Allergic diseases are very common and include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), chronic sinusitis (infections), asthma, food allergies, drug allergies, insect allergies, and anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reactions). If people knew what they were allergic to, and took proper preventative measures, they would not have nearly the amount of suffering or medication use. Here are ideas to help people understand how they can live healthier lives.
I am writing about nasal sinus rinses using saline solution or water because I have been thinking about this for a long time. (It's been almost 2 years since my original post on this topic. Thank you, loyal readers!) I get lots of questions about the optimal frequency, the best technique and which preparation to use. Here are my answers..... 1. I recommend doing nasal sinus rinses at least twice per day. The best time is to do it while you are brushing your teeth. You are already at the sink. If you have been exposed to allergens (pollen, etc.) or irritants (perfumes or mowed grass) or some one with an infection, then you should rinse as soon as possible. Don't leave these things lying on your nasal and sinus mucosa. Remove them as soon as possible. How long would you leave dirt on your hands before washing them? 2. After watching some U.S. Open tennis, the serves in particular, I can tell you my definition of the best technique for nasal sinus rinses. Lean forward so your head is even with your lower back. Turn your head sideways, so your nose is about 45 degrees from vertical. Insert the saline solution or water in the upper nostril, gently but firmly. I had never had water enter my ear. Water has entered my throat when I was not leaning forward enough. Let the water drip out by itself. Brush your teeth in the mean time. Don't forget to use all of the water in the bottle to rinse that side and then switch and rinse from the other side.
3. There are more preparations trying to cash in on the market, not that I blame them (photo). The Nasopure (blue, photo) worked fine. The ActiveSinus bottle (orange capped bottle, photo) was the only product I tested where the bottle consistently leaked when I squeezed. Water went on my face, but not into my nose. Sorry, but I rate this as a "Fail." There are several products in a can pressurized with air (photo). When the nozzle is depressed, either a fine mist (photo) or a squirt of water comes out. The pressure within the canister is sufficient to spray the water about 3 feet vertically. If you use a canister, be careful not to scrape against the nasal septum, because you may get a nose bleed. The nozzles don't form a complete seal, so there is a strong tendency for the water to leak back out the same nostril in which it was introduced. Yet this is gentler and may be preferred by kids. If this is the case, I prefer the spray canisters not the mist.
And now for the bonus feature: a video on youtube of your Allergy Dude demonstrating his technique for nasal sinus rinsing.
Go, go, nasal rinsing!!
Dr. Kao, I got my shots today at ADAC and I have had a headache all day. Greenville is the allergy hell of anywhere I have ever been BUT your nasal rinsing video really cheered me up! I have done the neti pot since 2001 or so. This is the 1st time I've seen your blog. I started at ADAC in 1988. Obviously I have not enjoyed a cure, but I have renewed hope that YOU might find one for me. Thanks!
Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States
I am a board certified specialist in internal medicine as well as allergy and immunology. I practice in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina.
I attended the University of Chicago as an undergraduate—although this was before Barack Obama taught there!—and earned my B.A. in Chemistry in 1984. I earned my M.D. at the University of Illinois Medical School. Then, I did a three-year residency in internal medicine at Lutheran General Hospital. Finally, my two-year fellowship in allergy and immunology was at Rush Medical College.
This blog is dedicated to my wife and four kids. My motto (courtesy of my wonderful wife) is, "If you sneeze or wheeze, come see me, please." She is the reason I went into allergy. She has severe allergies, and I wanted to learn about how to take better care of her health. The service organizations I support are the American Lung Association and Boy Scouts of America.
The purpose of this blog is to help people understand and manage allergic diseases. This blog is the direct result of patients asking me questions. I am always trying to improve, so if you notice an error, please contact me.
"When I was young, my ambition was to be one of those people who made a difference in this world. My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better place for my having been here. It's a wonderful life and I love it." Jim Henson
"Life is very short, and very uncertain; let us spend it as well as we can." Samuel Johnson
MY GOALS AT PATIENT EVALUATIONS
1. Figure out what is going on. What's the name of the disease process? What's the cause(s)? Ask questions, examine, order diagnostic tests. 2. Make me better, yes, at the price of taking more medications initially. 3. Keep me better, preferably on as little medication as possible, for the long-term. Some medications may be necessary to prevent attacks.
Go Green: Conserve and Recycle
A reminder from ADAC's Green Team Chairperson (NK). Thank you!
Note: I have completed the CITI Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Biomedical Course in the Responsible Conduct of Research Curriculum.
1. The mission of this website is to help people understand allergic diseases and so to help them be better managed.
2. I have written all content on this site unless noted otherwise.
3. Information on my site is meant to complement and not replace any advice or information from your health care professional.
4. My Privacy policy forbids disclosure of patient's personal information without their prior approval.
5. I am fully in charge of this blog and I receive no other funding than from amazon ads.
6. There are amazon ads on my blog, that they are distinguished by the terms "amazon ads". I do not control their content and that these ads do not influence my content.
1 comment:
Dr. Kao,
I got my shots today at ADAC and I have had a headache all day. Greenville is the allergy hell of anywhere I have ever been BUT your nasal rinsing video really cheered me up! I have done the neti pot since 2001 or so. This is the 1st time I've seen your blog. I started at ADAC in 1988. Obviously I have not enjoyed a cure, but I have renewed hope that YOU might find one for me. Thanks!
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