The Best Way To Cleanse Your Sinuses
Cleaning out your sinuses can be good for you, especially if you have seasonal allergies, rhinitis, chronic sinus problems, or a sinus infection (via the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology). Allergic rhinitis is your body's reaction to allergens, like pollen and pet dander. It can be seasonal or year-round allergies. Symptoms include a stuffy, runny nose, and sneezing, and it can even cause headaches and postnasal drip. You can also develop nonallergic rhinitis, which is typically caused by a common cold.
A great way to treat rhinitis is by using a saline solution (via Merck Manual). A saline sinus rinse can flush away allergens, relieving those annoying symptoms. It can also help rinse away dust, mucus, and other irritants, leaving your nasal passages clean and moisturized. Saline is a fancy term for a saltwater solution.
Saline rinses for your sinuses are safe and easy to do. It can take a little getting used to as you allow liquid to travel through your nasal passages. However, following some safety precautions are essential to ensure a safe and healthy nasal rinse (via Healthline). Let's review the best way to cleanse your sinuses.
The best way to cleanse your sinuses
You can use a Neti pot (a miniature teapot), a squeeze bottle, or a bulb syringe to cleanse your sinuses. Of course, everything needs to be clean and sterilized before and after use. If your nasal rinse device and water aren't sterile, you can get an infection that can be fatal without treatment (via Medical News Today).
Before you begin, wash and dry your hands, and ensure that the device is clean and dry. Fill the irrigation device with room temperature, distilled water, and a packet of saltwater — you can find these packets where you get the device. Using the premeasured packs is much easier than doing it yourself. Lean over your bathroom sink, tilt your head, and put the device up to the nostril that's upward. Allow the saline solution to come out of your other nostril and drain into the sink. Some might come out of your mouth, and that's fine. Breathe through your mouth while doing so. Repeat on the other side, and blow your nose when you're done. Wash your device and allow it to air dry completely, or use a paper towel to dry it. You can do this once a day to effectively cleanse your sinuses (via WebMD).