Some otolaryngologists recommend neti pots as one tool to help their patients who suffer from sinus infections. | Unsplash/Corina
Some otolaryngologists recommend neti pots as one tool to help their patients who suffer from sinus infections. | Unsplash/Corina
It’s spring, also known allergy season, and that means hay fever for many people.
One of your best frontline defenses may be sinus irrigation, otherwise known as nasal lavage.
"Sometimes all it takes is just irrigating the sinuses with saline to keep the sinuses clear from all the pollens and bacteria. That's a very simple solution with some patients," Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center told NC Kentucky News.
In the U.S., nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis, also referred to as hay fever, account for one of the most common causes of chronic illness. This is usually due to inhaling environmental pollutants, such as tree pollen and other airborne particles. Hay fever can also be caused by pets, insects and mold.
Unfortunately, some have persistent allergic rhinitis, or pollinosis, which persists year-round. Symptoms of both acute and chronic diseases include sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, watery eyes and itching of the nose, eyes, or the roof of the mouth. Symptoms can last as long as there is exposure to the trigger.
Chronic inflammation solutions and their protocols have changed. However, there are still some basic fundamentals that can alleviate symptoms. Neti Pot, for example, has been around for centuries and is an often overlooked tool where over-the-counter medication typically takes center stage.
One study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, conducted over a period of three months on 747 participants, concluded that saline rinsing reduced the number of patients who reported symptoms versus using no rise at all. And it proved that rinses are an inexpensive yet effective alternative to steroids and over-the-counter medications.
Nasal irrigation should not be considered the cure for nose inflammation and allergies, however. When symptoms interfere with your quality of life, it is time to see an ear, nose and throat doctor.
Those who are interested in in receiving a diagnosis can take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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