Pointers On How To Maintain Your Sinus Spaces Clear And Problem-free

Some individuals experience recurrent or persistent sinus problems which involve symptoms such as pressure or pain on the face, headache, bad breath, cough, nasal stuffiness, and rhinorrhea. There are a number of factors that predispose a person to developing sinus problems and these include structural abnormalities, like deviated septum, small sinus ostia, and presence of nasal polyps. Such abnormalities cause ineffective mucociliary clearance which can encourage pathogen growth and consequently trigger an inflammatory response.

How To Clean Sinuses

Treatment for sinusitis often starts with conservative measures which include nasal irrigation. The exact reasons as to why nasal irrigation is effective is not yet well understood, but aiding in mucociliary clearance is believed to be its most important role. A simple yet effective way to do this is pour a saline solution into one nostril and let it run out through the other while the mouth is kept open to breath, using gravity to assist in the cleansing process. This method involves using neti pots. Neti is Sanskrit for nasal cleansing.

Newer nasal irrigation products can also be found these days and they have motorized pumps, and these have electric motor-driven pumps, have valves that prevent dirty solution from flowing back into the nasal cavity, and have adjustable volume and flow rate. Saline nasal sprays are also available but these are somewhat inefficient for washing away debris, but may assist in promoting drainage by thinning out secretions and rehydrating the mucous membranes and tissues.

While nasal irrigation is well-tolerated on the whole, and beneficial with minor side effects, not doing it properly can bring about problems. For instance, if a large volume of saline solution is administered abruptly, ear pain or infection can result. There are also at least two reported deaths because the solution used in the irrigation was not boiled or unsterilized and thus contains pathogens like Naegleria fowleri which can cause brain infections which are difficult to treat.

This highlights the importance of learning the correct method on how to clean sinuses. It is also necessary to discuss your plans to practice nasal irrigation to your healthcare provider prior to starting it to rule out if there are no structural deviations or pre-existing conditions which makes such method unsafe or ineffective.