ARE YOU USING YOUR NASAL SPRAY PROPERLY?

MANY patients don’t use nasal sprays correctly, says Jay Goswamy, a consultant ENT surgeon and specialist in allergy at the Spire Hospital in Manchester and Wythenshawe Hospital.

When you insert the nozzle into your nostril, point it towards that cheek and away from the midline (the bit of cartilage between the nostrils at the bottom of the nose, also called the cartilaginous septum). Then sniff gently. This will ensure the treatment gets into the mucosa, the nasal lining, and into the openings of the sinuses, where the majority of nasal secretions originate.

Lean forward as you apply the spray to help the treatment remain within the nose. Pointing the nozzle towards the midline blows away the mucus, drying out the septum, and can cause bleeding; sniffing too hard also means the particles of the spray bypass the nasal cavity and end up straight in the throat.

The best time of day to use steroids or antihistamines is first thing in the morning — though a steroid spray should be used again at night. (Taking antihistamines in the morning means they can work all day).