Saline Irrigation Eases Chronic Nasal Symptoms

Saline Irrigation Eases Chronic Nasal Symptoms
FRIDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Saline irrigation is a safe,inexpensive and effective method for treating chronic nasal and sinussymptoms, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System also concludedthat saline irrigation -- the flushing of nasal passages with a salt watermixture -- is more effective than commonly used saline sprays at providingshort-term relief of chronic nasal symptoms.
The study included 121 adults with chronic nasal and sinus symptoms.Sixty were treated for eight weeks with saline irrigation, and 61 weretreated with saline spray.
The patients in the saline irrigation group showed greater improvementat two, four and eight weeks.
After completion of the study, 61 percent of patients in the spraygroup reported having symptoms "often or always," compared with 40 percentof patients in the irrigation group.
"The irrigation group achieved a clinically significant improvement inquality of life in terms of severity of their symptoms, whereas the spraygroup did not. Strikingly, (the irrigation group) also experienced 50percent lower odds of frequent nasal symptoms compared with the spraygroup," lead author Dr. Melissa A. Pynnonen, clinical assistant professorin the department of otolaryngology, said in a prepared statement.
The study, published in the current issue of the journal Archives ofOtolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery, received funding fromNeilMed Pharmaceuticals, which makes a saline sinus rinse.
Tens of millions of Americans suffer from chronic nasal and sinusconditions. Treatments include antibiotics, antihistamines andanti-inflammatory drugs. The findings of this study suggest that doctorsshould recommend saline irrigation more often for patients with chronicsinus and nasal conditions, Pynnonen and her colleagues said.
More information
The University of Michigan Health System has more about sinusproblems.