Allergy Relief
May 29th, 2012If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it is important to do daily irrigation of the nasal passages. This process removes particles of pollen that are stuck in the small hairs of the nose that can make you sneeze even after you are back indoors. I often recommend this to patients as an adjunct to oral antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and also for upper respiratory infections (URI) that cause sinus congestion.
Nasal saline rinses are available at most pharmacies in many different forms. There are bottles that look like water bottles, “Neti pots” which look like small teapots, and metal cans that look like hairspray cans. I prefer these aerosol saline nasal sprays as they are easy to use and require no mixing of salt and water. You can do the rinses leaning over a sink at the office or while you are in the shower, as you will already be wet and the steam from the shower can help to loosen the mucus in the nasal passages. Be sure to use gentle pressure as the lining of the nasal passages are delicate. If you happen to be by the ocean, a dip in the water is a great way to clean out the nasal passages.
