Nasal rinsing technique eases sinusitis

Nasal irrigation, a traditional therapy that has been shown to help people with chronic sinus problems, can be easily learned with a 30-minute group training session, a new study shows.

Patients in the study also reported a sense of “empowerment” because they could use and adjust the technique effectively on their own rather than requiring multiple doctor visits and prescriptions, Dr. David Rabago of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and colleagues report.

Used for thousands of years in the Ayurvedic and Yogic traditions, nasal irrigation involves rinsing the nasal cavity with a saline solution to get rid of mucus that may contain allergens or infectious agents.

Rabago and colleagues had previously reported that a six-month trial of nasal irrigation in patients with chronic stuffy nose (rhinitis) and sinusitis reduced symptoms and medication use and improved quality of life. In the current study, Rabago and his team surveyed 28 patients who participated in the study about their experience.

The patients found that barriers to learning the technique included fear of having liquid in the nasal cavity, initial discomfort and mild side effects, the need to learn how to perform nasal irrigation effectively, and the need to set aside time for nasal irrigation, Rabago and his team report in the Annals of Family Medicine.

However, participants said that the 30-minute group sessions in which they learned to perform the technique—especially “coached practice”—helped them to overcome these misgivings.

They also reported incorporating nasal irrigation into their existing daily hygiene routine, using warm water, and making adjustments to the salt content and schedule to ease discomfort.

“This ability to manage their own treatment likely contributed to the reported sense of empowerment and personal control of their chronic symptoms, further enabling continued use,” Rabago and his colleagues write.

They also comment that they were surprised by the “passion and drama” of many of the patients’ reports of how using the technique eased their symptoms and improved their quality of life.

SOURCE: Annals of Family Medicine, July/August 2006.

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