NASAL SINUS HEALTH

In most patients with asthma, chronic bronchial infections or disease there may be some associated disease involved in the nose and sinuses. The drainage from the nose and sinuses may get into the lungs, especially at night, worsening the condition. Sinus infections, as well as childhood middle ear infections, start as infection in the nose. To help prevent this it is very important to keep the nose clean.

The treatments outlined help keep the nasal passages open and clean. They also help prevent the formation of polyps and reduce infection in the nose and sinuses.

STERILE NORMAL SALINE IRRIGATIONS

SOLUTION RECIPE:

• 2 cups of tap water
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sea salt (no iodine) or canning salt

BOIL solution for 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
SEPARATE and BOIL syringe in separate pan for 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

When the solution cools to body temperature:
Draw up a syringe full of solution.
Bend over the sink.
Irrigate one nostril.
Draw up another syringe full and irrigate the other nostril.
Use all of the solution, alternating nostrils.

IMPORTANT: Aim the syringe out toward the eye slightly—not toward the center of the nose.
NOTE: The solution will come out the nose and the mouth.


BOIL SOLUTION AND SYRINGE BEFORE EACH USE

REGIMEN

In the AM:

1. Spray with long acting nasal spray—2 sprays each nostril (Afrin, 12 Hour, Four Way, Duration—The active ingredient is oxymetazoline.)
2. Wait 5 minutes.
3. Spray again.
4. Do the STERILE NORMAL SALINE IRRIGATIONS

In the PM:

1. Spray with long acting nasal spray—2 sprays each nostril (Afrin, 12 Hour, Four Way, Duration).
2. Wait 5 minutes.
3. Spray again.
4. Do the STERILE NORMAL SALINE IRRIGATIONS
5. Wait 10 minutes. Blow nose.
6. Use 2 sprays of prescription nasal spray in each nostril (Nasacort, Nasonex, Flonase, Rhinocort, Nasarel). Bend over slightly “nose to toes” to keep solution in nose vs. going down the throat.

VERY IMPORTANT: After 5 to 7 days STOP the oxymetazoline spray (Afrin, 12 Hour, Four Way, Duration).

CONTINUE: with the STERILE NORMAL SALINE IRRIGATIONS twice a day and the PRESCRIPTION NASAL SPRAY in the evening.