US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — The nose is the “gateway” of the airways. Like a cavity that is directly connected to the outside world, it looks like an air intake in an air conditioner at home, and dirt is easily held in it. You would thus need definite professional intervention similar to the ones that provide ac repair Douglas County or anywhere in your vicinity! From an anatomical point of view, too, in the nasal cavity there is hair in the nostrils and numerous folds of the mucous membrane in which dust, microorganisms and viruses can accumulate.
Therefore, during emergencies caused by the epidemic, when you need to “wash your hands and wear masks,” do not forget to rinse your nose as well.
How often should I do rinsing?
We recommend that you rinse your nose once a day, and it is best to do this when you return home. It is recommended that you develop a habit similar to washing your hands or changing clothes when you get home to ensure a clean nasal cavity.
If you are exposed to a more polluted environment, flushing should be done immediately, as soon as you leave such a environment, it is also recommended to increase the frequency of flushing per day.
How to rinse?
For most people, it is enough to rinse the nose with boiled water, which is close in temperature to body temperature, because too high or too low temperatures can quickly lead to irritation of the nasal mucosa and cause discomfort.
Patients with chronic rhinitis, as well as people with severe nasal congestion, can use salt water for washing, as it helps reduce swelling of the tissues of the nasal cavity and mucous membranes. When choosing salt water for washing, it is recommended to use it together with a nose irrigator to get to the deep part of the nasal cavity, thereby reducing the symptoms of nasal congestion more effectively.
The method of preparing a saline solution for washing at home is very simple: pour a regular cup of boiled water (about 300 ml in volume), add 1-2 tablespoons of salt without a slide (about 2-3 grams per spoon) into it and mix well. Pay attention to the amount of salt added, because a high concentration can cause dryness of the nasal cavity, and in severe cases will lead to damage to the mucous membrane and even bleeding.
How to rinse?
When washing the nasal cavity, you need to slightly lower your head down. Hold a mug of warm water directly under the nostrils and carefully draw the water of one nostril into the nasal cavity, then exhale. The amount of water drawn into the nasal cavity at a time should not be too large.
Use commercially available nasal irrigators in accordance with the instructions and remember that they also do not need to be pressed too hard. A person using an irrigator should regularly clean and replace the nozzle as well, because after prolonged use, bacteria accumulate in it, which carries with it repeated pollution of the nasal cavity.
Please note that when washing the nose, you should not throw your head back, as this increases the risk of water entering the lower respiratory tract and can provoke a cough, which can cause aspiration pneumonia, especially in children and the elderly.
Can I use cotton swabs to clean my nose?
We do not recommend the use of cotton swabs or wet cotton swabs to clean the nasal cavity, because they are a physical irritant to the mucous membrane and, more importantly, there is a risk of foreign bodies entering the nasal cavity, therefore it is safer to rinse directly with warm water or saline.
Anyone can wash their nose on their own?
In some special cases, you cannot rinse the nasal cavity yourself. For example, this applies to patients who have just had nose surgery. Since their nasal mucosa is an affected surface, they should consult a specialist before using a specific method of washing their nose.
Ultimately, during a special period of protection against an epidemic, rinsing of the nose is necessary for personal safety and hygiene, but it is also important to be careful and correctly perform this procedure. I suggest everyone to acquire such a useful habit of a healthy lifestyle, such as washing hands, washing or taking a shower, and this is washing the nose.
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The article is written and prepared by our foreign editors from different countries around the world – material edited and published by Ordo News staff in our US newsroom press.