Nasal Saline Spray
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What does saline nasal spray do?
Nasal saline sprays help with dryness inside the nasal passages. It helps add moisture inside the nose to dissolve and soften thick or dried mucus. Using a saline nasal spray may relieve stuffiness and makes breathing easier. Over-the-counter saline sprays and rinses can help loosen and remove pollen from the nasal lining. Saline sprays also help to keep the cilia inside your nose healthy. Cilia are tiny hair-like structures that help humidify the air before the air reaches the lungs. They trap bacteria to keep them from entering the cells. By maintaining healthy cilia, saline sprays may help treat rhinitis and sinusitis, studies show. It may relieve nasal dryness and help prevent nosebleeds, congestion from the common cold, or seasonal allergies. Saline nasal sprays usually contain sterilized water, sodium chloride (salt). The spray delivery system is typically a squirt or pump bottle.
How to use a saline nasal spray?
Follow instructions on the product packaging to determine the best way to use a spray.
Here are general guidelines:
Get in an upright position, as you do not need to tilt your head back.
Clear out the nostrils by gently blowing your nose.
Close the nostril to which you will not apply the spray by pressing with a finger against the side.
Place the spray beneath the nostril to which you are applying. Take care to aim away from the septum that divides the nasal cavity's left and right sides to avoid damaging it.
Keep the mouth closed and breathe in lightly through the nostril while gently squeezing or pumping the spray applicator. Typically, the instructions are to apply two pumps.
How often can you use a saline nasal spray?
Apply saline spray through the nostrils as often as the symptoms require. They have little risk of side effects, so you may use them as often as needed. The results may be relatively short-lived, requiring multiple uses per day. With frequent use, you may notice a runny nose as the excess saline solution drains.
Is saline nasal spray safe?
A saline nasal spray is safe for frequent use. The sprays contain a simple saltwater solution that both children and adults can use. Using a saline nasal spray can help restore moisture in dry nasal passages, the sinuses, and mucous membranes. You may use saline nasal spray daily without potential harm.