Clear sinuses with saltwater
Q: Can saltwater really help my sinuses?
A: If you’re one of the millions of Americans dealing with sinus problems, you know how miserable facial pain and clogged nasal passages can be. Many sinus sufferers have turned to nasal saline irrigation, a therapy that uses a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal passages.
Many people with sinus symptoms from allergies and environmental irritants use the Neti pot, or other nasal irrigation device, to alleviate congestion, facial pain and pressure. Research backs up these claims, finding that nasal irrigation can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms when used along with standard sinus treatments. Nasal irrigations thin mucus and help flush it out of the nasal passages. They may also be effective at removing allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems.
Other typical treatments used with nasal irrigations include allergy medications such as antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids. Patients with persistent nasal obstruction or sinus congestion despite these therapies may benefit from simple clinic procedures such as turbinate reduction to open the nasal airway and balloon sinuplasty to open blocked sinus passages. If these procedures are appropriate for you, your ENT surgeon will typically use nasal saline irrigations postoperatively to expedite the healing process.
Nasal saline irrigations are an effective tool used by patients and physicians alike to treat chronic sinonasal complaints.