With the coronavirus outbreak spreading around the world, many of us are concerned with how to defend ourselves against this illness and build up our immune systems to protect against it.
According to the CDC, there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
That said, there are ways to defend against getting the virus: wash your hands and use a nasal sinus rinse to keep your nasal passages clean, healthy and open
“Next to washing your hands and getting a vaccine, which doesn’t yet exist for the coronavirus, using a sinus rinse like the NeilMed Sinus Rinse is one of the best ways to avoid contracting a respiratory virus like coronavirus or influenza,” says Dr. Farhad Ardeshirpour, a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon at Ardesh Facial Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills.
In general, the nose most play a natural (very important) part of the human body that serves as a defense system. “Blood vessels in the nose and face are extra dense. In the nose, they support hair growth,” says Dr. Ardesh. So, unsightly or awkward as your nose hairs may be, they play an important role in keeping you healthy and why you shouldn’t pluck them out.
Good nose hygiene, just like good hand hygiene is critical because the main mode of transmission of most germs (including viruses) is hand to nose, mouth, or eye contact. “To viruses and many other germs, the human nose is an inviting entryway, but using a nasal rinse encourages us to keep that entryway clean, ” Dr. Ardesh tells Style Salute.
So, what exactly is a sinus rinse, where can you get one, and how do you use it? Keep reading for the answers!
What is a sinus rinse?
A sinus rinse (nasal irrigation system) is often recommended by doctors to their patients to help clear the sinuses of the irritants and mucus that can cause nasal congestion or illness. It’s great for allergies or after nasal surgery and can be an effective remedy to help keep the nasal passage moist. Sinus rinses are drug-free and can be used alongside medications without concern.
How do you use a rinse?
Most of these nasal rinse products have a sterile squeeze bottle and sinus rinse solution packets, which you mix with previously boiled or distilled water to create saline (i.e. a mild saltwater).
Most saline rinse products include a squeezable plastic bottle that holds 8 ounces of water, a premixed saline solution packet, and a tube that extends from the cap into the bottle (this is the part that goes into your nose). You’ll want to make sure to always use lukewarm water that’s distilled or previously boiled to rinse your sinuses. DO NOT use plain tap water. Sinus rinse bottles are for personal use and should not be shared among family members and should be washed and dried thoroughly between uses.
What is the best sinus rinse out there?
There are a few different brands of sinus rinses on the market. Which one you choose to use largely comes down to your personal preference. Here are just a few that you can find at Amazon:
The NeilMed Sinus Rinse
NeilMed Sinus Rinse: This is the one that most doctors recommend. NeilMed Sinus Rinse is an easy squeeze bottle system that allows you to deliver the saline solution with positive pressure to clean the nasal passages thoroughly while maintaining your head in an upright position.
The full NeilMed Kit
Daily rinsing is safe and will keep your nasal passages clean, healthy and open. The squeeze-bottle system allows you to control the pressure of the rinse while providing a therapeutic and soothing experience.
The NeilMed Bottle
The NeilMed Premixed Saline Packets
The NeilMed Standing Dock
Here is an informative (and quite entertaining) video to show you how to use the NeilMed Sinus Rinse:
SinuCleanse Soft Tip Squeeze Bottle
SinuCleanse Soft Tip Squeeze Bottle
The SinuCleanse Soft Tip Squeeze Bottle uses positive pressure to deliver a controlled flow of the all-natural saline solution into the nasal passages with your head in an upright position, while its soft tip provides a gentle seal with your nostril, creating a comfortable nasal washing experience.
SinuCleanse Soft Tip Micro-Filtered Nasal Wash System
The SinuCleanse Micro-Filtered Nasal Wash system makes receiving the benefits of Nasal Washing simple. The built-in water-filter meets the CDC recommendation for nasal washing with tap water. This provides peace of mind, while also eliminating the cost of bottled water or the inconvenience of boiling and pre-filtering tap water. It also allows for easier temperature control of the saline solution.
Here’s a video from SinuCleanse on how to use their sinus rinse:
The great part about Nasopure’s patented ergonomic design is it can help you to wash your nose without bending, twisting, or putting unnecessary strain on your neck. Flushing the solution straight BACK (Nasopure), verses UP (neti, other squeeze bottles) makes ALL the difference in how comfortable your solution is. Nasopure enables you to hold your head up, look straight forward, and the water flows on the floor of the nasal cavity to effectively clean your sinus without that drowning feeling associated with both traditional neti pots as well as other squeeze bottles and powered nasal irrigation alternatives.
Here’s an instructional video for how to use Dr. Hana’s Nasopure.
