Rinse the nose with saline solution

Why do you need to rinse your nose?

The mucous membrane of the nasal cavity is a favorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms. Harmful substances enter it through the air and begin to act. In addition, dust and mucus accumulate there.

Rinsing the nose with saline helps:

• improving cell activity;
• cleansing from dust, mucus, microorganisms;
• moisturizing the mucous membrane;
• normal functioning of the respiratory system;
• reducing swelling and strengthening capillaries;
• liquefaction of mucus and its successful removal;
• increasing local immunity.

  

A positive effect is achieved after the first procedure. Do not forget that a common cold can develop into a purulent runny nose and become a harbinger of sinusitis, sinusitis and sinusitis. To achieve a positive result, it is necessary to properly prepare the cleanser.

The benefits of rinsing and contraindications to them

Rinsing the nose with saline at home is recommended in certain cases:

• If a person lives in an unhealthy atmosphere that cannot be improved in any way. Too high a temperature, too low humidity, dust-laden air - all this has a negative impact on health. Rinsing will help moisturize the mucous membrane and wash away dust, which will benefit the body.
• If a person works in a hazardous industry. Allergens settling on the mucous membrane are a sure way to develop an allergic reaction, asthma, or even obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore, it is advisable to wash them off, even if there are no symptoms yet and they do not cause any inconvenience.
• If he has allergies or chronic diseases accompanied by rhinitis. For a runny nose caused by anything from common allergies to the more rare sinusitis, clearing mucus from your nasal passages is a good idea. Dust and pathogenic microorganisms are washed away, the main symptom of a runny nose - congestion - is alleviated, and, therefore, oxygen starvation disappears. The general condition becomes easier.
• If he has an infection in his body. A runny nose caused by inflammatory diseases is also recommended to be treated with rinses - they wash away pathogenic microorganisms, moisturize and disinfect the mucous membrane, reduce swelling, which generally has a positive effect on the course of the disease.
• During pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's mucous membranes swell, resulting in mucus stagnation and breathing problems. This condition is physiological and will resolve itself as soon as the baby is born, but for nine months, salt water for rinsing becomes a mandatory procedure.

Washing at home moisturizes the mucous membrane, strengthens local immunity, helps cure rhinitis of any etiology and prevent allergies. But for all their unconditional usefulness, they also have contraindications:

• hypersensitive mucous membrane - in this case, any, even the smallest amount of salt in the solution will lead to the formation of a burn;
• tendency to nosebleeds - if the mucous membrane is unsuccessfully touched, the capillaries will break and as a result blood will flow;
• deviated nasal septum - because of it, air passes through the passages with problems, like water, as a result the solution can stagnate and cause a burn;
• nasal obstruction - when rinsing, the solution passes from one nostril to the other, but with complete obstruction this is simply impossible;
• neoplasms in the nose - polyps and other tumors on the mucous membrane interfere with the passage of the solution, and can also react to it with sudden rapid growth;
• otitis - both chronic and acute, is fraught with the fact that if a small amount of solution gets into the ear (and this is quite possible if you do not calculate the pressure), the condition will worsen and the disease will intensify.

Washing is also not carried out for patients with a high temperature - and a weakened body can react to them unpredictably.

How to cook it correctly?

The recipe for preparing an effective remedy at home is very simple. To do this, you need to have table salt at home, iodized or sea salt. If you want to use sea salt, then please note that it should not contain any flavorings, preservatives, dyes or other chemicals.

To prepare a saline solution at home you will need:

1. Boiled water
   . You can use tap water, but filtered, boiled and not too hot.

   

2. Salt
   . You can buy sea salt at the pharmacy or use regular table salt.

   

3. Sieve
   . After preparing the solution, it must be filtered through a sieve. This way you will eliminate small undissolved particles and stones that can damage the mucous membrane.

   

In order for the resulting product to have a positive effect, it must have a certain concentration: 2 tsp. salt per 1 liter of boiled water. The temperature of the solution also matters; it should be within 25-30 degrees.

Make a fresh saline solution each time; 250 ml of liquid is enough for one rinse for an adult.

If you do not adhere to the proportions for preparing the product at home and add less salt, the liquid will not be salty enough. In this case, you will experience a burning sensation, increased mucus secretion or nasal congestion, and redness of the eyes. Over-salted water contributes to dryness of the mucous membrane. This is due to the antiseptic effect of salt on tissue.

How to prepare saline solution for nasal rinsing

What is better to rinse your nose with: a store-bought solution or a prepared one? Rinsing the nose with a drug purchased at a pharmacy is safer, because it is guaranteed to be sterile, but a solution prepared at home is much cheaper. Saline solution for rinsing the nose is quite easy to prepare at home.

Prepare it in clean, well-washed dishes!

It is unacceptable to use poorly washed dishes or dishes washed in cold water without soap.

For rinsing, you can use bottled non-carbonated mineral water.

In terms of proportions, the standard recommendation for preparing a saline solution is one teaspoon per glass of water . However, you can vary the salt content depending on the sensitivity of your mucous membranes.

The negative effect of washing will be if you take dirty, unboiled water: you can get an infection and, instead of helping and treating, you will only aggravate the course of the disease. Tap water can be contaminated; to neutralize it, it must be boiled and then cooled to body temperature. Water that is too hot can burn you, and water that is too cold will overcool your nose and sinuses and cause irritation.

You can use sea salt to prepare the solution . Sea salt for nasal rinsing may be more effective than regular salt. First you need to choose the right sea salt, since the choice in stores and pharmacies is quite large.

Recipe for saline solution for rinsing the nose:

The first step is to carefully study the composition and make sure that there are no unnecessary ingredients (for example, flavorings). Next, you should make a saline solution for rinsing the nose: mix 250 ml of water with 2-3 teaspoons of sea salt. You need to pour a small amount of saline solution into your palm and inhale it into your nostril; it is recommended to blow out the remainder.

