Nasal Irrigation for Sinus Issue - Safe or Not?

Nasal irrigation or sinus flush is a simple and safe remedy for relief from sinusitis and other nasal allergies. People use simple neti pots, bulb syringes, and squeeze bottles to wash away the allergens and mucus while giving a relief from stuffy nose.

Nasal irrigation also helps to moisture the mucous membrane that tends to get dry and causes irritation due to sinus symptoms.

Generally, sinus flush is a safe method but there are a few things everyone should remember before flushing that salt or saline water into those nasal passages. The first rule, people should use it only after being prescribed by the ENT specialist.

Besides the guidelines provided by your ENT doctor, here are a few important aspects you should be aware of about nasal irrigation.

First Things First - The Preparation

After the consultation at the ENT hospital, your doctor might have prescribed you with the necessary equipment along with saline solution. It is highly recommended people to buy the saline solution as it is simple and avoids any contamination.

If you are preparing the isotonic solution on your own, use warm and sterile water and mix it with sodium chloride (unprocessed salt) as per the prescribed measures by your doctor. Non-sterile water might contain a parasitic amoeba that might cause a fatal infection by reaching out to the brain.

Step by Step Guide for Nasal Irrigation

Once the solution is prepared and the equipment is sterilised, follow these steps to proceed with the nasal irrigation process. Before that, keep in mind that nasal irrigation is useful only for short-term relief and people with sinus issues should seek medical help for long-term solutions.

Step 1: Stand in front of the sink and fill up the neti pot or bulb syringe (whichever you have been prescribed with)

Step 2: Slightly tilt your head towards the left if you are flushing the right nostril or right-wards if you are flushing the left nostril.

Step 3: Take a deep breathe and gently flush the solution inside the nostril. Do not try to breathe but if you have to, use your mouth (not nose).

Step 4: Once the irrigation is completed for both the nostrils, take a clean towel of tissue and gently wipe off the debris and water inside the nose.

Nasal irrigation can be done while you are lying down too. Lie down on your side and keep a pan below your nose. Use the neti pot to start the draining process.

Is Nasal Irrigation Impactful?

Even though this method is proven to be extremely effective, people with sinus are expected to be careful with their saline preparation and the frequency of nasal irrigation.

Check with your doctor as to how often you should irrigate. Generally, your doctor might suggest 1-3 irrigations per day. The threats of excessive irrigation are the damage of the sensitive membrane inside the nose and the infection caused by parasitic amoeba.

Safety Tips for Nasal Irrigation

• Wash your hands, clean the neti pot, bulb syringe, or the squeezer and dry them completely.
• Irrigation is not recommended even for excessive nasal congestion if you have recently undergone a sinus surgery.
• Ensure the water is not cold or not hot. Lukewarm solution is always recommended.
• Clean the equipment properly after each irrigation and dry them.

You Should Avoid Sinus Flush in the Following Contexts: 

• Performing it on infants and children.
• If you have any facial wounds that are yet to heal or skeletomuscular injuries.
• Frequent irrigation beyond the recommended count by your sinus specialist.

The Risks Involved in Sinus Irrigation

Apart from the risk of dangerous parasitic amoeba infection, there are other risks involved in sinus irrigation that is performed incorrectly. Be informed that these are risks and not necessarily to be associated with everyone who performs nasal irrigation.

• Heaviness of head, dizziness and headaches.
• Ear fullness and ringing sensation
• Sneezing and itchiness inside the nose
• Bleeding in a very few rare cases

Bleeding might also happen in people who have undergone nasal surgery recently and it can be perceived as a common effect. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, reach out to your ENT doctor for an examination. 

Takeaway:

Nasal irrigations are safe as long as they are performed under the strict guidelines of your doctor. If you feel any abnormalities such as headaches, seizures, or bleeding, book an appointment with the best ENT hospital in your locality, at the earliest.