Stuffy nose help

[chrisw]

Stuffy nose is helped more by nasal irrigation than by a saline nasal spray.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 19 -- For chronic rhinitis, nasal irrigation may clear sinuses substantially better than a saline spray, suggested a comparison of what has been assumed to be equivalent treatments.

Flushing the sinuses with salt water about doubled short-term improvements in symptom severity and frequency compared with saline spray, reported Melissa A. Pynnonen, M.D., of the University of Michigan here, and colleagues in the November issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

www.medpagetoday.com/AllergyImmunology/Allergy/dh/7433
The study was funded by Neilmed, the people who make Neilmed Sinus Rinse. I have used their product for several years and fully agree with the study. I have been able to get their products at drugstores in Canada as well as the US.

In case you wonder - nobody has (yet) offered me any money for recommendations that I make on-line ;D
Chris

[cocojax]

I watched Dr. Oz on Oprah and I have just been using warm water with salt and flush my sinuses with a baby aspirator and I can finally breathe through both nostrils...no dryness and no more nose bleeds...

[Vic]

Chris -- Odd that you should pick this time to post this. I have been having bad sinus problems the past two nights, so last night I hooked up my WaterPik Nasal Irrigator and I slept like a baby last night, except for a few bladder calls.

The reason I like the WaterPik system so much is that I fill up the container with 24 oz. of filtered water, add 2 tsp of Kosher salt and 3/4 tsp bicarb and heat in the microwave till it's rather warm and the salts are dissolved. The 24 oz reservoir allows me to do 12 oz. through each nostril and that really gets the job done.

The shame of it all is that I never think of it until I'm in really bad shape...if I could remember to do it once a week, that would be great. -- Vic

EDIT: As I reread the article, this blurb really hit home:

"Furthermore, the magnitude of improvements with nasal irrigation (range 12.2 to .2 points) was not substantially different from improvements seen with sinus surgery (19 to 22 points) in one study and was greater than that with oral prednisone (10 points) in another."

[maryaz]

Hi Chris and thanks for the post. To you and Vic, I just cannot do the rinse. I bought the Neilmed and did it one time but it is just a weird feeling to me. I never did it again.

I don't know if you have to get used to it or most people it does not bother. I think I see how it can help.

Sure beats anyone having to get surgery.

Chris; I often mention products that I use. I just assume people realize we are not here to sell. When new members join and start in right away to sell, that is different story.

Cocojac; Shouldn't you at least boil the water or use distilled. Maybe you meant you boil it and bring it to warm.

Thanks everyone.

[Vic]

Mary -- I have tried the Neil system and I found it awkward. The WaterPik system does not require you to buy a machine...just a new tip for your existing machine (assuming you already have one).

What I have found while using the WaterPik is that I must start on the lowest setting and gradually raise the output. I imagine it opens the sinuses as it goes and then I can go full pressure. It takes about 4 or 5 seconds to bring it up to full.

I can't even begin to tell you how much of a difference it has made for the last 3 days...it's unbelievable. When my sinuses get closed at night, I breathe through my mouth and I just dry out and wake up in a panic...Apnea I would imagine. Constant dry mouth is also very bad for your teeth. The reward of unimpeded sleep is one that has no price. -- Vic

[maryaz]

Thanks Vic for the input. I really appreciate it. Don't have a WaterPik and never have.

[LindaNY]

cocojax said:

I watched Dr. Oz on Oprah and I have just been using warm water with salt and flush my sinuses with a baby aspirator and I can finally breathe through both nostrils...no dryness and no more nose bleeds...

I don't watch Oprah but I've been doing this for years. My ENT recommended it to me.

[Deleted]

chrisw said:

Stuffy nose is helped more by nasal irrigation than by a saline nasal spray.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 19 -- For chronic rhinitis, nasal irrigation may clear sinuses substantially better than a saline spray, suggested a comparison of what has been assumed to be equivalent treatments.

Flushing the sinuses with salt water about doubled short-term improvements in symptom severity and frequency compared with saline spray, reported Melissa A. Pynnonen, M.D., of the University of Michigan here, and colleagues in the November issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

www.medpagetoday.com/AllergyImmunology/Allergy/dh/7433
The study was funded by Neilmed, the people who make Neilmed Sinus Rinse. I have used their product for several years and fully agree with the study. I have been able to get their products at drugstores in Canada as well as the US.

In case you wonder - nobody has (yet) offered me any money for recommendations that I make on-line ;D
Chris

Saline spray IS salt water. How can there be a difference in how well the treatment works? I found that if you want to make your own saline, 1 Teaspoon of salt, 1 Cup of warm water.

Do you mean to say that salt water is OCEAN water? I can not recall seeing Ocean water for sale at drug stores.

You have me very confused. Teaman.

[Vic]

Teaman -- It is not the product (saline spray) that is different, but the method of application or delivery that makes the difference.

When the article said flushing the sinuses, it is referring to nasal irrigation, not just a spray from a bottle of saline solution. -- Vic

[chrisw]

You are right that saline spray is salt water. However a little bottle of saline spray holds about 4 0z. and lasts weeks if not months. The salt water flushing uses 8 oz to oz at one time.
So salt water flushing actually washes away dirt, dust and allergens, while the saline spray merely moisturizes the mucous membrane.
Big difference!!!

[maryaz]

Teaman; Did you used to belong to the Senior Forum that Janet started and Mic (Canada Pharmacy) had put the board up. Teaman is not a real common user name. If so, I was there as Mary.