Saline nasal sprays should be made using isotonic saline, or salt water at the same concentration of salt as that found in normal body fluids. Sprays containing more or less salt than this burn when administered. Saline solution in nasal spray coats the inside of the nose and can reach the frontal sinuses, located behind the cheek bones. These solutions do not have to be perfectly sterile, because the nasal environment is not sterile. Nevertheless they should be as clean as possible so as not to introduce any new viruses or bacteria into the respiratory tract.
Moisturizing
The membranes inside the nose and sinuses are tender and dry easily. According to FamilyDoctor.com, the use of a normal saline nose spray helps to moisten this tender skin. Keeping this area moist can help to prevent a bloody nose from dry and cracked sinus membranes.
Clearing
Normal saline injects moisture into a potentially dry environment and helps to clear the nasal passages and drain the sinuses. According to doctors at MyOptumHealth.com, normal saline nasal spray helps loosen crusty mucus in the upper respiratory tract and also helps prevent crusts from forming. Bacteria find the environment under these crusts inviting, which can lead to sinusitis if not addressed properly.
Allergies
Nasal sprays and nasal washes help the body to flush out allergens from the upper respiratory tract. Removing these proteins and allergy triggers reduces the number of allergic reactions during allergy season. According to doctors at Mayo Clinic, this option does not cause a rebound effect of worsening symptoms when treatment is discontinued, unlike when decongestant drugs are used. Most normal saline nasal sprays and washes are safe, nontoxic, nonirritating and can be used by children.
Colds
According to doctors at the University of Michigan Health System, in addition to keeping nasal passages moist, normal saline nasal sprays reduce the probability of bacterial growth and assist the natural cleaning process of the upper respiratory tract. In a study performed at the University of Wisconsin, researchers found that slightly acidic saline nasal sprays reduced viral shedding, although respiratory symptoms were not alleviated. Researchers recommended more studies to determine if buffered nasal sprays could reduce rates of rhinovirus transmission, the pathogen responsible for the common cold.
References
- Family Doctor: Colds and the Flu
- MyOptumHealth: Nasal Irrigation: Rinsing Your Allergies Away
- Mayo Clinic: Cold Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't, What Can't Hurt
- Journal of Infectious Diseases; "Inhibition of rhinovirus replication in vitro and in vivo by acid-buffered saline."; JE Gern and AG Mosser; April 2007