An alternative method is rinsing the nose with saline . Is it possible to rinse your nose with saline? Saline solution is intended and used for dissolving and diluting medications, injections, droppers, infusions during dehydration, but it also finds a wider range of applications as a means for rinsing the nose. In addition to rinsing the nose, you can use saline solution for inhalation for children. Saline solution is cheap and is sold at any pharmacy in various packaging, for example, in ampoules or bottles.

Methods for rinsing the nasal cavity

To rinse your nose with saline solution, you need to follow some rules. First of all, pay attention to the temperature of the water, which should not be too hot, as it can burn the already damaged mucous membrane. Cold water with salt lowers local immunity and leads to an exacerbation of symptoms.

When a liquid with dissolved salt is injected into the nose, the head must be tilted to the left, then to the right and the mouth should be opened slightly so that the product does not pass into the auricle.

To carry out the procedure, special devices are required: a watering can, a small teapot with a thin spout or a syringe. There are several popular and effective methods of rinsing the nose:

1. Inject the saline liquid into the nostril using a watering can or syringe. Then wash the second one in the same way. The water will flow back through the mouth.

   

2. The procedure is carried out over a sink or basin, turning your head to the side. The liquid is injected into each nostril in turn. It passes through the nasal passages and is poured out in the opposite nostril without entering the throat. If water continues to enter the pharynx early, then during the procedure the patient pronounces the sound “and”.
3. This method of rinsing the nose with water and salt is the most effective, but it must be performed by an experienced ENT doctor. The patient needs to lie on his back, then soft catheters are inserted into his two nostrils. The prepared product is poured into one catheter, and it is sucked out through the other. During the procedure, the patient must say “cuckoo” (that’s why this method is called “Cuckoo”). Sounds are made to prevent liquid from entering the bronchi.

After any procedure, the mucous membrane can be lubricated with sea buckthorn oil or Vaseline. Since salt water, along with mucus and purulent secretions, washes away the lubricant of the mucous membrane. It becomes dry and unprotected.

Nasal rinsing for sinusitis at home

Flushing is especially effective for this disease, but it is only part of a comprehensive treatment. By rinsing the nose with saline solution, the process of natural removal of pus and mucus is resumed. In addition to sea or ordinary salt, you can also add iodine to the water. Before washing, you need to blow your nose very well. If this does not work, then you should use vasoconstrictor drops. Helpful Tips:

1. Before rinsing your nose with salt water, you should consult with your doctor, who will recommend the safest technology for performing the procedure for your stage of the disease. This is necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to the middle ear.
2. For one wash, you need to prepare 0.1-0.2 liters of solution. Make a fresh batch each time.
3. Do not bring the liquid to a temperature exceeding 39 degrees.
4. Perform four washes per day.
5. When performing the procedure, pronounce the sound “and-and-and”, then the solution will not get into your mouth. The soft palate will protect the nasopharynx from the throat.
6. For sinusitis, wash for at least a week, or better yet, for two.

How should you rinse your child's nose?

The saline solution is so safe that it can be used by children, including newborns. The concentration of salt for children should be four times lower than for adults. Of course, it is very difficult to force a child to rinse the nasal cavity. Parents should try to calm the baby down and explain to him why this is necessary.

Carry out the procedure when the child is calm so that his breathing is normal, do not make sudden movements and take your time.

How to rinse the nasal cavity of young children:

1. To rinse a baby's nasal passages, you need to lay him on his back. Use a pipette to introduce liquid. Place a couple of drops in each nostril. Then, using a nozzle suction device (aspirator), remove all contents from the nose. After the procedure, remove the remaining discharge from the nose with a cotton swab moistened with Vaseline or oil.

   

2. For older children, the procedure is performed as follows: lay the child on his back and inject the product. Then sit the baby down so that the fluid can come out on its own.

When rinsing a child’s nasal cavity, it is not recommended to use a syringe, syringe, or other device that delivers liquid under pressure. A strong jet can damage a child’s nasal septum or cause otitis media.

Advantages of the procedure

In order for nasal rinsing to bring only benefits, it is very important to learn how to carry out this procedure correctly. If you follow all the recommendations, you can achieve a number of positive results:

• cleanse the nasal passages of pollen, pollen and other irritating elements, which will significantly reduce the risk of allergies;
• strengthen capillaries and improve the functioning of the cells that line the nasal cavity, which helps improve local immunity;
• disinfect the nasal cavity - this will reduce the severity of inflammation and prevent the development of infectious pathology;
• eliminate swelling , which will help facilitate nasal breathing.

Rinsing the nose with saline solution for sinusitis, sinusitis, rhinitis and other lesions of the respiratory system can significantly reduce the duration of therapy.

Frequency of nasal rinsing

How often can you rinse your nose? It all depends on the complexity of the situation and at what stage the runny nose is. Acute inflammatory processes are treated for at least two weeks. For regular prevention, it is enough to rinse up to twice a week. For regular irrigation of the mucous membrane and removal of stagnant mucus, the procedure is carried out once every seven days.

In the presence of chronic infections, the nasal cavity should be regularly rinsed with saline solution.

Regularity of sinus rinsing depending on age

:

• children from birth
  - 3-4 times a day, two drops in each nostril;

  

• for preschoolers
  - you can use sprays or a regular syringe - 4 times / day, 2 sprays or 1 ml of liquid;
• for schoolchildren and teenagers
  - 4-6 times a day;
• adults
  - up to 8 times a day.

Experts advise using salt water for 2-3 weeks for colds and viral diseases. For preventive purposes, the procedure is carried out with the same dosage for 10-14 days.