For instance, bed sores are a common problem. They generally appear where the person's body touches the mattress, such as the bottom of the feet, the shoulders, the buttocks, and the back of the head. To combat pressure sores, try to change your parent's position every 2 hours, and encourage them to move their body in the bed as much as possible. You can also find special mattresses and cushions that can help relieve pressure points. Pay attention to the sheets. They should be cotton or silk, and you should smooth them out before putting your parent on them, as wrinkled sheets can increase the chance of bed sores. Make sure your parent's skin is moisturized regularly. Also, avoid using scented soaps and talcum powder, as those can dry out the skin. Dry skin makes your parent more susceptible to bed sores. It can also help to make sure your parent is drinking at least 2 liters of fluid a day. On people with darker skin, you may see blue or purple patches, while the patches will be red or white on lighter-skinned people. Cracks, wrinkles, swelling, shiny areas, blisters, and dry areas are also indicators of bed sores. Talk to a nurse if you start noticing these signs. When laying in bed regularly, liquids can build up in the lungs, leading to congestion and even pneumonia. The best way to combat this problem is to make sure your parent is rotated to a new position regularly, preferably every 2 hours. The emotional side of an illness can be just as destructive as the physical side. When your parent becomes bedridden, they can't do the things they used to or visit with the people they enjoyed seeing regularly. Encourage people to come over and visit with your parent, so they have regular interaction. Also, try to encourage your parent to still participate in activities they enjoy as much as possible. For instance, if your parent enjoys making art, get them a small set of art supplies they can use in bed with a table. It's also important to provide a safe place where your parent can talk about what's going on. They need a sounding board as much as you do. You can be this person some of the time, but make sure that your parent feels comfortable talking with other people as well. If you are their only source of support, then this can put a lot of pressure on you when you already have so much going on.
Summary: Help with basic hygiene. Watch for bed sores. Look for signs of chest problems. Provide emotional support.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: A saline nasal spray helps to clear your nasal passages of mucus, and to moisturize your nasal passages. Use the spray as directed, and be patient. The first couple of uses may be helpful, but it will likely take repeated uses to get the full benefit. A neti-pot is a device that resembles a small teapot. Used correctly, a neti-pot flushes out mucus and trapped irritants, and moisturizes your sinus passages. The device works by putting saline or distilled water in one nostril and allowing it to drain out the other, removing unwanted irritants and germs, and provides a moisturizing and soothing effect to the sinuses. A neti-pot can be purchased inexpensively over-the-counter. Talk to your doctor before taking over-the-counter products if you have existing medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and glaucoma. Products like these can be helpful, but they don't work for everyone. Oral decongestants contain the active ingredients phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. The more common side effects caused by these products include nervousness, dizziness, feeling that your heart rate is increased, slight elevations in blood pressure, and sleep problems. Oral decongestants work by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages, helping the swollen tissues to shrink. This improves the flow of mucus to reduce the pressure and the flow of air so you can breathe easier. Products that contain pseudoephedrine, originally marketed as Sudafed®️, can be purchased without a prescription but are kept behind the pharmacy counter due to concerns about inappropriate use. You will be asked to provide identification, like a driver's license, and your purchase will be recorded. This is only done for your safety to control the illegal use of pseudoephedrine. Decongestant nasal sprays or drops are also available over-the-counter but should be used with caution. While these products can help to clear sinus passages and relieve the pressure quickly, using them for more than 3 days results in a rebound effect. A rebound effect means that your body adjusts to the medications being used, and the congestion and pressure returns, or is possibly worse than before, when you try to stop using them. Limiting their use to no more than 3 days prevents that rebound effect. Sinusitis, or sinus pressure and congestion, can be caused by allergies. Taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Claritin®️, Zyrtec®️, or their generic equivalents, can help to control the allergic response and relieve the symptoms you are experiencing. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen may help to reduce the discomfort associated with the sinus pressure. Taking ibuprofen or naproxen may also help to reduce some of the inflammation in the nasal passages. Other symptoms that may be helped by over-the-counter pain medications include the associated headache, and discomfort often described as an ache in the teeth.
Summary:
Use a saline nasal spray. Get a neti-pot. Take oral decongestants. Use a medicated nasal spray. Take an oral antihistamine product if your sinus pressure is caused by allergies. Take over-the-counter pain medications.