When nasal rinses are done properly, the side effects, if any, are typically minor and temporary. The most common issues resulting from a nasal rinse are a burning or stinging sensation in the nose and mild irritation in the nasal passages.
Usually, there are no side effects. Some people experience burning or stinging in their noses after doing nasal irrigation. If this happens, reduce the amount of salt you use in your saline solution. Also, make sure that boiled water has cooled to lukewarm before you use it.
Rinsing your nasal passages with only plain water without this mixture will result in a severe burning sensation as plain water is not good for your nasal lining. Plain water also can cause your tissue to swell, giving the feeling of more congestion.
Nasal irrigation, also known as sinus rinsing, is the practice of moving a saline (saltwater) solution through your nasal passages to clear out mucus and flush out debris and allergens. Irrigation devices, such as neti pots, squeeze bottles and rubber nasal bulbs, push the water through one nostril and out the other.
Participants used a neti pot, which delivers the irrigation fluid to the lower part of the nasal cavity. However, the openings of the sphenoid, ethmoid and frontal sinuses are located at the top of the nasal cavity. Irrigation can only reach these openings when the head is positioned upside down.
Lying down after using a neti pot is not recommended as it might cause any saline solution still in the nasal passages to go down the throat. Instead, gently blowing the nose after the saline irrigation has drained out of the nose will help ensure any remaining saline solution is cleared from the nasal passages.
One tip is to do your evening rinse one hour before bed. There may be some slight drainage of the solution, and it's better to catch that fluid with a Kleenex than to have it drip into the throat after lying down.
The first few times you perform a sinus flush, you may feel a slight burning; this is not a cause for concern. Some people also experience nosebleeds or headaches after sinus flushing. If you experience any of these side effects, stop using the neti pot and talk to your doctor before using it again.
Tip the nasal cup so that the solution pours into your upper nostril. Make sure to breathe through your mouth. The solution will soon drain out of your other nostril (see drawings). When the cup is empty, breathe out through both nostrils to clear out extra salt water and mucus.
Why is my nasal rinse not coming out of my other nostril?
"What if the fluid doesn't come out my other nostril when I rinse? Yes, it is possible to get water stuck in your sinuses from a sinus rinse. This can happen if your sinuses are swollen or if your head is not tilted properly. If you feel like water is stuck, keep your head upright for a while and try blowing your nose.
Some people begin to experience discomfort in their ears or Eustachian tubes when using neti pots or other sinus rinses. They'll notice pressure changes in their ears and/or feel like they need to pop their ears often.
Too much salt — or not enough — can dry out your nasal membrane, causing irritation. Excessive ear pressure: Any nasal irrigation is capable of producing ear pressure. This is a natural effect of pouring water directly through your sinuses.
For rinsing maxillary sinuses (in your cheeks), you should turn each cheek downward slightly while rinsing that side. For rinsing sphenoid sinuses (in the back of the sinus cavities), you should aim your nose upward at the ceiling while rinsing.
How does water go in one nostril and out the other?
Tilting the head allows the water to flow into one nostril, travel up behind the nose into the nasopharynx and flow out the other nostril. Water that does not drain through the nose can be spit out through the mouth.
Hypertonic saline irrigation can also be attempted, however, this can sometimes cause fluid to get into the ear – which can be annoying to some patients.
If you use a nasal steroid: You should always use the salt water mixture first, then use the nasal steroid spray, i.e., Flonase®, Vancenase®, Beconase®, or Nasacort®. The steroid medicine will then reach deeper into the nose and sinuses.
Grab a few extra pillows to keep your head above your heart, allowing your sinuses to drain. Don't sleep on your side — Laying on your side can increase congestion on that side.
Your ENT specialist may recommend a nasal/sinus irrigation to open you your nasal passages if you have allergies, sinusitis (sinus infection), or a viral URI.
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. It usually affects the back of the nose, the throat or the sinuses (air-filled cavities in the bones of the face). It's often temporary, but some people experience it for months or years. This is known as chronic catarrh.