Some otolaryngologists recommend neti pots as one tool to help their patients who suffer from sinus infections. | Unsplash/Artem Beliaikin
Some otolaryngologists recommend neti pots as one tool to help their patients who suffer from sinus infections. | Unsplash/Artem Beliaikin
It’s spring, which is allergy season, which brings on hay fever.
One of your best defense mechanisms is sinus irrigation, otherwise known as nasal lavage.
In the U.S., nasal allergies, or allergic rhinitis -- often referred to as hay fever -- make up one of the top 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, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Some patients 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, according to Mayo Clinic.
Chronic inflammation solutions and their protocols have changed. However, there are still some basic fundamentals that can alleviate symptoms. Neti Pot, for example, or a nasal lavage, has been around for centuries, and is an often overlooked tool where over-the-counter medication typically takes center stage, according to WebMD.
"When people get sick, rinsing the nose can temporarily be helpful," Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told East DFW News.
One study, published by 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. The 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. When symptoms interfere with the quality of life, it is time to see an ear, nose and throat doctor.
Those who are seeking a diagnosis for hay fever or other sinus symptoms can take this Sinus Self-Assessment to start down the path of treatment.
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